Alphitonia

Family: Rhamnaceae
Common Name: Red Ash

Native to the east coast rainforests of Australia, as well as to the Philippines and Malaysia, this genus comprises five or six species, one of which is occasionally grown.

Species

A. excelsa, an evergreen, has smooth, broad, oval, olive-green leaves, with a silvery undersurface, forming a fairly dense crown. It produces small, cream-coloured, perfumed flowers and dull, blue-black berries. It grows to a maximum height of 15 m (50 ft).

Cultivation

Red ash must be grown under glass in frost-prone Climates. In the right climate it is easily grown, requiring only a well-drained soil. It is drought-resistant.

Climate

Can be grown in frost-free areas. Suitable for zones 9 and 10.