Austromyrtus dulcis - Midgen Berry - 25 Seeds

Myrtaceae - no shipment to WA or Tasmania
 
Austromyrtus dulcis, commonly known as Midgen Berry, occurs naturally from Byron Bay in northern New South Wales to Fraser Island in southern Queensland growing as a spreading shrub up to 1m in height although in colder conditions it is smaller and can be used as a ground cover.  Its most frequent occurrence is in sandy soils in heath, scrub or open forests and occasionally on the margins of rainforests.
The Midgen berry grows well in exposed coastal areas out of direct contact with salt winds and spray.  Leaves are glossy dark green, lanceolate arranged in opposite rows, have dense translucent oil glands, the undersurfaces of the leaves are hairy, appearing paler and new shoots are silky hairy, coppery coloured. 
 
It produces a mass of delicate white fluffy flowers in Spring and Summer and although only a small, bush it can produce a large number of small, round, white speckled berries twice a year in January and April.  The berries are usually quite sweet, pleasantly edible and popular with both birds and people.
 
Austromyrtus dulcis is an adaptable species that can take a range of climates including some humidity and frost.  It is best in well-drained soil but very adaptable to most sites if reliable water is available.  It grows happily in the Australian Botanic Gardens in Canberra - as a low shrub to 40cm by 1.5 metres when grown as an understorey with some tree cover to protect from the harshest frosts, and as a groundcover in more shaded positions. 
 
Propagation from fresh seed is reliable without the need for pre-treatment - germination should occur in 4 to 5 weeks. 
 
25 fresh and viable premium seeds shipped on receipt of cleared funds.