Scientific Name: Planocarpa petiolaris Endemic Having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographic region

Common Name: alpine cheeseberry

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Ericaceae

Form Description: Grey-green shrub with many individual erect stems. Can be discriminated from Planocarpa sulcata by leaf size and the pattern of hairiness on the inside of the flower.

Height (m): 0.15 – 0.3

Flowers: White, hairy on the inner surface.

Fruit: Drupe – red or red-black, surface dull, round, flattened, 4–7 mm diameter

Municipality
Central HighlandsDerwent ValleyHobartHuon Valley
Plant Communities
Alpine and Sub-alpine VegetationHeath
Habitat Notes

Common in exposed alpine heath and coniferous heath on shallow soils in the eastern and central mountains.

Site Tolerance

Exposed, Moist, Rocky, Windy

Soil Tolerance

Nutrient-poor, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

General Notes

Growth habit and fruit make this an ideal plant for containers and gardens. Should do best in well drained, light to medium soils with dappled shade.

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
Cuttings

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Difficult to grow from seed. 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

Seeds will germinate better after passing through a bird.

Cutting & Division Information

Difficult to grow from cuttings. Extreme care is needed when handling the typically fine roots of members of the Ericaceae family. May be propagated by aerial layers.