This shrub has an upright bushy to open habit with deep green lanced-shaped leaves. The blue-purple to white star-shaped flowers appear in clusters during summer and are followed by rounded green fruit.

Hardiness zones 8 to 10

Solanum aviculareis naturally found on the east coast of Australia and New Zealand, Lord Howe Island and New Guinea growing from subtropical rainforests to cool temperate rainforest and littoral rainforest. It also appears in cleared rainforest and disturbed soils.

It tolerates most well drained moderately fertile moist soils that are neutral tending alkaline and prefers an open sunny position and is drought and mildly frost resistant.

The Kangaroo Apple is an attractive colourful shrub that is grown for its habit and flowers. It is planted in small gardens along borders for screening or as a quick filler plant or grown as a specimen in bushland setting. It is suitable for coastal and inland regions establishing in 2 to 3 years and is moderately long lived. ID 1237

Solanum (so-LAH-num) aviculare (a-vik-ew-LAH-ree)

Solanaceae (so-lan-AY-see-ee)
Potato Family