Eustrephus latifolius aka Orangevine

Eustrephus latifolius, or wombat berry, is a climber that lives for years. Kew places it in the family Asparagaceae. Its native range runs from New Guinea to New Caledonia. It is native to eastern and southeastern Australia too. Records there cover Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. It grows in open forest, dry woodland, and rainforest. Kew calls its climate subtropical.

The plant climbs or scrambles, with tubers below ground. It can reach about 16 feet [5 metres] in height. In gardens, you must tie its stems to a support. Support is a care need, not an optional extra. Its woodland home suits a garden site with shade. PFAF lists woodland edges as places to grow it. It also lists sites with dappled shade.

PFAF gives June as the month when it blooms. It gives no separate bloom season for Australia. Each flower has both male and female organs. The orange berries measure about 0.03 feet [0.01 metres] across. They have little flesh. Small tubers grow on the roots. These reach up to 0.1 feet [0.03 metres] long. Records show food uses for both fruit and roots. Digging the tubers gives a small yield for the effort.

Choose a sheltered site with soil rich in humus. The plant accepts sand, loam, and clay soils. It grows in slightly acid, neutral, and slightly alkaline soil. It likes moist ground and can grow in part shade. PFAF reports good growth in deep shade in Australian gardens. It advises shade for most soil types. These traits suit a sheltered woodland garden.

Take care when comparing how much cold it withstands. Australian garden reports note survival at about 19°F [-7°C]. PFAF warns that this is not a British hardiness limit. Britain has cooler summers, with longer, colder, wetter winters. Only its mildest areas allow growth outdoors. Sow seed in a greenhouse in spring. Move seedlings to their own pots when large enough to handle. Keep them under cover for their first winter. Plant them out in early summer. You can also divide well-grown plants in spring.

PFAF lists fruit and roots as foods to eat raw. It calls the roots juicy and sweet. It lists no known hazards. It gives no specific check of safety for pets. It lists no known uses as medicine. It gives no other uses beyond food and garden planting. Its weed entry reports no weed potential. The supplied evidence gives no details on pests or disease.