Feature Flora – July 2025
Published on 30th June 2000 in Member Mobile NewsCreeping Boobialla (Myoporum parvifolium ‘Purpurea’)
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Described by: Botanist Robert Brown, 1810
This hardy groundcover, commonly known as Creeping Boobialla, is a prostrate member of the Myoporum genus — a group that includes local species such as Myoporum insulare and M. petiolatum.
At Barwon Heads, Myoporum parvifolium ‘Purpurea’ is particularly valued for its ability to stabilise sandy soils, suppress weeds and provide year-round greenery in exposed locations. It thrives in coastal conditions, making it well suited to areas surrounding the course and naturalised pockets near the dunes.
The plant typically grows to about 20 centimetres tall and can spread as much as three metres wide. Its thick, fleshy leaves measure up to 4 cm in length and 3 cm across, helping it conserve moisture in dry or windy conditions.
From winter through to mid-summer, small star-like flowers appear. Each flower has five sepals and five petals, usually white and often marked with subtle purple spots. These delicate blooms measure approximately 7.5 mm across and are held just above the foliage. Four yellow stamens surround a thicker central stigma.
The plant produces fleshy, cream-coloured fruit around 10 mm in size, which darken as they dry. It is important to note that the fruit is considered toxic and should not be consumed.
Propagation is relatively easy via stem cuttings, making it a practical choice for local revegetation or low-maintenance planting in sandy coastal gardens.
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