Colourful shrub

Shrub or tree to 10 metres, usually less, north from Taree district, NSW, on the margins of coastal rainforest. Leaves mostly smooth, though new growth sometimes hairy. Margins entire, apex obtuse to acuminate, base acute to rounded or cordate, petiole 2-7 cm long. White flowers either few-flowered and axillary in upper axils, or many-flowered and forming broad terminal corymbs. Fruit a black drupe, growing on an enlarged red fleshy calyx, attractively succulent, giving rise to the name. The leaves are host to the caterpillar of the Fiery Jewel Butterfly.

White flowers bloom in spring. MargaretRDonald CC BY-SA 4.0

Seed collecting and propagation

Hairy Lolly Bush can be propagated through seed collection and propagation, as well as through cuttings or root suckers. For seed collection, gather ripe fruits in March to December, which are black about 10 mm. Separate and plant the seeds immediately in a clean seedling mix, as germination can be difficult and slow.

Ripe black fruits in red calyx. Green fruits should be left until they turn black. Mark Marathon CC BY-SA 3.0