Other Names:  Myrtle-leaf Leaf-flower, Ceylon Myrtle, Cathetus

Description:

A popular ornamental shrub featuring small, lanceolate to oblong leaves arranged along gracefully arching branches; clusters of pink to red flowers hang from the branches in spring to summer, followed by small fruits; forms an attractive low hedge

Ornamental Features

Mousetail Plant is draped in stunning clusters of red bell-shaped flowers with pink overtones hanging below the branches from mid spring to late summer. It has green evergreen foliage. The small oval pinnately compound leaves remain green throughout the winter. It produces light green capsules from early to late fall, which fade to tan over time.

Landscape Attributes

Mousetail Plant is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Mousetail Plant is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Mousetail Plant will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Mousetail Plant makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.