Rainforest Plants of Northern NSW: Fruits of the Forest

The subtropical rainforests of northern NSW have many different fruiting trees, bushes and shrubs that produce delicious fruits. Rainforest fruits are very different to the traditional fruits you buy in the supermarket; they are often smaller in size and grow in greater quantities than apples or pears. However, the nutrients available in the rainforest fruits are often greatly concentrated, meaning you need to eat less to receive higher nutritional benefits. A number of rainforest fruits are quite sour, but make great jams or wines. Many of these fruits grow high up in the rainforest canopy, while others grow on small low-growing bushes or shrubs.

Lillypillies Provide Food and Colour

The most commonly known fruiting rainforest species are the Lillypillies (Acmena and Syzigum species). Lillypillies range from tall rainforest trees such as the Broad-leaved Lilly Pilly (Acmena hemilampra), which can grow to 25m in height, to small shrub species such as the Riberry (Syzgium luehmannii) that is less than 5m in height.

Lillipillies are beautiful plants with glossy green leaves all year round, and bright coloured new growth in pinks and purples. They fruit prolifically, and generally produce small berry-sized fruits. Some species, however, have larger fruits to the size of a cherry or bigger. The taste of the fruit varies depending on species, some are very sweet, others taste like miniature apples, and the purple/blue varieties can taste like bubblegum! Lillypillies are known to be highly nutritious, as they contain vitamin c and antioxidants.

As they have become a very popular plant, lillypillies are widely planted in backyards, nature strips and parks. There are many hybrid species and cultivars that are suited to many different conditions.

Davidson Plums for Amazing Jams

My favourite rainforest fruit for making jam is from a tree called the Davidson Plum (Davidsonia jerseyana). It has quite a sour fruit, but produces the most amazing-flavoured jam. It is similar to a sour cherry jam, but more flavoursome and with a unique spicy tang all of its own.

The Davidson Plum grows to a height of 10m and has large, hairy-looking leaves. It is an interesting plant because the fruit grows directly from the trunk of the tree, instead of from the branches like most fruit. The fruit is purple in colour and grows in clusters along the main stem of the tree.

Unfortunately, the Davidson Plum is an endangered species in the wild, as so much of the natural rainforest has been cleared. As knowledge of the uses of this plant grows, it has become a popular species for home plantings.

Berrys Galore!

Northern NSW rainforests have various native berry species that grow on small shrubs and bushes. There is also a Native Mulberry that grows into a large tree and produces berry-like fruits. The Native Mulberry occurs naturally in various kinds of rainforest and its range is from Lismore in Northern NSW, to far north Queensland. Like the common mulberry, these trees have male and female trees, and both are needed for pollination. The native mulberry produces large quantities of white fruits that have seeds on the outside like a strawberry. There are quite small, but very sweet and lovely to eat.

Another rainforest berry is the Midgenberry (Austromyrtus dulcis), which is a small shrub that is naturally found in coastal rainforests in northern NSW and south east Qld. This is a very pretty plant that produces white flowers and an abundance of small berries. It is a favourite bush tucker, as the berries are sweet, aromatic and very tasty. The whole berry is eaten, seeds and all.

Tamarinds and Plum Pines

Australia has various native Tamarind species, with the most edible among them known simply as Native Tamarind (Diploglottis australis). This is similar to the Indian Tamarind, but is actually more closely related to lychee species. The tree can grow to 25m in height and is a beautiful tree in the rainforest. The fruit is quite tart and has been described as tasting like apricots. It is often used for making refreshing drinks, or can be added to jams and other desserts.

Another great native rainforest fruit is the Plum Pine (Podocarpus elatus), also known as the Brown Pine. This is a lovely tree that can grow into a rainforest giant, but is often kept pruned and used in hedges and back yard plantings. It has lovely foliage in contrasting dark and lime green colours. The fruit is purple and grape-like to look at. It has very sweet juicy pulp.

Grow Rainforest Fruits in Your Garden

There are many reasons to grow rainforest plants in your garden or regeneration project. For a start they are beautiful to look at and add lovely colours to your garden. They also produce yummy nutritious food for your family.

Rainforest fruits also help to attract native birds, bats and bees to your garden. This makes them especially good for using in rainforest restoration projects, as they will help to encourage native animals to your project. Native animals and birds help your project by pollinating trees and spreading rainforest seeds.

Just remember to only plant trees you have room for in the space provided. Happy planting!

References:

• McFarlane, A., Successful Gardening in Warm Climates, 2001, ABC Books, Sydney.
• Stewart, A., Australian Plants for Year-Round Colour, 2002, ABC Books, Sydney.
• The Big Scrub Landcare Group, Subtropical Rainforest Restoration: A practical manual and data source for landcare groups, land managers and rainforest regenerators, 2nd Edition, 2005, Bangalow, NSW.