Edible fruit

Tree to 30 m in margins of rainforest and disturbed rainforest. Leaves simple, alternate, toothed, elliptic-ovate leaves with 3-4 cm petioles. Small white perfumed flowers in panicles in spring. Sweet tasting, edible drupe, orange turning brown to 7 mm in summer. Attractive to birds. Excellent hardy shade tree for larger acreage and parks. Ehretia after G. D. Ehret 1708-1770, a distinguished German-born botanical artist; acuminata from Latin acuminatus drawn out or terminating very gradually into a long, narrow point, in reference to the leaf tip. Germination rapid from fresh seed. Timber suitable for flooring and cabinetwork. Fruit eaten by Aborigines.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Seed collecting and propagation

Sweet tasting, edible drupe, orange turning brown to 7 mm in summer. Remove seeds from fleshy outer coating and sow immediately after collection. Scrape off as much of the flesh as possible, as this seed is very small. Then rub seed in the palm of the hand with a small quantity of sand, to clean off the remaining flesh and slightly abrade the seedcoat. Germination usually within 2 weeks. Very fast and easy to germinate and grow.

Photo: Mark Marathon CC BY-SA 4.0