Communities

Scientific Name

Astroloma pinifolium

Family Name

EPACRIDACEAE

Common Name

Pine Heath

Status

Height

0.2m - 0.6m (20-60cm)

Flowers

Long yellow tubular bells, 15-18mm long constricted at the throat.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

Small, stiff shrub. Branches erect or ascending, with many needle-like leaves.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Highlands; Clarence; Dorset; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Kingborough; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands; Tasman; West Coast

Communities

Coastal Vegetation; Also inland in n., e. and s

Habitat Notes

Coastal heaths. Inland in north, east and south.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Exposed; Moist; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Soil Tolerance

Fertile; Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained

General Notes

Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Seed enclosed in hard, woody, spherical drupe covered with fleshy fruit

Seed Treatment Method

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Difficult to propagate due to a complex dormancy. All treatments unsuccessful. Store in dark for 3 months. Gently cracking seed case and sowing in soil collected from under parent plant may improve results. Seed collected from emu droppings is also said to germinate.

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

4-6 weeks

Expected Time to Plant Out

9-12 months

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Usually grown by cuttings with heat and mist.; firm young growth gives best results.