LOPHOMYRTUS (Myrtus) x ralphii. A group of ornamental shrubs from New Zealand, variable in size and shape. What they have in common is neatly paired branches, slender stems, broadly oval, puckered leaves and small white flowers with the brushes of stamens typical of the myrtles. I have only a sketchy description of the following selections from Duncan & Davies Nurseries but can make some educated guesses based on what I see. Sun or light shade, well drained soil, moderate watering. Probably best near the coast. Hardy to 20oF or less.
‘Kathryn’. A nearly globe shaped shrub, probably 6-8' when mature. It is densely clad with softly shiny leaves, up to 1" long, which are bronze in summer, maroon in winter. A beautiful foliage shrub.
‘Lilliput’. As the name suggests, this is a true miniature. I would guess its eventual height at 2-3’. Like the last, it is nearly round and has small, densely packed, bronzy leaves. It should be a good plant for small tubs. ‘Lilliput Revert’ resulted from a mutant or simply reverting shoot, more like typical x ralphii in growth but still with relatively small leaves, bronze in new growth. It is a most attractive shrub in its own right.
‘Sundae’ is a selection of the same size and habit as ‘Kathryn’, above. However, the leaves are margined with creamy yellow. Maroon shadings are added in winter.