Diospyros geminata
scaly ebony
Northern Australia (Northern Territory and Queensland)
Overview
Diospyros geminata is an evergreen small tree reaching 13-26 feet (4-8 m) tall with a single trunk and an upright, densely branched crown 10-16 feet (3-5 m) wide. The bark is dark grey to near-black and shallowly fissured. Leaves are alternate, leathery, and elliptic to oblong, 1.2-3 inches (3-8 cm) long, glossy dark green above and paler beneath, with a covering of rusty scales on new growth and leaf undersides. Cream to pale-yellow flowers about 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) across form singly or in pairs in the leaf axils; plants are functionally dioecious, so fruit develops only on female trees. The fruit is a rounded berry 0.4-0.8 inch (10-20 mm) wide, ripening from green to orange-red and holding several hard seeds. D. geminata grows in monsoon vine thickets and dry rainforest margins across northern Australia, frequently on sandstone or shallow rocky soils. Growth is slow, often under 12 inches (30 cm) per year, and the species is frost-sensitive, which restricts cultivation to frost-free tropical and subtropical zones.
Native Range
Diospyros geminata is native to northern Australia, occurring across the Northern Territory and Queensland. It grows in monsoon vine thickets and dry rainforest, often on sandstone outcrops and shallow soils.Suggested Uses
D. geminata is grown as a small shade or screening tree in tropical and subtropical gardens, spaced 10-16 feet (3-5 m) apart. It is also planted in revegetation of monsoon vine thicket habitats in northern Australia.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height13' - 26'
Width/Spread10' - 16'
Reaches mature size in approximately 12 years
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in the wet season, from November to February in the native range. Flowers are small, cream to pale yellow, and borne singly or in pairs in the leaf axils. Fruit ripens over several months after flowering.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to pale yellowFoliage Description
glossy dark green above, paler beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
D. geminata grows in full sun to part shade in frost-free positions. It performs in well-drained sandy or loamy soils and tolerates shallow, rocky substrates similar to its native sandstone habitat. Regular watering through the first two to three growing seasons supports establishment, after which trees tolerate seasonal dry periods. Growth is slow, often under 12 inches (30 cm) per year. Frost damages young foliage and stems, limiting cultivation to USDA zones 10-11. Fruit set requires both male and female plants.Pruning
Light pruning in late spring removes dead, damaged, or crossing branches and shapes the crown. The species needs little routine pruning. Cutting into older bare wood produces slow regrowth.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late spring