Kunzea pomifera (Muntries)
This is a most useful plant which is native to South Australia and Victoria. It forms a dense, weed suppressing ground cover. From spring it has white fluffy looking flowers followed by edible berries which have a refreshing apple- like flavour.
It is a hardy plant which grows well in a variety of soils especially on alkaline soils. It also does well in exposed coastal positions and inland. It withstands dry periods and very high temperatures. Muntries responds well to pruning. A friend here takes a spade to the edges to confine the plant to the designated area.
The fruit was always a favourite with Aboriginal folk. Early settlers used the berries in pies. They also make a nice jelly along the lines of apple jelly. Recipes for apple jelly can be found in older cook books like the CWA Cookbook.
I remember a tale of woe from a friend who had been given a two litre container full of Muntries. She planned to make something nice from them after work. By the time she got home, the children had been home and found them. She was a very cross lady when I was told the story.
Hi
Are you able to tell whether Muntrie plants are sold at local nurseries in Adelaide?
thanks
Where can I get hold of Muntrie Berry Bush/shrub? After the ABC/Landline show last Sunday it seems that this would be a very good ground cover that might produce some edible bushyucker fruit, as an extra bonus.
Muntries, Kunzea pomifera, are readily available from State Flora at Belair in Adelaide, and probably similar nurseries in Victoria. They will be available at the Australian Plant Society Autumn Plant Sale at Wayville Show Grounds April 14-15th 2007.
[…] are other articles I have written about Muntries here. Wednesday March 14th, 2007 | Categories: Bush Tucker; Drought Tolerant Plants; Climbers and […]
Hi where can i get muntrie plant seeds in victoria ? would they have them at any nurseries same as like listed belair in adelaide . Thankyou Anthony
hey umm…
would u be able to tell me some info. about muntries?? as i am doing a home ec project on them!!
thanx
I’m doing a Herbarium and Muntries is one of my plants. The net just seems to have the wrong type of information that I’m after. I was wondering if someone could tell me most of what I need to know or atleast a good site that could let me know about the plant. I need a thorough description – about the leaves, the flowers, the fruit, the soil it grows in, ways of propagation, the uses, pests and deseases that effect it, and it’s dimensions. If someone could provide a little information about those general areas, it would be much apreciated. Thanks.
Hi,
Just wondering if Muntrie Berry plants are available in Western Australia?
Regards,
Annette
I happen to know that Humphris Nursery in Melbourne (wholesale only) is selling these plants
I just bought a muntrie plant yesterday at Bunnings!
Not all nurseries possess the right strain of muntries, try Goldfields Nursery outside Bendigo in Victoria. They have a strain called “Little Desert”.
‘Little Desert’ would be a selection. There is no right strain, unless you are revegitating an area in which case it is best to put back into an area plants from the same area in case there is something specific about that plant in that particular district.