Hortiforum

General Info – White Aspen, Pigeon Berry, Yellow Wood

White Aspen bears aromatic, juicy, lobed fruits with a strong citrus flavour, often compared to a mix of Orange and Lemon, with hints of Honey, Eucalyptus and Pepper. These eye-catching, white fruits are excellent for attracting native birds like the Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Blue-Faced Honeyeater, and the Topknot Pigeon. Their harvest runs from winter through to spring, often quite bare times in a garden. With their crisp texture and pleasant flavour, White Aspen fruits are delightful eaten fresh, tossed into salads, or used in sauces and cocktails. They also work well preserved in jams and syrups. Part of the Acronychia genus, White Aspen is related to Lemon Aspen and Fraser Island Apple, and also belongs to the Rutaceae family, which includes the Citrus fruits.
White Aspen is native to the rainforests and rainforest margins of Eastern Australia, with its range extending from the subtropical forests around Gympie, Queensland to the temperate Gippsland region in Victoria. It thrives in well-drained, moist soils and can grow in both shaded and sunny spots. While the plant can tolerate light frosts in its natural range, it’s best to protect young plants from frost, and providing shelter from strong winds is important for healthy growth.
White Aspen grows as a shrub to a medium-sized tree, reaching heights of over 25 metres in the wild but typically staying under 10 metres in cultivation. It features dense, dark green, lemon-scented foliage, and produces small clusters of creamy-white flowers in spring and summer. The plant can also be pruned to form a hedge or screen.

Plant Profile/Properties