Guv's Gardens
Photo: Chiring chandan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade (leggy in shade).
- Soil
- Moist, fertile and well-drained; dislikes wet feet.
- Soil pH
- Tolerates acid, neutral or alkaline soils; slightly acidic (5.5-6.5) is often recommended, as leaves yellow at high pH.
- Water
- Moderate. Deep, regular watering; drops leaves when stressed.
- Hardiness
- Tropical to temperate; frost can damage.
- Height and spread
- Usually 2-4 m; can exceed 8 m unpruned.
Guv's tipMurraya drops leaves when stressed, so water deeply and regularly. An autumn prune sets you up for spring flowers.
Through the year
Timings are for temperate Australia. Tropical and arid gardens follow different seasons.
Flowering
Mainly late winter-spring, with repeat flushes into summer, often after rain.
Pruning
Regular light trims after flowering flushes; an autumn prune for spring flowers. Tolerates hard pruning.
Making more plants
Seed or semi-hardwood cuttings (cuttings are somewhat unreliable).
Watch out for
Aphids
Look for: Clusters on new tip growth.
What to do: Pyrethrum-based or registered vegie and herb spray.
Always read and follow the label on any treatment, and check it is approved for use where you live.
Safety and spread
Weed risk: 'Exotica' is declared pest vegetation in Brisbane City Council's local law and is among south-east Queensland's top 200 invasive species. An environmental weed in parts of NSW (general biosecurity duty applies). Seed is spread by birds.
The Plant Doctor and the Guv's book
Printable pest and disease charts with real photographs, and all 50 Australia plants in one book.
