Hortiforum

General Info – Plum Pine, Illawarra Plum, Daalgall, Brown Pine, Goongum

A coniferous tree native to the rainforests of Australia’s East Coast, the Plum Pine produces an abundance of unique, Plum-like fruits, making it well worth cultivating for gardeners with ample space.
Plum Pines produce an abundance of unique fruits, characterised by a large, dark purple fleshy ‘fruit’ and an exposed seed hanging from its base, somewhat resembling a Cashew Fruit. This fleshy, berry-like structure is not technically a botanical fruit, which is typically defined as the seed-bearing structure formed from the ovary of a flower. Instead, it is a fleshy receptacle formed from fused cone scales, similar to the “berries” of Juniper Communis, another conifer. Other common fruits that form from or include parts of the receptacle include Strawberries and Pomes like Apples and Pears. The fleshy receptacle of the Plum Pine, often compared to a plum, has earned the plant its name due to its similarity in appearance to a black-skinned blood plum with succulent, dark red sweet flesh that has a jelly-like texture. The fruits have a mild pine and subtle plum-like flavour with slightly resinous notes and can reach up to 25 mm in length, similar to a large Grape. Long consumed by Aboriginal peoples and rich in vitamin C, Plum Pine can be eaten fresh or made into jams, jellies, and compotes. It is also used in savoury sauces and marinades.
The Plum Pine is a coniferous tree, part of the Podocarpus genus which was endemic to the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. The genus name Podocarpus is a combination of the greek words for ‘foot’ and ‘fruit’, referring to the characteristic way the fruits are borne at the base of a fleshy receptacle, often mistaken for a botanical fruit. Typical of conifers, these trees have attractive, lance-shaped, narrow, and tough foliage. The new growth emerges as a glossy bronze colour, while the mature leaves are a lush, dark green. With their fissured, dark brown bark, round spreading canopy, and dense form, Plum Pines make striking specimens. They can grow up to 40 metres tall, forming substantial trees, however, with aggressive pruning, they can also be shaped into a hedge.
Native to the rainforests of Eastern Australia, the Plum Pine’s range extends from the temperate South Coast of New South Wales to the tropical Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. Thriving in subtropical, riverine, and coastal rainforests, like many rainforest plants, the Plum Pine tolerates both partial shade and full sun, preferring rich loam soil with excellent drainage and a neutral to acidic pH, avoiding alkalinity and waterlogging. When first planted, Plum Pines benefit greatly from mulching and abundant watering, but they develop moderate drought tolerance once mature. They are not ideal for impatient gardeners, as they can take 8 to 15 years to bear fruit, nor for those with small backyards, as they are substantial in size and dioecious, requiring at least one male and one female plant for fruit production. Like other conifers, the Plum Pine is wind-pollinated, with male catkins (flowers) releasing large amounts of pollen.

Plant Profile/Properties