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Rhagodia candolleana

seaberry saltbush

Amaranthaceae

Coastal southern and eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

Overview

Rhagodia candolleana is a sprawling to scrambling evergreen shrub 0.5-2 m (1.5-6.5 ft) tall that can mound over rocks or climb through other vegetation to 3 m (10 ft) across. The thick, slightly fleshy leaves are 1-4 cm (0.4-1.6 in) long, oval to triangular, dark green and glossy above with a paler mealy underside. Tiny greenish flowers are borne in branched sprays at the stem tips through much of the year. The species is dioecious, so the small succulent berries form only on female plants, ripening glossy red 3-5 mm (0.2 in) wide and eaten by birds. It grows on coastal dunes, headlands, and cliff faces, tolerating salt spray, sandy and limestone soils, and periods of drought. Dense low growth makes it a soil-binding plant on exposed coastal sites, though the same vigour lets it scramble over smaller plants in cultivation. The widespread coastal form is R. candolleana ssp. candolleana. It withstands hard pruning and salt-laden wind that damage many shrubs, but it is frost-sensitive and slows in cold inland conditions.

Native Range

Native to southern and eastern coastal Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia. It is largely restricted to near-coastal dunes, cliffs, and headlands.

Suggested Uses

Planted for coastal stabilisation, low informal hedging, and as a salt- and wind-tolerant screen in seaside gardens. Its dense habit suits bank and dune binding, while berries on female plants supply food for birds.

How to Identify

Look for a sprawling shrub with thick glossy dark-green leaves that are mealy-white beneath, growing on or near the coast. Glossy red berries 3-5 mm wide on female plants and a scrambling habit over rocks or low shrubs are characteristic. Crushed foliage is slightly fleshy and salty.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 6'6"

Width/Spread3' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Greenish flowers appear over a long period, mainly spring to autumn and sometimes year-round in mild coastal climates. The red berries that follow on female plants are the more visible stage and can persist for weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Glossy dark green above, mealy pale beneath

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-12 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 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on free-draining sandy, limestone, or rocky soils and tolerates salt spray, wind, and extended dry spells once established. It accepts part shade but grows more openly there. Watering is needed only to establish young plants, after which mature shrubs are highly drought-tolerant. It is sensitive to prolonged frost and to heavy, waterlogged soils. Periodic trimming keeps the sprawling stems compact and stops them smothering neighbours.

Pruning

Responds to hard pruning and can be cut back into old wood to renew shape or control spread. Trimming after the main fruiting period controls size. Regular light tip-pruning produces a denser, more compact habit.