False Sandalwood Plant Care

False Sandalwood (Myoporum sandwicense) belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family within the Myoporum genus. False Sandalwood is native to the Hawaiian Islands and the island of ʻEua in Tonga. False Sandalwood is also known as Naʻu, Bastard Sandalwood.

False Sandalwood displays an upright, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 4 ft tall with a spread of approximately 6 ft. False Sandalwood produces small white or pink star-shaped flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted False Sandalwood every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

False Sandalwood thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Myoporum sandwicense tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. False Sandalwood prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for False Sandalwood to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed False Sandalwood every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

False Sandalwood is suited to USDA Zone 9b – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

False Sandalwood can spread to about 6 ft (1.8 m) and reach about 4 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 6 ft (1.8 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune False Sandalwood while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

False Sandalwood is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 9). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

False Sandalwood can be propagated through softwood cuttings, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to mallee boobialla plant care, which shares the same genus.

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False Sandalwood is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

False Sandalwood grows outdoors in USDA Zone 9b – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 9b. False Sandalwood is native to the Hawaiian Islands and the island of ʻEua in Tonga. In cooler regions, grow False Sandalwood as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.