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Blueberry Ash and Quandongs

Blueberry ash and its relatives the quandongs are some of the best native trees for a suburban block. They are evergreen, upright and tidy, with fringed bell flowers in white or pink followed by blue berries that birds strip from the branches. Blueberry ash stays a small slender tree, the Eumundi quandong makes a dense narrow screen, and the silver quandong is a fast rainforest shade tree. Every tree is delivered Australia wide.

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How to choose an elaeocarpus

For a small garden tree, blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus) grows to about 8m tall and 4m wide, with white fringed flowers in spring and bright blue fruit. Prima Donna is the pink flowered form and a little smaller. For screening, the Eumundi quandong is hard to beat: glossy leaves with bronze new growth on a column about 8m tall and only 3m wide, and Green Dream is a similar narrow selection. For shade and habitat on a larger block, hard quandong reaches about 10m and silver quandong 12m or more, growing quickly in good soil.

Where they work

These are east coast natives. Blueberry ash grows from Queensland to Tasmania and takes light frost, sun or part shade and most soils. The quandongs come from subtropical rainforest and want warmth, moisture and shelter while young; they suit Brisbane, the north coast of New South Wales and Sydney. Use them as street trees, along a boundary, beside a driveway or as a single feature. They are a strong choice among Australian native trees and for tall and narrow screening.

Planting and spacing

For a screen, plant Eumundi quandong or Green Dream 1.5m to 2m apart. Space blueberry ash 2.5m to 3m apart in a row, or give a single tree 3m clearance from walls. Plant level with the soil, mulch well and water deeply once or twice a week through the first two summers.

Care basics

These trees need little pruning: tip prune young plants to thicken a screen and remove low branches if you want a clear trunk. Feed in spring with a native fertiliser. Keep them watered in dry spells for the first few years; established trees are moderately drought hardy. The blueberry ash care guide has more detail.

Common questions

How fast does blueberry ash grow?

Moderately: about 50cm a year in good conditions. Silver quandong is much faster, at a metre or more a year when young.

Are blueberry ash roots invasive?

No. Blueberry ash has a modest root system and is widely used as a street tree and near paving.

Do birds eat the berries?

Yes. The blue fruit attracts native pigeons, figbirds, bowerbirds and other fruit eaters.

Which one is best for a narrow screen?

Eumundi quandong. It holds foliage to the ground and stays about 3m wide.