1 / 5

Psydrax odoratus

Lamboto

Rubiaceae northern and eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Psydrax odoratus is an evergreen shrub or small tree reaching 6.6-16 feet (2-5 m) tall with a bushy, rounded crown. The leaves are opposite, glossy green, oval to elliptic, 1.2-3 inches (3-8 cm) long, with a leathery texture. Small cream to white flowers about 0.2 inch (4-5 mm) across are carried in branched clusters and are sweetly scented. The flowers are followed by rounded fleshy fruit 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) wide that ripen from green to black. The bark is grey and smooth on young stems. It grows in open forest and woodland and tolerates dry periods once established. Growth is slow to moderate. Flowering and fruiting are seasonal and depend on rainfall, so the plant can skip fruiting in dry years.

Native Range

Native to northern and eastern Australia, across the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia, and extending into parts of Southeast Asia. It grows in open eucalypt forest, woodland, and rocky hillsides on sandy and loamy soils.

Suggested Uses

Planted in native gardens, screens, and informal hedges at 5-10 feet (1.5-3 m) spacing. The scented flowers draw insects and the fruit draws native birds. Slow early growth means it fills in as a screen over several years.

How to Identify

Recognized by opposite, glossy, leathery leaves 1.2-3 inches (3-8 cm) long and clusters of small, sweetly scented cream to white flowers about 0.2 inch (4-5 mm) across. The rounded fleshy fruit ripen from green to black, 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) wide. The opposite glossy leaves and fragrant flower clusters separate it from similar woodland shrubs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6'7" - 16'

Width/Spread4'11" - 9'10"

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers mainly in spring and early summer, September through December in much of the range, with timing shifting after rain. The cream flowers carry a sweet scent strongest in the evening. Black fruit follows over the following weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to white

Foliage Description

glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

It grows in full sun to part shade in well-drained sandy or loamy soils with a pH of 6.0-7.5. Water through the first season to establish; mature plants tolerate dry periods and drought. It tolerates heat and light frost to about 28°F (-2°C). Few pests or diseases affect it. Growth is slow to moderate, and plants take several years to reach flowering size.

Pruning

Tip-prune after flowering to maintain a dense, bushy shape. The plant tolerates light pruning and regrows from cut stems. Dead or crossing branches can be removed at any time.

Pruning Schedule

summer

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 10 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown