Large Kangaroo-apple

An tall, open shrub with dark-green, lobed leaves and purple flowers. A striking and lush looking plant when healthy, with an almost tropical appearance. Wood is soft, so easily damaged and easily pruned.

This plant is a live fast, die young species and an important pioneer after disturbance. You can see it sprouting through logged pine plantations north of Castlemaine. Requires moist soils through summer to look its best. It can be rejuvenated through a hard prune to the ground and will resprout from a short stem at the base. Prefers semi-shade. The large fruit is poisonous when immature but edible when turned orange and very soft. The stunning Tailed Emperor Butterfly has been observed feeding from sap, oozing from the trunk of this plant.