Communities

Scientific Name

Monotoca elliptica

Family Name

EPACRIDACEAE

Common Name

Tree Broom-heath

Status

Height

2.0m - 5.0m (200-500cm)

Flowers

White, often profuse.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

Tall shrub, much-branched or sometimes a small tree.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Dorset; Flinders Island; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; King Island; Kingborough; Tasman; West Tamar

Communities

Coastal Vegetation; Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Heath

Habitat Notes

Local on coasts in the north and east. Common component of coastal forest, heathland and dunes. Drought tolerant.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Exposed; Shady; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Soil Tolerance

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

General Notes

Responds well to pruning and can be used for hedging. Not 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

Fruit, an oval orange-red, fleshy drupe c 4mm long

Seed Treatment Method

Fermentation

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Difficult to grow from seed. Bird-ingested seed or acid treatment might improve results. Never discard seedling trays within 18 months of sowing as germination can be very slow.

Germination Time

up to 18 months.

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

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

Cutting Notes

Propagate from cuttings of fairly soft young growth. Particular care should be taken when handling the minute seedlings because they develop long, fine roots. A well-composted soil is essential and care should be taken not to let plants dry out.