Wilkiea spp.

wilkiea

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Wilkiea spp. is a small genus of about seven evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Monimiaceae, native to the rainforests of eastern Australia. Plants typically grow 2-8 m (6.5-26 ft) tall as slender understory trees or shrubs, with opposite, glossy dark-green leaves that are often toothed toward the tip and held on green stems. The small flowers are cream to greenish, borne in the leaf axils, with male and female flowers usually on separate plants, so both sexes are needed for fruit. Pollinated female flowers develop into small fleshy drupes that ripen blue-black and are eaten by rainforest birds, which disperse the seed. The genus occupies the shaded, humid middle and lower layers of subtropical and warm-temperate rainforest, on moist, fertile soils. Growth is slow to moderate, and plants keep a narrow, upright form in shade. They tolerate deep shade and steady moisture but are sensitive to frost, drought, and full exposure. Across the genus, leaf size and texture vary, and species are told apart mainly by leaf venation and fruit detail. In cultivation they suit shaded, sheltered, frost-free gardens.

Native Range

All species are native to eastern Australia, from northeastern Queensland south into New South Wales. They grow in subtropical and warm-temperate rainforest, in gullies and on slopes with moist, humus-rich soil. W. huegeliana is among the more widespread species of moist coastal forest.

Suggested Uses

Used as an understory shrub or small tree in shaded, sheltered, frost-free gardens and rainforest-style plantings. The fruit suits bird-attracting and habitat gardens. Compact shaded courtyards and containers also suit the smaller species.

How to Identify

Look for an upright rainforest shrub or small tree with opposite, glossy dark-green leaves that are often toothed near the tip. Small cream to greenish flowers sit in the leaf axils, and female plants carry small blue-black fleshy fruits. The opposite leaves, axillary flowers, and aromatic crushed foliage place the plant in the Monimiaceae and help separate Wilkiea spp. from similar rainforest shrubs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6'6" - 26'

Width/Spread5' - 13'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs mainly in spring and summer, roughly September to December in eastern Australia. The small cream flowers are easy to overlook among the foliage. On female plants, flowers are followed by blue-black drupes that ripen over the following months.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to greenish

Foliage Description

glossy dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-5 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 Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years to maturity

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in partial to deep shade in moist, humus-rich, free-draining soil, matching their rainforest origins. Steady moisture and shelter from drying wind and hot sun suit them, while frost, drought, and exposed positions cause leaf burn and dieback. They are grown outdoors only in frost-free subtropical and warm-temperate zones, or under glass in cooler areas. Mulch and an evenly moist root zone support steady growth. Because plants are usually single-sexed, fruit forms only where male and female plants grow together. Pests are few in suitable shaded conditions, though scale can appear on stressed plants.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed beyond shaping. Tip pruning of young plants encourages a denser, bushier habit, and lower branches are removed to train a small single-stemmed tree. Plants tolerate light trimming and resprout from the stems.