Botanical Name: Elaeocarpus reticulatus Prima Donna
Common Names: Blueberry Ash, Native Quandong
Prima Donna Blueberry Ash is a stunning native rainforest tree that handles Perth conditions with ease. This variety is famous for its soft pink bell flowers that cover the tree in spring and summer. It has a slender, upright shape which makes it perfect for tight spots or as a beautiful feature tree in a suburban backyard.
Features:
Ideal prune height range: 4-5m
pH growing conditions: 5.5 to 7.0
Shade or full sun: Full sun to part shade
Minimum pot year 5: 45L pot
Time to fruit age: 3-5 years
These trees are very low maintenance and have great resistance to pests and diseases. The new leaves come out with a bronze tint before turning a deep evergreen.
Uses:
Prima Donna is a top choice for a narrow privacy screen or a bird-friendly hedge. It is very wind-firm and fire retardant, making it a safe pick for homes. The blue berries provide a massive splash of colour in winter and are a magnet for native birds like the Regent Bowerbird.
Edible:
The blue fruit is edible, though it is mostly skin and seed with very little flesh. It has a slightly sour, gritty taste. Historically, the fruit was used by Indigenous Australians as a food source.
Today, it is mostly used to add a pop of colour to native food platters or processed into preserves.
Medicinal:
The fruit is high in Vitamin C and antioxidants. In traditional medicine, various parts of the tree were used to treat general aches. The seeds are also quite hard and bumpy; they were often used as beads for jewellery or rhythmic instruments, which some find has a calming, therapeutic use in craft.
Limited stock. Pickup from Parkwood, WA. Delivery to Perth Metro only.
Keywords: Blueberry Ash Prima Donna, Elaeocarpus reticulatus, native feature tree Perth, pink flowering native, bird attracting trees, screen plants Perth