Elaeocarpus reticulatus

Smith

Blueberry ash, Fringe Tree, Blue Oliveberry

Elaeocarpaceae Edible: Fruit 4,410 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Elaeocarpus reticulatus, commonly known as blueberry ash, ash quandong, blue olive berry, fairy petticoats, fringe tree, koda, lily of the valley tree and scrub ash, is species of flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with oblong to elliptic leaves, racemes of white or pink flowers and blue, oval to spherical fruit.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 8-12 m high. It can spread 3-4 m wide. The bark is brown. The leaves are 5-11 cm long by 2-3.5 cm wide. The leaves are glossy and light green. There are shallow teeth along the edge of the leaf. The older leaves often become red coloured before they fall. The flowering stalks are 2-10 cm long. The flowers are 0.6-0.9 cm long. The flowers are bell shaped and deep pink with white fringes. The fruit is blue and fleshy berries. They are 0.8-1.3 cm long.

Edible Uses

The blue fleshy fruit is edible.

Distribution

It grows from temperate to tropical regions. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in full sun of light shade. It can stand light frosts. It grows on King and Flinders Islands in Tasmania. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Adelaide Botanical Gardens hot house. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Tasmania*, USA,

Cultivation

It can be difficult to grow from seeds and cuttings. Plants can be pruned.

Notes

There are about 360 Elaeocarpus species mostly in the tropics.

Synonyms

Elaeocarpus cyaneus Aiton ex Sims

References (28)

Blomberry, A.M., 1979, Australian Native Plants. Angus and Robertson p 111
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 377
Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 393 (As Elaeocarpus cyaneus)
Caton, J.M. & Hardwick, R. J., 2016, Field Guide to Useful Native Plants from Temperate Australia. Harbour Publishing House. p 250
Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 163

Show all 28 references

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Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1984, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 3. Lothian. p 388 (Drawing & Photo)
Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 277
Greig, D., 1996, Flowering Natives for Home Gardens. Angus & Robertson. p 151
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 91
Jones D, L, 1986, Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia, Reed Books, p 143
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Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 91
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Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Elaeocarpus cyaneus)
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Woolmore, E et al, 2002, King Island Flora: A Field Guide. p 44