Philotheca Myoporoides 'Profusion'

Wax Flower / Long-leaf Waxflower

Botanical Name: Philotheca myoporoides 'Profusion'
Family: Rutaceae
Origin: Australia (SE Australia)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

A reliable wax flower for Adelaide and South Australian gardens, prized for its masses of starry white blooms opening from soft pink buds. ‘Profusion’ forms a tidy, bushy shrub with aromatic, citrus-scented foliage, flowering heavily from late winter into spring with bonus flushes in autumn. It thrives in free-draining soils, coastal breezes and heat, bringing long seasonal colour with very low fuss.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1.2–2.0 m H × 1.0–1.5 m W (naturally compact)
• Growth Rate: 20-30 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Evergreen, mid-green, aromatic leaves (citrus-scented when crushed); fresh lime tints on new growth
• Flowers: Masses of 5-petalled, white “wax” flowers from pink buds, lightly fragrant; main flush late winter–spring (Aug–Oct SA) with spot flowers in autumn
  
• Seasonal Interest: Pink buds → snowy white flowers in late winter–spring, then neat aromatic foliage year-round
• Wildlife Value: Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Good for Pollinators
• Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant, Wind-Tolerant, Light frost hardy; avoid waterlogging (only Clay-Tolerant if raised/improved and well-drained)
• Planting Density: Hedge: 0.8–1.0 m apart (dense). Shrub border/specimen: 1.2–1.5 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best flowering in sun)
• Soil: Well-drained sandy/loam soils; improve heavy clay with grit/organic matter or plant in raised beds
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Mulch in spring; light tip-prune straight after flowering to keep it bushy (avoid hard cuts into old wood); low-P native fertiliser in early spring
• Lifespan: 15-25 years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal Adelaide
• Soil pH: Slightly Acid to Neutral (tolerates mildly Alkaline if drainage is sharp)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Front-path hedge or low screen with year-round structure and winter–spring bloom
• Coastal native mix with westringia, correa and lomandra for a water-wise Adelaide palette
• Feature pair in large pots by entries—enjoy the fragrance and pollinator activity up close

Why You Will Love It

‘Profusion’ brings months of flowers right when Adelaide gardens need a lift, followed by neat, aromatic foliage for the rest of the year. It’s tough, tidy and pollinator-friendly, delivering reliable colour and structure across South Australia with minimal maintenance.