Philotheca myoporoides Flower Girl White

Eriostemon myoporoides 'Flower Girl White' is a charming horticultural variety of an Australian bush suited to mild, rather dry climates. It forms a medium-sized erect clump with beautiful dark green foliage that is very aromatic to the touch. This dark vegetation particularly highlights the white flowering that blooms throughout spring, sometimes beginning in late winter and extending into early summer. The small star-shaped flowers have a waxy appearance, earning it the nickname Wax Flower, and emit a sweet, sugary fragrance, somewhat reminiscent of orange blossom. The young plant grows in neutral to moderately acidic soil, preferably in partial shade in warm regions, and tolerates dryness well once established. In cold climates, it should be grown in a pot to be brought into a cool but frost-free room during winter.

Eriostemon myoporoides, now called Philotheca myoporoides, is a member of the Rutaceae family. Holding more than 150 genera, several of which are common in our gardens, such as Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata), this plant family is also known and appreciated for hosting the large group of citrus trees. Little known in our latitudes, the Eriostemon genus nonetheless includes no fewer than 35 species of Australian evergreen bushes. In their natural environment, they are typically found in tropical forests, protected from direct bright sunlight by taller vegetation. The species E. myoporoides forms a bush less than 3 m tall, most often reaching 2 m in all directions and adopting a generally spherical habit, with numerous shoots of somewhat irregular size.
Philotheca myoporoides 'Flower Girl White' is a more compact cultivar of the wild species, usually limited to a height of 1.50 m, with a width of 1.20 to 1.50 m. Its silhouette is also more erect than the species, so it is sometimes planted as a low hedge in its native country. The foliage has the same appearance as the botanical species, but its colour is prettier. The slender, erect green shoots, covered with small cavities, are adorned with small, elongated leaves, measuring approximately 3 to 5 cm long and only 1 cm wide. They are a beautiful dark green with a slightly satiny surface, serving as a perfect setting for the light flowering. When crushed, they release a pleasant lemony scent, reminding us they belong to the citrus family. Beginning in winter as pink flower buds, the flowers bloom throughout spring, sometimes even extending into early summer. The flowers are small, measuring about 2 cm in diameter, but numerous. The corolla is formed of 5 petals giving it a star-shaped appearance, with a tuft of protruding stamens whose anthers (the part containing the pollen) turn orange, creating a subtle contrast with the surrounding white. The nectar-rich flowers are useful for bees and other pollinators.
This beautiful long-flowering bush will appreciate mild winters and non-scorching sun in slightly acidic soil. In the south, it should be planted under the dappled shade of taller plants. In climates that are too cold, where frost is frequent or occasionally sharp (the plant withstands brief cold spells of around -8/-10°C), it will need to be grown in a pot to be brought into a conservatory in winter.

Eriostemon myoporoides 'Flower Girl White' will create an original scene in a bed with other plants of exotic origin. Boronia heterophylla, with even narrower foliage, will be a good companion whose bright magenta flowers will contrast with the white of your Philotheca. Duranta repens, also called Golden Dewdrop, can be placed behind your Eriostemon. Its countless purple flowers that bloom against a superb bright green foliage are followed by just as many small decorative orange fruits that persist for a long time on the bush. Further in the background, plant a specimen of Erythrina crista-galli, a spectacular bush with long vigorous shoots adorned in summer with magnificent, very bright coral red flowers.