Rhodomyrtus spp.

Southern and Southeast Asia and Australia

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Rhodomyrtus spp. is a genus of about 18 evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Myrtaceae, native to southern and Southeast Asia and Australia, with Rhodomyrtus tomentosa the most familiar and widely naturalized. Plants form bushy shrubs 3-12 feet (0.9-3.7 m) tall, with opposite, leathery leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long that carry three main veins and are densely gray-downy beneath. Pink to rose flowers 0.8-1.2 inch (2-3 cm) across have five rounded petals and a central tuft of many stamens, opening singly or in small groups in spring and summer. Rounded berries follow, ripening from green through red to deep purple and 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) wide, soft, sweet, and many-seeded. Growth is moderate to fast in warm, moist conditions, and plants resprout strongly from the base. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa has naturalized and become invasive in parts of Florida, Hawaii, and other warm regions, where it forms dense thickets that crowd out native plants. Frost damages the foliage, limiting the genus to mild climates.

Native Range

Rhodomyrtus spp. is native to southern China, India, Southeast Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and parts of Australia, growing in open forest, heath, coastal scrub, and disturbed ground on sandy or acidic soils. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa ranges widely across tropical and subtropical Asia and tolerates poor, sandy ground.

Suggested Uses

Grown in tropical and subtropical gardens as a flowering and fruiting shrub, informal hedge, and coastal screen, spaced 4-8 feet (1.2-2.4 m) apart, and the berries are used in jams and drinks in parts of Asia. Its invasive behavior rules out planting in Florida, Hawaii, and other areas where it is regulated. Elsewhere the dense growth suits hedging and bird plantings.

How to Identify

Recognized by opposite, leathery, three-veined leaves densely gray-felted on the underside and pink, five-petaled flowers with a central brush of stamens. Soft purple berries about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) wide ripen from red to deep purple. The downy three-veined leaves and fleshy purple fruit separate Rhodomyrtus spp. from Rhodamnia spp., which has thinner leaves and smaller, darker berries.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 12'

Width/Spread4' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers in spring and summer, with timing varying by region, and through much of the year in warm tropical climates. Pink flowers open over several weeks, followed by berries that ripen across summer and autumn. In its naturalized range bloom and fruiting can continue over a long season.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink to rose

Foliage Description

green, gray beneath

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 7.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to part shade on moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils and tolerate poor, sandy ground and coastal exposure. Water during establishment and dry spells, after which plants withstand short drought. Frost burns the foliage, restricting the genus to frost-free and mild climates. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa seeds and suckers freely and is regulated as an invasive weed in Florida, Hawaii, and other regions, so its planting is restricted there. Plants resprout from the base after cutting or fire, making established stands hard to remove. Few pests trouble the plants.

Pruning

Trim after flowering to shape the plant or maintain a hedge, cutting to a leaf node. Plants resprout strongly from old wood, allowing hard renewal pruning. Removing spent and frost-damaged growth keeps a dense, tidy form.