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Embelia australiana

embelia

Primulaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Embelia australiana is a slender, woody climber or scrambling shrub that twines and clambers over other vegetation, with stems reaching 6-20 feet (2-6 m) in length. The leaves are alternate, oval to elliptic, 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, leathery, and glossy green, often with small gland dots. Small flowers about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) across are borne in clusters along the stems and are cream to pale pink. The fruit is a small rounded berry about 0.2 inch (5 mm) wide that ripens from green to red or purple-black and is eaten by birds. The plant grows in and along the margins of rainforest, draping over shrubs and small trees. Its growth is sparse and wiry rather than dense, and it depends on surrounding plants for support.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, in coastal and near-coastal Queensland and New South Wales. Grows in subtropical and dry rainforest and along rainforest margins, scrambling over shrubs and into the lower canopy on a range of soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in rainforest gardens, on trellises, and in revegetation plantings where it can climb over a support. It suits shaded, moist positions with nearby shrubs or structures for support. The berries draw fruit-eating birds in rainforest and garden settings.

How to Identify

Recognized as a slender woody climber with alternate, leathery, glossy oval leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long bearing small gland dots. Tiny cream to pale pink flowers are clustered along the stems, followed by rounded red to purple-black berries about 0.2 inch (5 mm) wide. The twining, wiry stems and gland-dotted leaves separate it from co-occurring rainforest vines.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 20'

Width/Spread3' - 6'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers in spring and summer, with small cream to pale pink flowers opening along the stems over several weeks. Berries follow and ripen from green to red or purple-black, often persisting into autumn. Flowering and fruiting can vary between seasons and sites.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Cream to pale pink

Foliage Description

Glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-5 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 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in part shade in moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter, in warm, frost-free climates. It needs support from surrounding shrubs, trees, or a trellis on which to climb. Water through dry spells, as growth slows in dry soil. Hard frost can damage the stems, limiting it to warm areas. The wiry stems can be cut back to control spread where it scrambles into other plants. It is grown mainly in rainforest gardens and revegetation rather than as an ornamental.

Pruning

Cut back long or wayward stems at any time of year to control spread and keep the plant within its support. Remove dead or tangled growth to keep the climber open. No regular pruning is required beyond managing its size.