Dwarf Murraya
Murrayas are evergreen shrubs from south-east Asia and Australia. They produce fragrant, creamy white flowers in abundance in spring then again in late summer or early autumn, and also after heavy rain. They have glossy green foliage and a dense, twiggy habit and are often planted as hedges and privacy screens. The good news is that a charming new dwarf variety of murraya is now available. Murraya paniculata ‘Min-A-Min’ only grows about 1m (3′) tall, and so it makes an excellent low hedge or border.
Weed problem?
We recently received a letter saying that murraya is becoming a weed in some areas of northern Australia. We found this surprising, as murraya is an Australian native plant and it does not usually set much seed. However, we discovered that some nursery propagators are growing murrayas from seed, and these seed grown plants do have significant weed potential. This is also a problem because every plant grown from seed is different, and of no use to people who want to grow a uniform murraya hedge. Don pleaded with nursery propagators to stop growing murrayas from seed. These plants should only be grown from cuttings. It may also be wise to avoid planting murrayas, even the new dwarf variety, if you live in northern Australia and particularly if you live near bushland areas.
Care:
Murrayas prefer a sunny position in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. To maintain a murraya hedge prune lightly two to three times a year in spring and summer. Give a final prune in autumn after flowering.
Getting started
As dwarf murrayas have only recently been released in eastern Australia, they may be difficult to find. They are available at Greengold Nurseries, or ask your local nursery to order one in for you. Plants in 175mm (7″) pots cost from about $20.
