Boobialla – Myoporum insulare 

Boobialla is a super tough bush tucker shrub that can cope with wind, salt-spray and poor soil. Boobialla was an important bush fruit, but the berries are super tiny, and you will unlikely get more than a snack out of them. The whole plant was also used medicinally.

Even though boobialla is a seaside plant, it does cope with our poorly drained clay soil. It is an ideal plant for coastal gardens and low-maintenance native landscapes. 

The plant is a ground-cover and roughly a meter high and 2 meters across.

Bush Tucker & Traditional Uses

The ripe berries of Myoporum insulare are the main edible bush tucker component. They are soft, mildly sweet, and can be eaten fresh when fully mature.

The leaves historically used in external traditional applications (not commonly eaten)

Hardiness: Salt, Wind & Frost Tolerance

One of the strongest features of Myoporum insulare is its exceptional environmental tolerance, making it ideal for difficult growing conditions.

• Salt tolerance: Highly tolerant of salt spray and coastal exposure
• Wind tolerance: Excellent wind resistance, ideal for coastal and exposed sites
• Frost tolerance: Moderate to good; tolerates light to moderate frosts once established

It is commonly used in coastal stabilisation plantings, windbreaks, and low-maintenance native gardens where other species may struggle.

Growth Habit & Maintenance

Boobialla is a fast-growing, dense evergreen shrub or small tree that typically reaches 2–6 metres, depending on conditions and pruning. It responds well to trimming and can be maintained as a hedge or screening plant.

• Growth habit: Dense, bushy shrub or small tree
• Height: Commonly 2–6 metres in cultivation (this is literature, mine is only a meter high in semi-shade)
• Maintenance: Low once established
• Pruning: Responds very well to shaping and hedging

Regular pruning encourages denser growth and makes it ideal for windbreaks, privacy screens, or structured native hedging.

Growing Conditions

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best fruiting in full sun)
• Soil: Highly adaptable; prefers well-drained soils but tolerates poor soils
• Water: Drought tolerant once established
• Exposure: Thrives in coastal, windy, and exposed conditions

Why Grow Myoporum insulare

Myoporum insulare is an ideal choice for gardeners seeking a tough, multi-purpose native shrub that provides bush tucker fruit, excellent environmental tolerance, and strong structural value in the landscape. Its ability to thrive in salt, wind, drought, and moderate frost conditions makes it one of the most reliable native species for difficult sites.