1 / 9

Eustrephus latifolius

wombat berry

Asparagaceae

Eastern Australia and the western Pacific

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Eustrephus latifolius is a slender, twining climber growing 1-3 m (3-10 ft) long, with wiry stems that wind over surrounding plants. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves are 2-8 cm (0.8-3 in) long with several parallel veins and a glossy upper surface. Small flowers 1-1.5 cm (0.4-0.6 in) across open in spring and summer, pink to white, with three smooth outer segments and three inner segments edged with a dense fringe of slender hairs. The flowers are followed by rounded orange berries 1-1.5 cm (0.4-0.6 in) across that split open to reveal shiny black seeds. Swollen tuberous roots along the stem base were eaten by Aboriginal people. It grows in open forest, rainforest margins, and coastal scrub in a range of soils. Limitation: the twining stems can tangle through and weigh down small shrubs, and the plant dies back in poor, very dry sites.

Native Range

Eastern Australia, from Cape York in Queensland south through New South Wales to Victoria, with a wide range into New Guinea and the western Pacific. It grows in open forest, rainforest margins, and coastal scrub.

Suggested Uses

Grown on light trellises and fences and through shrubs in native and habitat gardens, where the orange berries attract birds. It suits part-shaded positions and informal screening.

How to Identify

Recognised by twining wiry stems, narrow parallel-veined leaves, and small pink-to-white flowers whose three inner segments are densely fringed. Rounded orange berries that split to show black seeds confirm it. The fringed inner flower segments separate it from Geitonoplesium cymosum, a similar climber with smooth-edged flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer

Pink to white fringed flowers open in spring and summer, mainly September to February. They are followed by orange berries that ripen and split through summer and autumn. Flowering and fruiting can overlap on the same plant.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink to white

Foliage Description

glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Sun

Requires 3-7 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 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in well-drained soils in part shade to full sun and tolerates sandy to clay loams. Established plants tolerate dry periods and light frost. Water during the first season and in extended dry spells. The wiry stems twine over a trellis, fence, or shrub for support. The species spreads from seed and from its tuberous roots. It is grown from seed or by division of the tubers.

Pruning

Plants tolerate trimming at any time to control spread and untangle stems. Cut stems reshoot from the base and the tubers. Dead or surplus growth can be removed without harm.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic