Edibles

Robbie Engall’s Seedless Mandarin is a small growing tree with a slightly pendulous habit making it ideal for the courtyard garden or in a pot. It is a large fruit with puffy skin, making it easy to peel. It has a mild flavour and no seeds. It is a prolific producer with fruit ready to pick in April and May, making it one of the first mandarins to ripen.

Soil: Well-drained soil
Conditions: Plant in full sun.
Size: Height 2.5m x width 2m

Growing approx 4x4m and beautifully shaped, Profusion Crab Apple makes an excellent small shade tree for small yards as well as a showy feature tree when in flower. As per its name, it has an absolute abundance of pink/red flowers in spring. As the flowers fade and fall, shiny green leaves remain and bring this tree to life. These lovely, oval leaves turn a golden copper in autumn and bright red crab apples take over the show. These little pops of red can be left alone to admire or if you're more adventurous, you can make crab apple jelly/jam with them.

Soil: Tolerates most soil conditions
Conditions: Thrives in full sun. Drought, frost and coastal/salt tolerant.
Size: Height 4m x width 4m.

Red Noonan Peach Dwarf is a very prolific fruiting tree producing medium to large-sized fruit with deep red skin and juicy white flesh. Harvest of this freestone variety is from mid-January to mid-February. They have a delicious flavour suitable for eating fresh or processing into preserves or canning. Red Noonan is self-pollinating but would benefit from another peach to cross-pollinate.

Soil: Well-drained, well-composted soil. 
Conditions: Full sun position. Frost tender.
Size: Height 2m x width 2m

Diploglotis campbellii, or Small-leaved Tamarind, is a compact, dense tree that rewards gardeners with an abundance of large, red-orange fruits packed with delicious, tangy pulp. From November to January, look out for its small, cream-brown flowers, which develop into impressive fruits up to 6 cm across by February to April. As the fruits ripen, their hard, yellow-brown skins split open to reveal the vibrant red flesh inside. A prolific fruiter, this tree can yield many kilograms of fruit per harvest. Its refreshingly tart flavour is wonderfully versatile, lending itself to both sweet and savoury dishes. Popular uses include jams, jellies, sauces, chutneys, spreads, and coulis, and it also pairs beautifully with cheeses and cold meats.
For best growth, apply an organic or slow-release fertiliser in early spring.

Soil: Well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter.
Conditions: Part shade. Coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 7-10m x width 5-6m

Davidsonia pruriens, commonly known as the Davidson Plum, is a medium-sized rainforest tree native to northern Queensland. It features large, attractive compound leaves and produces clusters of small, deep pink to red flowers, which are followed by striking plum-like fruit. The fruits, though too sour to eat raw, are prized for making jams, sauces, and preserves. One of the tree’s most fascinating characteristics is its cauliflorous habit—the flowers and fruit are borne directly on the trunk, adding strong ornamental appeal. When ripe, the fruit’s flesh turns a rich red and often falls to the ground, remaining largely unbruised and ready for harvest straight from the rainforest floor. An excellent specimen tree for subtropical and tropical gardens, combining decorative foliage and unique fruiting habit with practical culinary value.

Size: Prefers a light, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.
Conditions: Will thrive in filtered light beneath a taller canopy but also adapts well to full sun in sheltered positions.
Soil: Height 12m x width 6m

Acca Duffy Feijoa is a highly productive feijoa variety known for its very pleasant, non-gritty flavour and excellent fruit quality—making it a favourite for both home gardeners and commercial growers. This grafted evergreen shrub or small tree is as beautiful as it is fruitful, featuring ornamental, red and white edible flowers in spring, followed by sweet, aromatic fruit in autumn. With its dense, bushy habit, Duffy is ideal for hedging, screening, or use as a feature plant, offering year-round structure and seasonal interest. The egg-sized fruit is delicious eaten fresh, in smoothies, or used in desserts and preserves.

Soil: Well-drained soil, enriched with organic matter.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Drought and light frost tolerant once established
Size: Height 2–3 m × Width 2–3 m

Lady Finger Bananas, also known as baby or sugar bananas, are a smaller, sweeter alternative to the common Cavendish variety. Their thin skin and creamy, sweet flesh make them perfect for fresh eating or desserts. Each bunch typically produces 10–14 hands, with 12–20 bananas per hand. A rewarding plant to grow at home, Lady Finger bananas provide a steady supply of delicious, nutrient-rich fruit packed with potassium, vitamins, and fibre. This variety is well-suited to warmer climates but is also showing promise in cooler urban areas such as Sydney and Melbourne.

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage.
Conditions: Full sun. They thrive in warm, humid climates, typically found in tropical and subtropical regions. Choose a location sheltered from prevailing wind.
Size: Height 2-5m x width 4-6m

Prunus persica Golden Queen is a popular late-season peach known for its reliable crops and excellent preserving qualities. This clingstone variety produces medium-sized fruit with golden yellow skin and firm, juicy yellow flesh. Harvest occurs very late in the season, usually around March, making it a great option for extending the home peach harvest. In spring, the tree is covered in attractive blossoms before developing its flavourful fruit. Golden Queen is self-pollinating, meaning it does not require another peach tree nearby to produce a good crop. The fruit is highly versatile and is particularly valued for preserving, stewing, bottling, and canning, while still being delicious eaten fresh.

Soil: Well-drained and well-worked soil. Keep soil moist until tree is established.
Conditions: Full sun. Frost tolerant.
Size: Height 4m x width 4m