Elaeocarpus
( el - ee - oh - KAR - pus )
At-A-Glance Information
This evergreen genus, commonly known as Silver Dollar Tree or Blue Berry Tree, needs full sun and regular water to perform best, and are native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans as well as Asia. There are both trees and shrubs in this evergreen (sometimes briefly deciduous) genus, all with simple leaves, flowers and usually bluish fruits. These trees and shrubs can serve as great screening plants for privacy, windbreaks, street and shade trees, and as background plantings. Take care when planting these trees and shrubs in the landscape, as some plant parts are toxic to animals.
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Elaeocarpus species and varietals
The genus Elaeocarpus is a member of the plant family Elaeocarpaceae and includes almost 500 species. Japanese Blueberry Tree grows best in zones 8, 9, 14-24 and H1. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Elaeocarpus angustifolius (Elaeocarpus grandis) (Utrasum Bean Tree, Woodenbegar, Indian Bean Tree, Indian Oil Tree, Genitri, Blue Marble Tree) These trees are impressive, commonly forming buttress root systems above-ground and reaching 130 feet tall at maturity. They are fast growers. This species is evergreen, and produces creamy white flowers followed by round blue fruits (produced after plants reach about 3-4 years of age). Indian Bean Tree is native to New Caledonia through India and northern Australia. |
Elaeocarpus arnhemicus (Blue Plum, Blue Quandony, Arnhem Land Quandong) Native to northern Australia, New Guinea, Timor, and some of the Indonesian islands, this species forms a shrub or tree that can reach a maximum height of between 50 and 150 feet tall. Flowers are white and fruits that follow are metallic and blue. |
Elaeocarpus culminicola (Michael's Quandong) These plants are native to Malesia and Australasia, and have wavy, glossy green leaves. Flowers are creamy-white to pink and have a strong and somewhat unpleasant smell. Fruits that follow flowers are bright blue. Trees commonly reach about 80 feet tall when mature. |
Elaeocarpus decipiens (Elaeocarpus sylvestris ellipticus) (Japanese Blueberry Tree) This evergreen species and is native to Japan and China. New foliage is rusty and hairy, and turns smooth and bright green at maturity. Older leaves drop off the plant, first turning red. Summertime blooms are small, white and fragrant, and they are followed by small blue-black fruits. These trees do well as street and lawn trees. Variety 'Little Emperor' is a slow grower with dense foliage to 6-10 feet tall and wide with twisted leaves, and is a great choice for a hedge or screening plant. |
Elaeocarpus holopetalus (Black Olive Berry, Mountain Blueberry, Mountain Quandong) Endemic to eastern Australia, this species forms a shrub or small tree that reaches between 16 and 52 feet tall on average (though some specimens have been seen at 82 feet tall). Bark is smooth and dark grey or brown. Flowers are white, sometimes flushed with pink tones, and bloom between November and December in the plant's native range. Fruits that follow are maroon and mature to blackish when ripe. |
Elaeocarpus kirtonii (Silver Quandong, White Quandong, Brown Hearted Quandong, Brownheart, Mountain Beech, Mowbullan Whitewood, Pigeonberry Ash, White Beech) This species is endemic to eastern Australia, where it commonly grows in rainforest areas. Trees typically reach about 100 feet tall at maturity and produce buttress roots. New foliage is salmon-pink, maturing to dull green. Flowers are sweet-scented and white, appearing from January through March in the tree's native range. Fruits are pale blue and ovular. |
Elaeocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash, Ash Quandong, Blue Olive Berry, Fairy Petticoats, Fringe Tree, Koda, Lily of the Valley Tree, Scrub Ash) Endemic to eastern Australia, this species forms a shrub or small tree that typically reach 35 feet tall (though they can reach up to 98 feet at maturity). In October through January, these trees are covered with white to pinkish flowers. Fruits that follow are blue and round. |
Elaeocarpus serratus (Ceylon Olive) These medium to large trees are native to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Assam, and other areas of the northern Indian subcontinent. Flowers are most open in the late afternoon, and are cream-colored to white. Wood is white-yellow. This is the type species for the genus Elaeocarpus. |
Caring for and pruning Elaeocarpus Trees
These trees and shrubs typically thrive in full sun exposure, though they can take partial shade as well. Ideally, they should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal growth and flowering. They prefer well-draining, fertile soil that is sandy or loamy, enriched with plenty of organic matter. Soil pH should be acidic to neutral (between 5.0 and 7.5). Apply a dressing of mulch around the base of these trees and shrubs to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and help to regulate soil temperatures. These trees and shrubs do not need much in the way of pruning; they typically take on a handsome shape when left to their own devices. A yearly springtime application of organic compost around the base of these plants is sufficient to provide nutrients for the growing season. If plants seem to be struggling or are not flowering well, it may be beneficial to apply a feeding with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer in springtime.
Propagation
Elaeocarpus can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your tree, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Elaeocarpus by Cutting
Propagating Elaeocarpus by Seed
Propagating Elaeocarpus by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Elaeocarpus by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a bowl, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. Seeds are contained inside of the fruits produced by these trees and shrubs, and are ready to be harvested in late fall to winter (typically in November or December). Fruits will begin to drop from their attachments; this is a great time to pick the berries and remove the seeds inside. Once the seeds have been removed, rinse them under water to remove any remaining flesh. Next, place the seeds in a bowl and submerge them in lukewarm water. Leave them soaking overnight.
- The next day, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home
Problems and Pests
Elaeocarpus trees and shrubs are generally pest and disease resistant, though they can have issues with the following from time to time:
- Aphids
- Scale Insects
- Root Rot
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 299, Elaeocarpus decipiens (Japanese Blueberry Tree)
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