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A small tree to 8 metres tall; spreading to several metres wide, sometimes growing as a shrub.
It is found in coastal and coastal-inland NSW, growing north from Nowra, found mainly in sub-tropical and warm temperate rainforest. It extends naturally into Queensland, found in disjunct coastal patches, right up to the Cape York Peninsula (Lockhart River).
This is the only species of the genus which has simple and alternate leaves, to 20 cm long and about 8 cm wide with irregularly toothed margins, each tooth bearing a small, blunt projection.
Flowers are small but produced in showy corymbose panicles at the terminals, with each flower having a 5-toothed calyx and 5 petals; greenish-yellow to white, each about 10 mm across and slightly fragrant, appearing from October to December.
The fruit is a purple/black berry about 10 long and 7 mm in diameter which ripens in March to October.
It is grown as an ornamental, mainly for its large shiny leaves and showy fruit.
As a garden plant it requires a frost-free shaded position and is hardy and fast growing if not allowed to dry out and given a cool position in a range of well-drained moist soils.
It also makes a good indoor plant.
It is a useful edge or pioneer species for rainforest restoration.
Propagation is from fresh seed. Cuttings also strike with ease.
Some botanists also classify this plant in the family Escalloniaceae.
Abrophyllum is a genus of only 1 or 2 species – endemic to Australia (NSW and Qld).
It likely grows in habitats where fire is not an issue. It may not respond well after fire.
Abrophyllum – from Greek – meaning “delicate-leaf”
ornans – Latin for ornate; meaning “showily decorative” or “elaborate”.
This species is not considered to be at risk of extinction in the wild.
NSW Flora Online (PlantNET) – Abrophyllum ornans profile page http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Abrophyllum~ornans
Brisban Rainforest Action and Information Network (BRAIN) – Abrophyllum ornans profile page http://www.brisrain.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=10
Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M.I. (2001). Australian Native Plants – Propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping. 4th edition. New Holland Publishers, Pty. Ltd. Australia.