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Products > Myoporum laetum 'Compactum'   Myoporum laetum 'Compactum' - Compact Coast Myoporum    [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Myoporaceae (Myoporums) Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: White Bloomtime: Summer Height: 10-16 feet Width: 6-12 feet Exposure: Full Sun Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F May be Poisonous  (More Info): Yes Myoporum laetum 'Compactum' (Compact Coast Myoporum) - This compact form of the Coast Myoporum (Myoporum laetum) has shorter internodes and smaller leaves than Myoporum laetum 'Carsonii', the typical form of Coast Myoporum that is grown in California. Its white flowers with purple markings bloom in clusters in the summer. Plant in full sun. Irrigate little to occasionally. This selection was circulating in the California nursery trade in the late 1980's and then virtually disappeared. In 1984 San Marcos Growers planted a hedge of it around one section of our demonstration garden prior to deciding not to continue growing it due to a lack of customer interest. After numerous favorable comments regarding its tidy dense growth we decided in 2001 to grow it once again. As with its big cousin this plant grows rapidly when given irrigation but is very drought resistant in coastal gardens once established. It can be trimmed hard and resprouts from hard wood but looks best if sheared to semi-hard wood on a regular basis (we do this annually). In 2006 in southern California Myoporum laetum and Myoporum 'Pacificum' (AKA 'South Coast') came under attack by a newly describes thrips, Klambothrips myopori, that came from coastal Eastern Australia. While this pest plagued our crops of Myoporum laetum 'Carsonii', causing us to stop producing it, this pest has not affected Myoporum laetum 'Compacta', Myoporum 'Putah Creek' or Myoporum parvifolium. More information can also be found on our Myoporum Thrips Page.  The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens in the Santa Barbara area. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information about this plant, even if they disagree with what we have written.     [MORE INFO]