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(Solanum aviculare)
Kangaroo Apple (Solanum aviculare)
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Raine Josephine
CC BY-SA 4.0
Image By:
Raine Josephine
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Raine Josephine | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ | Attribution: Raine Josephine (cc-by-sa) | Rights Holder: Raine Josephine | Publisher: PlantNet | Date Created: 2020-03-01T09:31:58Z | Title: Solanum aviculare G. Forst.: flower | Notes: |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Solanum aviculare, commonly known as Kangaroo Apple or New Zealand Nightshade, is an evergreen subshrub or shrub native to open woodlands and forest margins in Australia and New Zealand. It typically grows up to 4 m (13 ft) tall and 2 m (6.5 ft) wide. The plant has a sprawling habit with soft stems. Leaves are variable in shape, 8–30 cm (3.1–12 in) long, lobed or entire, with lobes 1–10 cm (0.4–4 in) long. From spring to summer, it produces showy hermaphroditic flowers that are white, mauve to blue-violet, 25–40 mm (0.98–1.6 in) wide. These are followed by oval berries 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide that are poisonous when green but edible and sweet when they ripen to a bright orange color.
Kangaroo Apple is valued for its ornamental flowers and edible fruit, as well as its ability to adapt to a variety of soil conditions. It is used in border planting, as a screen or hedge, and in revegetation projects. It thrives in full sun or part shade and requires medium amounts of water, preferring soils with medium to fast drainage. While it is not particularly drought-tolerant, it can withstand short dry periods. Gardeners should be cautious, as the plant can become invasive outside its native range, particularly in regions with a Mediterranean climate.CC BY-SA 4.0
Kangaroo Apple is valued for its ornamental flowers and edible fruit, as well as its ability to adapt to a variety of soil conditions. It is used in border planting, as a screen or hedge, and in revegetation projects. It thrives in full sun or part shade and requires medium amounts of water, preferring soils with medium to fast drainage. While it is not particularly drought-tolerant, it can withstand short dry periods. Gardeners should be cautious, as the plant can become invasive outside its native range, particularly in regions with a Mediterranean climate.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height: 5-6 feet
- Width: 3-4 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Purple
- Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Hummingbird Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Open woodlands and forest margins
Other Names
Common Names: Poroporo , Kangaroo-Apple , Kangaroo Apple , Pam Plum , Queensland-Känguruapfel , Rött Känguruäpple
Scientific Names: Solanum aviculare , Solanum laciniatum , Solanum aviculare var. aviculare , Solanum aviculare var. latifolium , Solanum aviculare var. albiflorum , Solanum cheesemanii , Solanum pinnatifidum , Solanum dispar , Solanum aviculare var. acutifolium , Solanum aviculare var. brisbanense
GBIF Accepted Name: Solanum aviculare G.Forst.