Phyllanthus myrtitelius (Mousetail Plant, Myrtle-leaved Leaf Flower, Ceylon Myrtle)


Botanical Information

FamilyPhyllanthaceae
GenusPhyllanthus
Speciesmyrtitelius
CategoryTropicals
TypeShrub (evergreen)
OriginNative to Sri Lanka.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Disclaimer
Plant is grown as a medicinal plant in China.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone10a - 11
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness ZoneRequires cold season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH3 - H1c
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)(-1.1) to above 4.5
Temperature (°F)30 - 40
Height50 cm
Flowering PeriodMay, June, July, August

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA small shrub about 50 cm tall with tiny inverted-lance shaped leaves and small, slender, pendulous red flowers
LandscapeFlowerbeds, borders, bonsai, and it can be grown over a wall to form a dense, attractive weeping hedge. It can also be grown along the edge of freshwater bodies.
CultivationGrows well in full sun to partial shade. Plant requires consistently moist soil.
Notable SpecimensHarry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Habitat
Bark/Stem DescriptionThin, flexible stems droop gracefully downwards. Stems are vigoursly branched, forming a dense crown.
Leaf DescriptionSmall, lanceolate to oblong leaves are light green and are alternate in arrangement. They are held in the same plane in 2 files along the stem.
Flower DescriptionFlowers borne in several-flowered fascicles in leaf axils. Flowers are typically longer than the leaves and hang down by slender, red filament-like stalks, ending in a roundish bowl-like flower.
Fruit DescriptionSmall fruit are round and slightly flattened, 2 mm long, and 3 mm wide.

Photographs