Practical
Plants

Myoporum laetum

Ngaio

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Myoporum genus in the family Myoporaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
6 m
Spread
3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant contain a liver toxin[6].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[3][7]. The fruit is about 6 - 9mm in diameter[9]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on possible toxicity.

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Odontalgic, vulnerary. The bark is used to treat ulcers[13].

Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the leaves is used as an insect repellent[2]. It is effective against mosquitoes[10].

Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Usually found by the coast, often to the high tide mark[2], it is also found in lowland forests on North, South and Chatham Islands south to latitude 46°s[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in the autumn. Good percentage[14].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in most soils[5] so long as they are well-drained[8]. Succeeds in dry soils[9] and in poor soils[8]. Very resistant to maritime exposure and salt spray[4]. This species is not very hardy in mainland Britain, it succeeds outdoors on the Scilly Isles[1] but usually requires greenhouse protection elsewhere[1]. Plants flower freely in Cornish gardens[1][12]. Plants do not tolerate temperatures below 0°c[4]. The leaves emit a resinous smell when bruised[10]. The flowers are also fragrant[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Laing. and Blackwell. Plants of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd 1907-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2

    ↩

  4. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-85179-627-3

    ↩

  6. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩

  7. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  8. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  10. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00

    ↩

  12. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

    ↩

  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  14. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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