Elaeocarpus reticulatus

Elaeocarpus reticulatus has a significant native range, extending from Fraser Island to Flinders Island where it grows in both coastal and near-coastal locations. It tolerates many locations well, from sandy to clay soils, but requires irrigation for reasonable growth. Without irrigation, it can be a straggly shrub with very dry-looking foliage. Blueberry Ash has excellent natural form, becoming a stately tree, or it may be hedged or pruned into formal shape.

There are many reasons for growing E. reticulatus: it has excellent upright-oval form and can retain foliage to the base; the foliage is evergreen, long, pointed and dark green; the flowers appear in late spring and are elegant white fringed bells and the fruits appear following the flowers, turning dark purple in late May.

E. reticulatus ‘Prima Donna’: This selection from southern Queensland has fantastically fringed pink flowers borne in profusion. Because of its origin, this may not be the selection for colder areas of southern Australia, and may suffer from some frost damage.

In urban horticulture, Blueberry ash has not been used as frequently as other Australian evergreens; there is no good reason for this. Like many of the others, it does require irrigation for reasonable growth, but is more tolerant of cool areas than many of its relatives from further north. If reasonable soils and irrigation can be provided, Blueberry Ash can be amongst the most elegant of the Australian evergreens, with special flowering qualitites that most don’t have.

Typical mature height:

most often to 10m

Useful in:

streetscapes, as screening

Sites for best growth:

many suitable, but irrigation needed