Lophomyrtus × ralphii 'Little Star' (v)

RHS Plant Profile

New Zealand myrtle 'Little Star'

Synonyms

Coprosma 'Little Star'

Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs

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'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

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

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

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–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): H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Myrtaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: 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 peat-free, 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

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free