Hello Rootball,

I'm growing two in the Toowoomba district at 700m, subject to frosts. Both got knocked back by a black frost 2 Winters ago, but survived and are now fully recovered. If you have buildings and paving all around, my guess is that those would hold a lot of heat and overcome the frost issue.

My older one is about 4 years old now and only about 2m high. They don't seem to like the hottest direct northern sun - bleaches some leaves. The leaves are a beautiful glossy deep green. My older one has had a few flowers over the last two years, but flowering has yet to get into full stride. The scent is definitely the same as the exotic Gardenia, though not as strong. But maybe when they flower properly, all the flowers together will have a more pervasive scent. The shape of my trees is very good. I have not bothered to tip prune - it does not seem necessary at this stage. I have not seen any fruit from the flowers - maybe that will come later too. I think the Randia chartacea gets red edible berries. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has had fruit on their R. fitzalanii and what the fruit looks like when mature.

Incidentally, the R. chartacea is a coastal Qld plant and I have tried to grow it twice, but it does not seem to like the local conditions. I think it cannot withstand any frost.

Cheers,
Frank

Atractocarpus fitzalanii spp. fitzalanii should do fine around the eastern city harbour region, however i doubt it would survive in Richmond etc- but there are some amazing examples of "Wet Tropics" species in Canberra BG.
I have this species doing fine in NE NSW. I was studying at Cairns Uni and they have a few growing in full sun with rounded tops and when in flower are amazing- they glow white from the inside and are highly fragrant as Frank mentioned.
In the wild they can get to about 10m tall and seem too large for a courtyard but the ones down south arent seeming to get quite as large.
Its fruits however large are easily cleaned up.
In Sydney you may just get a bit of leaf drop during winter thats all.
How about Harpullia frutescens if you can get it. Only grows to 1.5m tall with amazingly perfumed flowers- I just planted 15 of them around my plants in the house-side garden.
Also Randia audasii, Im looking at two right now- they are fragrant and only grow to 4m.
Cheers from Kris

Hello,
I'm growing this fantastic tree in Florida, United States. The flowers are fantasticly fragrant. The fruit almost resembles a small orange. If you remove the fruit while it is still small and green, it will encourage more flowering.

Alasdair

Hi Alasdair
Could you please post an image on the "Oz Garden Gallery" forum showing your tree, particularly a close up of the fruit would be appreciated. The link is provided below.

Thanks,
Frank

Here is a link that might be useful: Oz Garden Gallery

Hello Frank,

It may be a bit before I have a picture of fruit. I just removed them from the tree a couple of weeks ago, but have buds developing again. I'll let the fruit develop this time, and will take pictures and post them as they do. If I get to my friend's nursery (where I bought the tree) beforehand, I'll take some pictures there. He usually lets his trees develop fruit to collect the seed.

Alasdair

The fruit are dark green and about the size of a small apple. Here in Brisbane my trees fruit profusely at about 3 years old but don't mature. They go from rockhard to black and then rot. The tree itself is an attractive domed tree with large dark green leaves. The look great as a backdrop for small palms and golden canes.

Doug.

Hi can anyone tell me whether i can plant this tree near garden sheds o pool area please