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Leptecophylla parvifolia

mountain pinkberry

Ericaceae

Tasmania and south-eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 7–9

Overview

Leptecophylla parvifolia is a small evergreen heath shrub in the family Ericaceae, growing 12-60 inches (30-150 cm) tall and 12-40 inches (30-100 cm) wide, with a dense, much-branched, upright to spreading form. The stiff, narrow leaves are 0.2-0.5 inch (5-13 mm) long, crowded along the stems, dark green above with pale parallel veins beneath and a sharp point. Small white tubular flowers about 0.2 inch (5 mm) long open singly or in small groups in the leaf axils, mainly in spring. The flowers are followed by rounded fleshy berries 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) wide that ripen pink to deep red and have a mild sweet flesh over a hard stone. Growth is slow, and plants take several years to reach full size. The species needs cool, moist, free-draining conditions and is sensitive to heat, drought, and poor drainage.

Native Range

Native to Tasmania and parts of south-eastern mainland Australia, where it grows in montane and subalpine heath, open forest, and rocky slopes. It occurs on cool, moist, acidic soils, often at higher elevations.

Suggested Uses

Used in cool-climate native gardens, rockeries, and alpine plantings on acidic soils, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. The edible pink-red berries are eaten fresh and draw birds. Suits containers in cool areas with a free-draining, acidic mix.

How to Identify

Identified by stiff, sharp-pointed leaves 0.2-0.5 inch (5-13 mm) long with pale parallel veins beneath, and by small white tubular flowers in the leaf axils in spring. Rounded fleshy berries 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) wide ripen pink to red. The small crowded leaves and pink-red fleshy fruit separate it from related heaths with dry capsules or blue fruit.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 5'

Width/Spread1' - 3'4"

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring

Small white tubular flowers open mainly in spring (September to November), sometimes into early summer at higher elevations. The flowers are short-lived but appear over several weeks. Pink to red berries ripen through summer and into autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand peat rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

4-6 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on cool, moist, acidic soils with sharp drainage, reflecting its montane origins. It needs steady moisture and resents heat, drought, and waterlogged ground, performing poorly in warm lowland gardens. Light watering in dry spells and a cool root run from mulch or rock help it persist. The species needs no high-nutrient feeding and suits only low-phosphorus native fertilizer. Growth is slow, so plants take several years to fill out. Root-rot fungi are the main cause of loss on heavy or warm soils.

Pruning

Light tip pruning after flowering keeps the shrub dense and compact. The plant reshoots slowly from older wood, so hard pruning is avoided. Removing dead or frost-damaged stems tidies the plant without affecting fruiting.

Pruning Schedule

summer