Daphne Heath
Brachyloma daphnoides
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
An upright grey-green shrub. It grows to 1.5 m high and spread 1.5 m wide. The leaves are almost without stalks and are oval. They are flat or slightly curved and grey-green. The leaves are 1.5 cm long. The flowers have a strong sweet smell. They are white and like tubes with 5 spreading star shaped lobes. They appear in small clusters near the ends of branches. The flowers are 0.5 cm long. The fruit are small, rounded and fleshy.
There are 7 Brachyloma species. They grow in Australia. Possibly not in Tasmania according to 2017 Tasmanian plant census.
Where it is found
It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in heath and open forests. It can grow in poor soils. It needs good drainage. It is mostly in coastal areas. It is resistant to drought and frost. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania
How it is used for food
The fruit can be used to make jam or jelly.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants are grown from cuttings. It can also be grown from seed and by layering.
Plants are slow growing.