Illawarra Plum – Podocarpus elatus

Illawarra Plum (Podocarpus elatus), also called Plum Pine, is one of Australia’s finest native bush foods. The tree produces dark purple fruits with a sweet, juicy flavour and a subtle pine note. It’s a reliable and heavy cropper, making it one of the best native fruits to grow in your food forest or home garden.

How to Use

The fruits are delicious eaten fresh straight from the tree. The seed twists off easily, leaving the soft, sweet flesh with a hint of pine. Illawarra Plum is also perfect for jams, jellies, sauces, marinades, and desserts such as cheesecakes. With its high antioxidant levels and vitamin C content, it is considered a superfood, and studies suggest it may even help inhibit colon cancer cells.

Fruiting Season

In Port Stephens and similar climates, Plum Pine fruits in late autumn to early winter (May–June). The tree is dioecious (separate male and female plants), so you’ll need at least one male tree to pollinate several females for a good harvest.

Growing Conditions

Illawarra Plum is an evergreen rainforest tree, slow growing but long lived, eventually reaching 8–10 metres. It is drought-hardy, salt-tolerant , and thrives in a wide range of well-drained soils, preferring neutral to acidic conditions. It grows in both full sun and part-shade.

Integration into a Food Forest

In a food forest, Plum Pine works as a canopy or sub-canopy tree, adding structure, shade, and habitat. Its dense, glossy foliage makes it not only productive but also highly ornamental. Plant it alongside mid-layer bush foods such as Davidson’s Plum, finger lime, or native ginger for a layered, productive ecosystem.

Summary

Illawarra Plum (Plum Pine, Podocarpus elatus) is a must-have bush food tree. With its delicious fruit, heavy harvests, and ornamental evergreen growth, it offers both beauty and productivity. At Food Forest Plants, we recommend it as a long-term investment for your garden or food forest.