Groundcover
Trailing Myoporum
Myoporum parvifolium · Scrophulariaceae
Also called: Creeping Myoporum, Creeping Boobialla, Prostrate Myoporum
Trailing Myoporum (Myoporum parvifolium) is a low-water groundcover well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 3-6 in H x 6-9 ft W in full sun to part shade, with a fast growth rate.
Trailing Myoporum at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade; tolerates reflected heat but benefits from afternoon shade at the hottest sites.
- Mature size
- 3-6 in H x 6-9 ft W
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Bloom
- White (occasionally tinged pink/lilac), star-shaped, Spring into summer (heaviest in spring)
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 20-25 F (USDA Zone 9); foliage may be damaged by hard frost but recovers.
- Soil
- Adapts to most well-drained soils including caliche; needs good drainage and tolerates the alkaline soils of the Tucson basin.
- Native range
- Southern Australia (South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales)
- Best used as
- Bank and slope stabilization, Large-area groundcover / lawn substitute, Spilling over walls and planters, Erosion control
- Wildlife
- Small white flowers attract bees; not a major wildlife plant.
- Toxicity
- Foliage and fruit of Myoporum species contain liver-toxic compounds and are considered toxic to livestock if grazed; generally low landscape concern.
How to grow Trailing Myoporum in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Water deeply every 7-10 days in summer once established to keep it dense and green; reduce to every 2-3 weeks in cool months. Shallow frequent irrigation causes thin, woody, dieback-prone growth.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder; an optional spring application of a balanced or slow-release fertilizer keeps foliage green, but excess nitrogen produces weak, frost-tender growth.
Pruning & care
Shear or cut back stems in late winter/early spring to remove woody or frost-damaged growth and renew dense coverage; trim runners to keep it in bounds.
Notes
A fast, dense evergreen groundcover that covers large areas quickly and tolerates reflected heat. Not a true desert native and needs more supplemental water than native groundcovers; can become woody and open in the center with age, so periodic renewal pruning is recommended. Roots can be susceptible to crown/root rot if overwatered or in poorly drained soil.
Sources: AMWUA 'Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert'; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Mountain States Wholesale Nursery; Arizona State University (C. Martin) desert plant database