Mountain beard heath
Acrothamnus hookeri

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A small bush. It grows 0.5-2 m tall and spreads 0.5-1.5 m wide. The leaves are 0.5-1.5 cm long by 0.1-0.4 cm wide. They are stiff and leathery. They are bluish-green above and pale with fine stripes underneath. The edges are curved back and the tip is blunt. The leaves clasp the stem. The flowers are about 0.5 cm long. They are white and bell-shaped or tube shaped. They occur in short clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit are fleshy with a stone inside. They are 0.4-0.6 cm across and red.

There are about 6 Acrothamnus species. They are mostly in Australia.

Where it is found

It grows in subalpine regions in SE Asia. It needs well drained moist soils. It needs light shade.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Tasmania (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Tip cuttings are used.

It is very slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Leucopogon hookeri Sond.; Leucopogon suaveolens J. D. Hook.;