ngaio
Myoporum laetum | ngaio
A fast-growing, resilient evergreen shrub or small tree. It features glossy bright green leaves with a distinctive scent when crushed, and produces small, white, star-shaped flowers with purple spots in spring and summer, followed by purple-black berries that attract birds like kererū. It also attracts bees, enhancing garden ecology. Thriving in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil (adaptable to various types), it's drought and salt spray tolerant, making it ideal for coastal gardens but frost-tender when young. Ngaio is excellent for hedges, screens, windbreaks, specimen planting, and reforestation, providing dense shelter. It is tree species with lower flammability, so it can be uselful to plant in a mixed green firebreak in fire prone regions. While generally avoided by rabbits, it's toxic to livestock.
typical habitat.
lowland forest
coastal forest
drainage.
dry
free draining
well drained
moist
sun.
full sun
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 10m
width | 3m / 60cm (trunk)
pollinators calendar.
flowering | October - January
fruiting | December - June
did you know?
It's important to distinguish Tasmanian ngaio (Myoporum insulare) from New Zealand's native ngaio (Myoporum laetum), as the Tasmanian species has been frequently planted under the incorrect assumption of it being native. Unfortunately, widespread planting and subsequent hybridisation between these species may mean that interbreeding is now unavoidable. Spread primarily by birds, Tasmanian ngaio outcompetes slower-growing coastal trees and plants on exposed cliffs, slopes, and dunes. Key differences include the almost consistently green, sticky leaf buds of Tasmanian ngaio, compared to the typically black buds and gland-dotted leaves of the New Zealand native. Additionally, Tasmanian ngaio has smaller flowers (7-8 mm) than its New Zealand counterpart (10-15 mm).