Plant creeping myoporum at the soil line, about 3 feet apart. Spring is the easy window. In a mild-winter garden, early fall also works if you can water until the stems root.
Set plants at the soil line, about 3 feet apart
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring after frost, or early fall while the ground is still warm | Do not plant into peak summer heat unless you can water the new plants often |
| Stock | Nursery plants or small starters, watered before they go in | Do not leave the root ball sitting out to dry |
| Spacing | About 3 feet apart so the mats meet in a season | Do not set them so far apart that weeds take the gaps for a year |
| Depth | Crown even with the soil, on a bank or in a bed that drains | Do not bury the crown, and do not drop them into a wet clay hole |
creeping myoporum goes in as a small plant, not as a rolled turf. Loosen the top few inches, pull weeds, and set each crown at the same depth it had in the pot. [1] One plant can run 8 to 15 feet in time, so 3 feet apart is close enough to close a bank in a season without stacking the crowns. [2] On a slope, set the plants so rain runs past them, not into a basin against the stem. [3] Full sun keeps the new cover lower and tighter than a shady wall. [4] Stay off the planting until it holds. Sun and later watering live on How to Grow Creeping Myoporum.
- Choose a sunny bank or open bed that drains. Pull weeds, and loosen the top few inches.
- Water the pots, then set each crown even with the soil, about 3 feet apart.
- Firm the backfill so there are no air pockets, and water thoroughly the same day.
- Keep the soil slightly moist for several weeks, and stay off the mat until the stems have rooted.
When do I plant creeping myoporum?
Plant in spring after frost, or in early fall while the ground is still warm. Midsummer only works if you can water the new plants often.
How far apart do I plant?
About 3 feet apart. Closer spacing fills a bank faster. One plant can later cover 8 to 15 feet.
If new plants yellow, they sat wet or the crown was buried. Set the crown at the soil line, give the roots draining ground, and keep that soil slightly moist until the stems root.
FAQ
Can I sow it from seed?
You can, but cuttings and nursery plants are the usual start. Seed is slow. If you sow, keep the mix just moist and wait.
Can I plant in midsummer heat?
Only if you can water the new plants often. Spring after frost, or early fall, is the easier window.
Can I plant into wet clay?
No. The hole needs to drain. Wet clay rots the crown. Raise the bed or choose a bank.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=4124 - [2] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1751 - [3] Adelaide Botanic Gardens -
https://plantselector.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/Plants/Details/903 - [4] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1069
This note is part of Myoporum Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors