ELDERBERRY PANAX SMALL BASSWOOD Polyscias sambucifolia Seeds

Polyscias sambucifolia is an evergreen Shrub growing to 4 5 m 14ft 9in at a medium rate The Elderberry Panax is not related to the Northern Hemisphere plant, elderberry, taste more like blueberries than elderberries

This tall wispy shrub is found in a variety of forest habitats, wet or dry sclerophyll forest, open forest, woodland and rainforest Moist gullies or sheltered slopes Stabilises soils along gullies where it naturally occurs

Suitable for: light sandy , medium loamy and heavy clay soils Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic mildly alkaline soils It can grow in semi shade light woodland or no shade It prefers moist soil The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure

Excellent for shady moist gardens, indoor containers, and for quick growing screens Responds to pruning Remove suckers at ground level

Flowering
Cream to greenish yellow, Nov Feb Profuse, but rarely conspicuous

Rarely commercially available

Bush Food: Berries edible when a pale, steely blue/mauve colour and are quite succulent described as having a sweet taste with a somewhat astringent finish Fruit matures from January to April

Germination: Sow the seeds in seed raising mix not too deep or too thick They usually germinate in around one month