Scientific Name: Leptecophylla abietina Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region
Common Name: seaspray pinkberry
Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots
Family: Ericaceae
Form Description: Erect, much-branched shrub, leaves 15mm narrow thick hard-pointed, large pink berries.
Height (m): 1 – 2
Flowers: White, tubular, solitary, clustered near end of branch.
Fruit: Drupe – round, pink and fleshy about 12mm across.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Local but dominant on areas of exposed rocky coasts in west, south-west, south, and neighbouring southern islands.
Site Tolerance
Exposed, Moist, Rocky, Windy
Soil Tolerance
Fertile, Nutrient-poor, Poorly-drained, Sandy, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Hardy
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 Information
Seed Collection
After collection masticate seed, leave on a hot window sill or store in paper bags and then remove dried seed case.
Seed Treatment Method
Fermentation Collect fleshy fruits in a plastic bag, mash up and allowed to ferment to replicate digestion by a bird.
Seed Treatment Notes
Very difficult to grow from seed. Seed may germinate better after passing through a bird.
Germination Time
1-3 years.
Cutting & Division Information
Usually grown by cuttings, but also difficult. Extreme care needed in handling the very fine roots typical of members of the Ericaceae family.