Native Large Leaf Tamarind - Edible

Diploglottis australis.

I love saying this Australian Native’s botanical name. It has such flow and yet the weirdest set of letters together.

Say it slowly the first time helps

Dip..lo..glot..tis Aus..tral..is

This beautiful plant is commonly called Native Large Leaf Tamarind.

In its natural habitat, along east coast of Australia anywhere from Proserpine (QLD) to Brogo (NSW), it can grow to over 35m tall. In cultivation, our backyards, it’s mainly used as a large shade tree. In best conditions it will usually grow to about 10m high and 3-5m wide.

There are so many things to love about this tree but honestly the thing I love the most is it’s leaves. I love trees with large leaves and this one has these large leaves that are covered in velvety golden brown hairs. Adding a bronzing effect to the overall greenness of the tree. Added to that the leaf veins are easy to see and the midrib is slightly raised. It’s truly a visual and textural leaf.

Not only does it have these amazing leaves it also has the coolest fruit!

The flowers are like hairy creamy white puffs that form in the Spring. Then from about January fruit starts to drop to ground when ripe. The berries, are two or three-lobed and are roughly about the size of a small fig fruit. They have a brown hairy outer casing and contain juicy, orange/red, edible pulp around a large brown seed.

The fruit is often sour to taste, but like the Asian Tamarind, may be enjoyed raw or processed into jams, jellies, sauces and drinks. It’s a great native food.

Diploglottis australis can be grown in full sun or part shade. It doesn’t like frosts or windy positions. It does prefer to have moist fertile soil but beggars can’t be choosers and can grow in a wide range of soils and conditions.

A good feed with a complete slow release organic fertiliser, like Organic Link, every three months would be greatly appreciated.

Diploglottis australis is a beautiful small native tree that would be an added bonus to any garden.

Backhousia citriodora

One of my all time favourite scented foliage plants is the Backhousia citriodora (lemon myrtle).

It is endemic to subtropical rainforests of central and south-eastern Queensland, Australia, with a natural distribution from Mackay to Brisbane.

Unfortunately the lemon myrtle was very hard hit by the myrtle rust and the commercial availability of the smaller plants became very limited. You see, Backhousia citriodoras don’t grow true to form from seed, cutting grown is always best but Backhousias are notoriously hard to grow from cutting. Understand now why there can be a shortage some years! Older established trees are readily available and now the smaller ones are slowly coming back on the market.

Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) is an absolute delight for any garden. It is a small growing tree (around 3-5m) with leaves that release a strong lemon scent when crushed or after rain. I love breaking off a few and throwing them on the lawn before I mow. It makes mowing so much more enjoyable!

New growth is tinged red and in summer you’ll get abundant clusters of creamy white flowers which are loved by butterflies and bees.

Lemon myrtle is quite versatile and can be used as a screen, hedge or feature tree and is suitable for most gardens and courtyards. It loves the full sun and can handle the cold and dry once established. It is naturally thick and dense and doesn't require trimming to keep it neat.

A good fertilise with Organic Link on turn of every season would be appreciated by the tree.

Long, hot day calls for an icy mineral water (maybe with a splash of vodka) and some Backhousia citriodora leaves for a great tang.

The leaves, flowers and seeds of lemon myrtle are all edible and can be used in cooking to flavour biscuits, cakes, bread, pasta, meat and herbal teas. It can be also use to scent your own soaps or bath bombs.

Lemon Myrtle essential oil is also available. It has an intense lemony aroma which is uplifting and invigorating and is great to use when studying or just needing a gentle nudge into the fast track of the day.

One of my all time favourite natives. Trevallan always tries to have these amazing natives in stock

Macadamia tetraphylla

Did you know that Macadamia tetraphylla was the first Australian native food plant to be grown by non-indigenous Australians as a commercial crop?

What’s even cooler is that seedlings from this original plantation were used as rootstock for grafted modern varieties of Macadamia Nuts well into the 20th century.

Macadamia tetraphylla from Royal Botanical Garden in Sydney

In recent times commercial growers have stopped growing Macadamia tetraphylla and preferred to grow Macadamia integrifolia (Macadamia Nut most of us know and love). The reason for this is the Macadamia tetraphylla has a higher sugar content than Macadamia integrifolia. Having a higher sugar content makes it really yummy when eaten raw but can lead to burning when used in baking.

Macadamia tetraphylla is native to southern Queensland and northern New South Wales and is now classed as a vulnerable in the wild.

Macadamia tetraphylla has long, pendulous nectar rich pink flowers that the insects and birds adore. They also have a delicious scent. After the flowers woody, rounded fruits appear which contain the edible seeds.

It can grow to 18m in best conditions but can be kept smaller. It is best suited for people who have space and is an excellent shade tree.

These trees are best growing in the ground. Best planting advice is dig your hole twice as big as your pot. Back fill with excellent quality garden soil and plant your tree, fertilise with Organic Link when planting. I like to fertilise all my natives on turn of every season (every three months) with Organic Link. It usually takes around three months for a tree to fully establish itself. Keep water and liquid fertiliser up to your tree over this time and allow it to get the best possible start in life.

We have some of these beauties in stock now

Finger Lime

Finger Limes are like our national treasure.

I always liken the little balls of tasty goodness to popping candy that I used to have as a kid.

Here’s this weird long fruit that you cut open to reveal what looks like caviar. You put these little balls of goodness on your tongue and a sweet Lime explosion happens in your mouth, giving a unique flavour sensation.

But to get to this amazing point we all need to remember the saying be thankful the thorn bush has roses!

To me Finger Lime bushes are spindly and exceptionally prickly. There really isn’t much more to say about their looks. As my mother always taught me if you can't say something nice, don't say anything!

As for care and attention, these guys are very hardy as long as you get it right! They Like a very warm protected position. This plant isn’t a fan of the cold and it also hates the burning sun. You have to remember that these plants are native to the rainforests of the border ranges of SE Queensland and Northern NSW.

I personally have found I can grow them better in a pot but I know a lovely family that is growing them by the tens at Pine Mountain in the ground.

They love a really nutrient dense soil so fertilise on the turn of every season with an excellent quality all round organic fertiliser like Organic Link.

Finger Lime Chartreuse

I have found it’s best to keep them trimmed as they can get a little, dare I say it, ugly !

White Autumn flowers are followed in Winter and Spring by slow-growing finger-shaped fruit containing glistening ‘citrus pearls’. The fruit is highly nutritious, rich in Vitamin C and high in antioxidants. Finger Lime fruit doesn’t ripen well off the tree, so pick only fully ripe fruit – these will feel full and detach easily. When opening the fruit, avoid getting oil from the rind onto the pearls, as this can affect the flavour.

Varieties Trevallan Stocks

Red Champagne variety of Finger limes produce fruit from December to March and they say the flavour is like spiced apple and apricot with a berry aroma... sounds like a good wine description!

Chartreuse has a subtle citrus flavour and is less bitter than other finger lime varieties.  It has green fruit with a pale green/yellow flesh. It is said to be ideal for salads, desserts and seafood. Chartreuse has a long fruiting season

Byron Sunrise is a dark skinned finger lime with tangy light pink coloured citrus pearls that strengthen in flavour when the fruit is cut and exposed to the air.

Crystal variety has very large fruit and can be vigorous, enabling the possibility of high yields per tree. The fruit is green skin with light green vesicles, bursting with flavour.

Seriously while these plants aren’t the prettiest plants they have a unique look that can work in many garden designs especially as containerised feature trees. Come into Trevallan today and get your own native fruit tree!