Lophomyrtus × ralphii 'Little Star' (v)
New Zealand myrtle 'Little Star'
'Little Star' is an evergreen shrub with small, round, dark green leaves bordered in cream and flushed with pink. Mature plants produce small, white, scented, cup-shaped flowers with a mass of stamens in late summer, followed by black berries
Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Cream Green Pink | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White | Cream Green Pink | ||
| Autumn | Cream Green Pink | Black | ||
| Winter | Cream Green Pink |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Myrtaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Lophomyrtus are evergreen shrubs or small trees with simple, leathery leaves, four-petaled flowers with prominent stamens and purple-black to red berries
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based potting compost in bright, filtered light. In mild areas grow outdoors in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered position in partial shade
Propagation
Root semi-ripe heel cuttings in summer with bottom heat
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Patio and container plants
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Wall side borders
- Cut flowers
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.