Propagation
Sow fresh seed during spring or autumn in pots. The seeds lose viability quickly.
Cuttings of non-flowering shoots during late spring to early summer.



Botanic information
Leaf: The sessile leathery textured leaves are ovate to elliptical with an acuminate apex. The new growth is glossy deep red and the underside is pale green.

Flower: The crateriform flowers have 4-small sepals and 4-spreading rounded white petals with a central cluster of creamy-white stamens with yellow anthers. They have a long pedicle and appear solitary or in a small cluster with up to 4-blooms along the stems or terminally. In its native habitat the plant may flower twice during the season, spring and mid summer.

Fruit: The variable fleshy pendant orange-red berry has a persistent calyx and contains 1-2 seeds. They have 7-8 grooms on the outer surface and appear like a miniature pumpkin. When ripe fruit is eaten it has a sweet flavour tasting similar to a cherry. The small seeds are viable but the plant may be reproduced vegetatively.


Note
The fruit may also be eaten raw or distilled into liquor and the plant self seeds readily inhibiting other plants growing. There are two distinct varieties one which produces bright red fruit and another that produces dark crimson to almost black fruit, which tends to have a sweeter taste and is used in jams and jellies.