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Cupaniopsis spp.

Tuckeroo

Sapindaceae

Australia, New Guinea, and the western Pacific

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Cupaniopsis spp. is a genus of about 60 evergreen trees and shrubs in the soapberry family, native to Australia, New Guinea, and the islands of the western Pacific and Malesia. Most are small to medium trees 16-50 feet (5-15 m) tall, with a dense rounded crown and compound leaves divided into several leathery, blunt-tipped leaflets. Small cream to greenish flowers are borne in branched sprays and are followed by woody, three-lobed capsules that split open to show black seeds wrapped in a bright orange, fleshy aril. Birds take the arils and disperse the seed. The most familiar species, C. anacardioides, the tuckeroo or carrotwood, grows on coastal dunes, estuaries, and littoral rainforest in eastern Australia and is widely planted as a hardy street and shade tree. Outside its range it has naturalized and become an invasive weed in parts of Florida and Hawaii. The genus grows in warm, frost-free climates on a range of soils and tolerates wind, salt, and poor drainage better than many rainforest trees. Growth is moderate, and most species are damaged by frost.

Native Range

Cupaniopsis spp. is native to Australia, New Guinea, and the western Pacific islands, with the greatest diversity in New Caledonia and eastern Australia. C. anacardioides grows on coastal dunes, estuary margins, and littoral rainforest along the eastern Australian coast.

Suggested Uses

Cupaniopsis spp. species, especially the tuckeroo, are grown as hardy street, park, and shade trees in warm coastal climates and as windbreaks near the sea. The dense canopy and salt tolerance suit exposed seaside and estuary plantings. The orange-arilled seeds also support fruit-eating birds where the trees are grown.

How to Identify

Identify Cupaniopsis spp. by its evergreen compound leaves divided into several leathery, blunt or notched leaflets, on a dense-crowned tree or shrub. The woody three-lobed capsules split to reveal black seeds in a bright orange aril, a reliable feature when present. In C. anacardioides the swollen, carrot-coloured leaf stalk bases give the carrotwood name.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height16' - 50'

Width/Spread13' - 33'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowering is mainly in late winter and spring, broadly July to November in eastern Australia, varying with species and climate. The small cream to greenish flowers open in branched sprays and are lightly fragrant. Woody capsules follow through spring and summer, splitting to show the orange-arilled seeds taken by birds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to greenish

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

10-15 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Cupaniopsis spp. grows in full sun to part shade in warm, frost-free climates on a wide range of soils, including sandy, saline, and poorly drained coastal ground. Established plants tolerate wind, salt spray, and short waterlogging, which suits the coastal species to exposed seaside planting. They grow at a moderate pace and form a dense, shady canopy with little care once settled. Frost damages or kills young plants, restricting cultivation to the subtropics, tropics, and frost-free warm-temperate areas. In good conditions the coastal tuckeroo self-seeds freely, which has made it a weed where it has escaped overseas. Routine watering through establishment and mulch over the roots speed early growth.

Pruning

Cupaniopsis spp. needs little pruning beyond shaping young trees and removing dead or crossing branches. The dense crown takes clipping and can be raised over a clear trunk for street and shade use. Removing fruit before it ripens limits self-seeding where the tree has weed potential.