Carpet frilly heath
Pentachondra pumila
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
A very small shrub. It forms mats. It grows 5-15 cm high and spreads 50-150 cm wide. Young growth can be hairy. The branches are long and wiry and often form roots when near the ground. The small branches are rough. The leaves are 0.3-0.6 cm long by 0.2 cm wide. The are oblong and crowded. They are stiff and curved inwards and have a sharp tip. The flowers are like tubes and 0.4 cm long. They are white with spreading lobes. The fruit are about 0.8 cm across. They are almost round and bright red.
There are 3-5 Pentachondra species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows above the tree line in subalpine regions. It needs well drained acidic soils. It can tolerate low temperatures and snow. It suits hardiness zones 8-9. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), New Zealand, Tasmania (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from cuttings of soft wood. It can also be grown from layered stems.
It is slow growing. The fruit take about a year to ripen.