Eriostemon myoporoides

Eriostemon myoporoides, also called Philotheca myoporides, is a highly floriferous and aromatic bush related to Boronia and citrus trees, which will delight enthusiasts of Australian plants. It forms a generally rounded mass, covered with glossy, dark green foliage, on which stand out pink flower buds opening into small, white, star-shaped flowers, with a waxy texture and a sweet and sugary fragrance. It blooms from the end of winter for a long period. Comfortable in acidic to neutral soils, it can withstand short frosts of around -10°C (14 °F) in well-drained soil. If you have a garden located near the sea this Eriostema may thrive in the ground in an ericaceous bed. As it performs well in pots, gardeners can admire it on the terrace throughout the summer, and bring it indoors in winter, sheltered in a greenhouse or a slightly heated conservatory.

Eriostemon myoporoides, now classified in the genus Philoteca, is the most widespread in cultivation: this bush with a winter flowering, or at least early flowering, appeared in Europe in the 1820s. 

Although the species Philotheca myoporoides is represented by 9 subspecies, the one that is propagated in horticulture forms a rounded and dense bush capable of reaching 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches) in all directions, often wider than tall. Branching from the base, it has warty stems that bear, oblong, evergreen leaves, pointed at their tips and 10cm (3.9 in) long. Their thick leaves are a fairly deep, vivid green and rich in essential oils. When crushed, they release an aroma reminiscent of orange blossom. In mild climates, the flowers appear from October, gathered in clusters of 3 to 5 pink buds, in the axils of the leaves and last until February or May depending on the climate. The buds open into a star-shaped corolla composed of 5 white, waxy petals, sometimes tinged with pink, surrounding fused orange stamens in a tube. These flowers measure 2cm (0.8 in) wide, but they are so numerous in winter and spring that they almost make the foliage disappear.

This Eriostemon cannot withstand frosts below -10°C (14 °F), tolerates excessive limestone and dry soil, and prefers partial shade. Its specific requirements must be followed to succeed in its cultivation and enjoy its magnificent flowering. In the garden it can be paired with Boronia heterophylla, Galvezia speciosa, Gomphostigma virgatum, broom shrubs, or white, pink, or red heathland plants. On the terrace or balcony, it can be surrounded by Cape leadwort, with its long blue flowering, a Tibouchina, or a Leptospermum Wiri Kerry.