Notelaea microcarpa
small-fruited mock olive
Overview
Notelaea microcarpa is an evergreen shrub or small tree 6-16 feet (2-5 m) tall, in the olive family, with a rounded to spreading crown. The opposite leaves are 1.6-4.7 inches (4-12 cm) long, leathery, narrow to lance-shaped, dull green above and paler below, with a network of slender veins. Small cream to greenish flowers about 0.2 inch (4-5 mm) wide hang in short clusters from the leaf axils in spring and carry a light scent. These are followed by fleshy blue-black drupes 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) long, smaller than those of related mock olives, that ripen through summer and are eaten by birds. It is native to eastern Australia, where it grows in dry woodland, rocky hillsides, and scrub on a range of soils. The plant is slow-growing and drought tolerant once established but is frost sensitive when young. Its hard, close-grained wood and dense habit make it useful for shelter and screening.
Native Range
Notelaea microcarpa is native to eastern Australia, occurring in Queensland and New South Wales. It grows in dry sclerophyll woodland, rocky hillsides, and scrub on shallow and stony soils.Suggested Uses
Grown as a screening or hedging shrub, a small specimen tree, and a habitat plant in native and dry-climate gardens. The bird-eaten fruit and dense foliage suit it to wildlife and shelter plantings on free-draining soils.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 16'
Width/Spread6' - 12'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in spring, mainly August to October in its native range, with lightly scented cream flowers in clusters along the stems. Fruit forms after flowering and ripens to blue-black through summer. Flowering and fruiting can vary from year to year with seasonal rainfall.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to greenishFoliage Description
dull greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 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
Notelaea microcarpa grows in full sun to part shade in well-drained sandy, loamy, or stony soils and tolerates shallow and rocky ground. Once established it withstands drought and needs little watering, though young plants benefit from steady moisture. It is slow-growing and frost sensitive when young, becoming hardier with age. The dense habit responds well to clipping. It is propagated from fresh seed, which can be slow to germinate, or from cuttings.Pruning
The dense, leafy growth tolerates regular clipping and can be shaped into a hedge or screen. Pruning after flowering keeps the plant compact and encourages branching. Older shrubs can be cut back into leafy wood to renew the crown, though regrowth from bare old wood is slower.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons