Notelaea longifolia
large mock-olive
Overview
Notelaea longifolia is an evergreen shrub to small tree reaching 10-20 feet (3-6 m) tall, with a rounded crown and rough, fissured grey bark. The leaves are opposite, lance-shaped to narrowly oval, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, leathery, with a network of raised veins visible on both surfaces, and young growth is covered in short rusty hairs. Small cream to greenish-yellow flowers, about 0.2 inches (4-5 mm) across, hang in short clusters from the leaf axils in spring. The flowers are followed by oval blue-black drupes 0.4-0.6 inches (10-15 mm) long that resemble small olives and ripen over summer. Growth is slow to moderate. The plant tolerates shade and forms part of the rainforest understorey, where it can be sparse and open in habit. Fallen fruit germinates readily, producing seedlings beneath the canopy.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, in New South Wales and Queensland. Grows in the understorey of rainforest, moist eucalypt forest, and along forest margins on a range of soils, from the coast to the adjacent ranges.Suggested Uses
Planted as an understorey shrub, informal screen, or small shade tree in native and rainforest gardens, spaced 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) apart. The fruit is eaten by birds, supporting habitat plantings. It grows in large containers of at least 10 gallons (38 L), though it reaches full size only in the ground.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 20'
Width/Spread8' - 15'
Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly in spring, from September to November, with some variation by season and location. Individual clusters carry small flowers over 2-3 weeks, and the whole plant blooms over 4-6 weeks. Fruit follows through summer and into autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to greenish-yellowFoliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-8 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
Grows in part shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soil with added organic matter. Water during dry spells while establishing, after which the plant tolerates short dry periods in shaded positions. It grows on clay, loam, and sandy soils and tolerates the lower light of an understorey position. Few pests or diseases affect it. The fruit drops and stains paving beneath the canopy. Growth is slow, so plants take several years to reach screening height.Pruning
Light pruning after flowering or fruiting shapes the plant and keeps it dense. It tolerates harder cutting back and reshoots from older wood, which allows renovation of leggy specimens. Removal of low branches lifts the crown into a small single-stemmed tree.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 10 gallons