Elaeocarpus are one of my all time favourite native tree speices.

Two of my favourite cultivars for home gardens are Elaeocarpus reticulatus Prima Donna and Elaeocarpus eumundi.

Elaeocarpus reticulatus Prima Donna

Elaeocarpus reticulatus Prima Donna or blueberry ash has masses of delicately fringed small pink flowers in spring. These flowers may look like fairy petticoats or ballerina skirts and have a faint perfume. After flowering blue edible fruits appear that the wildlife love (these fruits are edible for humans ... not so palatable!).

The foliage is pretty wondrous too and can be very colourful when it’s in full growth mode. It has bronze new growth, dusky green growth and then as the leaf ages it turns brilliant red.

It’s a slow growing small tree (maybe 4m on average in normal house lot). It has a slender shape and I have found its best grown as a feature planting but I have also seen it used a a hedge in Gympie and it looked glorious.

It has high pest and disease resistance and is exceptionally low maintenance once established. It can handle dry, heat, humidity and the cold.

You can plant these beauties in gardens or pots and I find it’s best to fertilise about every three months with a complete organic slow release fertiliser like Organic Link.

This is the type of tree you can sit back and enjoy once established!

Elaeocarpus eumundi

Elaeocarpus eumundi is a mid-sized native rainforest tree and one that I love and adore and have plans to use at home.

This tree is commonly known as Eumundi Quandong, or Smooth Leafed Quandong.

Usually you don’t see native trees used in cultivation wisely but fortunately for us Ipswichites, Elaeocarpus eumundi was chosen as a feature tree for the Coles in Ipswich development.

Elaeocarpus eumundi are the perfect tree when tall and skinny but beautiful Is a requirement. I personally plan on using these trees down the western side of my house.

Elaeocarpus eumundi Picture from Natures Decor Garden Centre

Perfect in that they get tall (about 5m , perfect conditions about 8m) but not too wide (about 2m). I can use these trees to protect my home from the western sun but also not encroach too much on the neighbours.

Elaeocarpus eumundi have glossy green foliage and gorgeous bronze new growth. The thing I love most about them is in later life they can develop a small but beautiful buttress trunk.

It does get small scented flowers and fruit in warmer months. While the fruit isn’t classed as palatable for humans it is known as a great wildlife attractant, with many nectar eating birds and insects as well as seed loving birds utilising it’s resources.

This tree doesn’t like the frost but can handle the cold once established. It prefers well drained, Fertile soil. Once established can handle periods of dry and heat. As an added bonus it is very disease and pest resistant.

This tree responds well to care and attention but can also withstand being a ‘street tree’.

I think this tree is a must for your native garden.