Trochocarpa spp.

tree heath

Ericaceae

Eastern Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and Southeast Asia

Attracts Pollinators

SunPart Shade – Full Sun

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Trochocarpa spp. is a genus of about a dozen evergreen shrubs and small trees in the heath family (Ericaceae), native to eastern Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and parts of Southeast Asia. Plants range from low shrubs to trees 3-40 feet (1-12 m) tall, with small, leathery leaves marked by several curved, parallel veins. Tiny urn- to bell-shaped flowers, white to pink or reddish, are packed into slender, often nodding spikes near the branch tips. The flowers ripen into small, flattened, fleshy drupes that hold several seeds and are eaten by birds. Species grow in cool rainforest, wet heath, and mountain scrub on acidic, peaty soils with steady moisture. Trochocarpa laurina, the tree heath, reaches small-tree size and carries glossy foliage and dark fruit. The genus needs cool, humid conditions and acid soil, and grows slowly, which limits its use to specialist and woodland gardens.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and parts of Southeast Asia, growing in cool rainforest, montane scrub, and wet heath on acidic soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in cool-climate woodland, fern, and heath gardens and in containers of acidic mix. Lower species are used as understorey shrubs, while tree forms give light shade and bird-attracting fruit.

How to Identify

Evergreen shrub or small tree with small, leathery leaves crossed by several curved, parallel veins. Tiny urn- to bell-shaped white, pink, or reddish flowers crowd into slender, often nodding spikes. Flattened, fleshy drupes follow and darken as they ripen.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 40'

Width/Spread3' - 15'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs from spring into summer, roughly September to January in the Southern Hemisphere. The small flowers open along nodding spikes and draw insects. Fleshy fruits develop over the following months and persist into autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pink or red

Foliage Description

glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Sun

Requires 3-8 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

peat loam sand

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in part shade to full sun in cool, humid sites with acidic, peaty, free-draining soils kept evenly moist. They are intolerant of lime, heat, and drying winds, reflecting their rainforest and montane origins. Growth is slow, and young plants need shelter while they establish. Propagation is by seed, which can be slow to germinate, or by semi-hardwood cuttings. Root rot follows waterlogging, and chlorosis appears on alkaline soils.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed beyond removing dead or damaged wood after flowering. A light trim shapes young plants and encourages denser growth; old wood is cut back sparingly, as the genus recovers slowly.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown

Shrub