Myopore (Myoporum laetum)

Do you have room for an evergreen tree that blooms in late winter? If you have answered yes, I am going to introduce you to Myoporum laetum, an ideal plant to grow in warm or mild climates, and which I am sure will give you great satisfaction. Why? Because it is very easy to care .

In addition, its flowers, although they are not more than two centimeters wide, are of a beautiful white color with purple tips. Know their care.

Origin and characteristics

Image – Wikimedia/ Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

It is an evergreen tree (it loses its leaves little by little throughout the year, and not in a certain season) native to New Zealand. Its scientific name is Myoporum laetum, although it is popularly known as myopore, evergreen or transparent. It grows to a maximum height of 10 meters.

The leaves are lanceolate, with entire or somewhat serrated edges, and are covered by small translucent glands. The flowers, which sprout from late winter to mid-spring, are 1.5 to 2cm wide, white and hermaphroditic. The fruit is a globular drupe of 6-9mm in diameter that contains an oval-quadrangular seed.

Applications

The myopore, apart from being used as an ornamental, either as an isolated specimen, in hedges or as a potted plant, it must be known that by rubbing the leaves on the skin we will be able to repel mosquitoes.

Of course, it should not be consumed under any circumstances, since it contains ngaione, which is a toxin that can cause disease, and even death in sheep, pigs and cattle.

What are cares?

Image – Flickr/ David Eickhoff

If you want to have a copy, we recommend you provide the following care:

Location: it must be outside, in full sun.
Land:
- Garden: grows in a wide variety of soils, although it prefers those that are fertile.
- Pot: universal growing substrate.
Watering: water 3-4 times a week in summer, and every 4-5 days the rest of the year.
Fertilizer: in spring and summer it is advisable to fertilize with guano, compost or other organic fertilizers.
Multiplication: by seeds in winter (they need to be cold before germinating) and cuttings in spring.
Rusticity: it resists weak frosts down to -5ºC, but if it does not fall below 0º better.