| Kangaroo Apple | |
| Solanum aviculare | |
| a.k.a. Poroporo, New Zealand Nightshade |
1-2", orange, egg-shaped fruit with juicy pulp and numerous small seeds.
Description: Small, 3-10ft high shrub with ornate purple flowers blooming throughout Spring and Summer. Flowers are followed by green fruit ripening to yellow and then a deep orange. The unripe fruits are poisonous.
Hardiness: The kangaroo apple is subtropical and can be grown in areas where short freezes occur.
Growing Environment: Grow in full sun or part shade. Water moderately.
Propagation: By seeds, which can take several weeks to germinate.
Uses: Sometimes eaten fresh, although fruits must be dark orange-ripe to eat. The unripe fruits are not edible and are poisonous. The kangaroo apple also has a variety of medicinal uses.
Native Range: Native to Australia and New Zealand. Often found in forests or near rainforests.
More pictures of the Kangaroo Apple (click to enlarge)
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Kangaroo Apple foliage |