Scientific Name: Exocarpos cupressiformis

Common Name: common native-cherry

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Santalaceae

Form Description: Small pine-like tree; brown-ridged bark; dense fine yellow-green branches.

Height (m): 3 – 8

Flowers: Insignificant cream flowers; clustered on short stems towards ends of branches.

Fruit: Nut – ripe fruit base is fleshy, red and edible; nut sits on top. Green nut has thin outer shell (contains 1 seed).

Municipality
Break O’DayBrightonBurnieCentral CoastCentral HighlandsCircular HeadClarenceDerwent ValleyDevonportDorsetFlindersGeorge TownGlamorgan-Spring BayGlenorchyHobartHuon ValleyKentishKingboroughLatrobeLauncestonMeander ValleyNorthern MidlandsSorellSouthern MidlandsTasmanWaratah-WynyardWest CoastWest Tamar
Plant Communities
Dry Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes

Common. Widespread in light forests. Often in dry rocky sites in eucalyptus woodlands in the east.

Site Tolerance

Dry

Soil Tolerance

Fertile, Nutrient-poor, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

General Notes

Parasite on roots of nearby plants; requires host species for successful growth. Some growers recommend potting on seedlings with a native grass to act as host; others state seedlings should be planted out where Casuarinaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae or Proteaceae family are growing. One successful method from seed is feeding to hens, extracting from droppings, and sowing with Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). Difficult to propagate and grow, probably due to its parasitic nature. Tolerates shallow soils. High flammability. Resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed, Cuttings

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Difficult to grow from seed. Few flowers mature to fruit. Nut becomes hard; releases easily when ripe. Harvest fruits individually by hand.

Seed Treatment Notes

Bird ingested seed has good levels of germination.

Germination Time

6-18 months

Cutting & Division Information

Difficult to grow from cuttings. Jam a sharp spade into soil at intervals around individual trees. This will cut roots and cause suckering. Pieces of these roots and suckers can then be transplanted. Or, cuttings 8cm long from juvenile foliage, placed in container with host (established plant or cutting of species which strikes easily and is small or slow-growing). “Cuttings from vigorous new young growth (e.g. post bushfire) strike well on mist and heat. Potting on with grasses not suitable (grasses too aggressive in growth). Success potting on with less vigorous ground covers (even this may not be required). Plants slow but grow well once planted out.” – Will Fletcher.