Philotheca myoporoides
Long-leaf wax flower
Eastern Australia: south-eastern Queensland, New South Wales and eastern Victoria
Overview
Philotheca myoporoides is an evergreen shrub in the Rutaceae growing 3-8 feet (1-2.5 m) tall and 3-6 feet (1-2 m) wide, forming a dense rounded mound of upright stems. Leaves are alternate, narrow-oblong to lanceolate, 0.6-3 inches (1.5-8 cm) long and 0.2-0.4 inches (5-10 mm) wide, dark green and thick, covered in raised oil glands that give the surface a warty texture and release a citrus scent when bruised. Flowers are white with five spreading pointed petals of waxy texture, 0.6-0.8 inches (15-20 mm) across, opening from pink-flushed buds in clusters of 3-10 in the upper leaf axils. Flowering runs July to November, so buds and open flowers are carried together over several months. Fruit are beaked capsules about 0.2 inches (5 mm) long that split to release black seed. Growth runs 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) per year and plants reach full size in 3-4 years. Established plants tolerate 19F (-7C) and dry periods of 6-8 weeks, but roots rot on poorly drained clay and are damaged by soil phosphorus above 20 ppm. Nine subspecies are recognised, differing in leaf length and flower stalk length.
Native Range
Philotheca myoporoides is native to eastern Australia, occurring from south-eastern Queensland through the tablelands and coastal ranges of New South Wales into eastern Victoria. It grows in dry sclerophyll forest, on rocky ridges and in gorge country on shallow sandy and gravelly soils from near sea level to 4,300 feet (1,300 m). The subspecies are geographically separated, with subsp. myoporoides spp. covering most of the range and narrower endemics in Queensland and western Victoria.Suggested Uses
Grown in native and mixed shrub borders, spaced 3-5 feet (1-1.5 m) apart, and clipped as a low informal hedge to 4 feet (1.2 m). Used on dry banks and in rockeries where drainage is sharp, and grown in containers of 10 gallons (38 litres) or larger. Stems are cut for the florist trade during the July to November flowering period.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 8'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from July to November across eastern Australia, with the main flush from August to October. Pink buds form in the upper leaf axils from late autumn and open in sequence, so a plant carries buds and open flowers together for 10-14 weeks. Individual flowers last 10-14 days. Flowering begins in the second or third year from cuttings and is heavier on plants receiving 6 or more hours of sun.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White with pink-flushed budsFoliage Description
Dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Philotheca myoporoides grows in full sun to part shade with 4-9 hours of direct exposure and holds a denser habit toward the sunnier end of that range. It roots on free-draining sandy loam, gravel and rocky soils at pH 5.5-7.0, and roots rot on clay that stays wet through winter. Watering of 2-3 gallons (8-12 litres) weekly through the first summer establishes plants; from the second year they carry through 6-8 weeks without rain. Established plants tolerate 19F (-7C) without leaf damage. Low-phosphorus native fertiliser at 0.9 oz per square yard (25 g per square metre) after flowering meets annual demand, while soil phosphorus above 20 ppm causes leaf blackening and root loss. Scale insects and sooty mould build up on plants in still shaded positions, and root rot from Phytophthora spp. species follows summer irrigation on heavy soils.Pruning
Pruning is carried out immediately after the last flowers drop in late spring, taking stems back by up to one third into leafy wood. Cuts into bare wood reshoot poorly, so plants left untrimmed for several years thin at the base and cannot be renovated. Light tip pruning of 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) two or three times through the first two years builds branch density. Cut stems hold in a vase for 7-10 days.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons