Lomatia myricoides

RHS Plant Profile

river lomatia

Other common names

long-leaf lomatia

Synonyms

Lomatia longifolia

Shrubs

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A striking evergreen to a height 3m, with an arching habit, long serrated green leaves and fragrant white flowers in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Proteaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Pendulous weeping
Genus: Lomatia are evergreen trees and shrubs with simple, pinnate or more deeply divided leaves and racemes of tubular flowers that open to a star-shaped, with a prominent style
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: SE Australia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant in well-drained, ideally, acidic soil, with low nutrition levels. A position in full sun or partial shade with sheltered from cold winds is ideal

Propagation

Propagate by seed at 17°C in spring in a free draining seed compost. Germination can be slow - up to 6 months Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or by semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Sub-tropical
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning is required, but to keep more bushy, take back one third of the year's growth after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free