Hill Gooseberry – Rhodomyrtus tomentosa

Plant family: Myrtaceae

Plant origin: Southern and Eastern China, Phillipines, Taiwan and India.

Fruit description: The Hill Gooseberry fruit is an oval berry 20mm in diameter. It is dull purple when ripe, soft and juicy. The flesh is reddish purple and contains small edible seeds. It has a sweet taste.

Flowers: This shrub has many beautiful pink flowers for most of the year. The flowers occur in 1, 2 or 3s. Each has five petals and is about 25 mm in diameter.

Growing conditions: The Hill Gooseberry is a beautiful evergreen shrub growing to 2.5 metres in height. It prefers a sunny position with rich composted soil but can grow in poorer soils. It likes temperate, subtropical and tropical climates. It doesn't mind a frost, likes plenty of mulch around it. It makes a very pretty hedge or ornamental plant and grows well in a pot. The leaves are shiny green on top and grey underneath.

Uses: Hill Gooseberries can be eaten fresh or added to fruit salad. It can be made into pies, desserts, or excellent jam.

Medicinal uses: Dried Hill Gooseberry fruit is used in traditional Chinese medicine for many remedies.

Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating

Harvest time Harvest the ripe gooseberries in Spring, Summer, and Autumn.

Plant relatives

Special features: This tree may be useful as a fire-retardant species and grows back well after a fire.

Grown by method: Seed Grown Pot size: 100mm

Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 2 metres high by 1.5 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 2.5 metres high by 2 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.

Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 100mm