Acrotriche aggregata

Acrotriche aggregata is a shrub that stays green all year. It belongs to the heath family, Ericaceae. It grows wild in eastern Australia, from Queensland to New South Wales. Its range includes warm temperate zones and tropical rainforest areas. The plant grows upright but also spreads out. Some plants in the north become small trees. Those in the south stay much shorter.

Size varies a great deal across its native range. Plants For A Future gives a height of 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Wild plants in the south often reach 1.3–3.9 feet [0.4–1.2 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants gives a general height of 9.8 feet [3 metres]. It also records northern plants reaching 19.7 feet [6 metres]. This larger size refers to growth in the wild. It is not an established size for garden plants. The sources give no clear guide to mature spread. They give no details of leaf shape, bark, or stems.

The plant grows in open forest and wet sclerophyll forest. It also grows at some rainforest edges, often near the coast. Rocky sites have sandstone or granite, with thin, sandy soils. Some records from the north come from upland sites. Wild plants grow in acidic sand with few nutrients. Plants For A Future lists more soil types for garden use. These include sand, loam, and clay. The soil can range from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. The source calls for moist soil and accepts sun or light shade. The evidence gives no frost limit or hardiness zone.

Each flower has both male and female organs. In warmer areas, plants may bear flowers and fruit all year. They can start to fruit at heights of 3.3–9.8 feet [1–3 metres]. The fruit is red, round, and fleshy, with a sour taste. The accounts give fruit widths of about 4–7 millimetres. People sometimes pick wild fruit and eat it raw. Plants For A Future gives it a low rating for edible use.

The sources list garden beds as a place to grow it. They also state that growers can raise plants from seed. They give no detailed steps for sowing or routine care. Neither account names a use in medicine or any other practical use. Both state that they know of no hazards. This does not mean the plant is safe for pets. The evidence names no specific pests or diseases.