Brisbane tree guide

Eumundi quandong

Elaeocarpus eumundi · also called Smooth-leaved quandong

The Eumundi quandong is a native rainforest tree named after Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast, where the original specimen was collected in 1894. Brisbane City Council lists it as a street tree reaching 8 to 12 metres with a small crown. It carries fringed cream flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by oval blue fruit.

Native to South East Queensland
8 to 12 m tall
Flowers November to December

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A Eumundi quandong tree — Photo: Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Eumundi quandong at a glance

Height: 8 to 12 m
Leaves: Evergreen
Flowers: Cream, November to December
Origin: Rainforests from Cape York down the Queensland coast to north-east New South Wales
Power lines: Not on the council's list for under power lines
Family: Elaeocarpaceae

How to identify an Eumundi quandong

This is a medium-sized rainforest tree. Its leaves are 6 to 20 cm long, hairless and broadest towards the tip, with the midrib raised on the upper side. Most have a few irregular teeth near the end, though some leaves have smooth edges. New shoots are covered in brown hairs that do not last. The cream flowers have petals cut into a fringe of narrow lobes and hang in short sprays along the branches. Oval blue fruit about 1.5 cm long follow.

Growing an Eumundi quandong in Brisbane

It is a native of the region, growing naturally in riverside and warm temperate rainforest from north-east New South Wales into Queensland. Brisbane City Council includes it on its street tree list for riparian (creekside) streets and for arterial road verges and medians, where it reaches about 8 to 12 m with a small crown. The council lists it for verges at least 2.5 m wide and not for planting under power lines.

What to watch out for

Brisbane City Council does not list it for planting under power lines, so choose a spot clear of overhead wires and allow room for a tree of 8 to 12 m.

Pruning and care

Choose a spot with room for a tree of 8 to 12 m, away from overhead power lines. Water young trees through dry spells while they establish. Pruning is mostly a matter of removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and lifting low limbs for clearance over paths and driveways, cutting back to a branch collar rather than leaving stubs. Avoid heavy topping. Big limbs over a roof are a job for a professional with the right gear.

Eumundi quandong: your questions

Short answers, from the sources below.

Back to the tree guide

How tall does a Eumundi quandong grow?

Brisbane City Council's street tree list gives 8 to 12 metres for the Eumundi quandong, with a small crown. In rainforest it is described as a medium-sized tree.

When does the Eumundi quandong flower?

PlantNET records flowering in November and December, and Brisbane City Council lists it as flowering in spring and summer. The fringed cream flowers are followed by oval blue fruit.

Is the Eumundi quandong native to Brisbane?

It is native to South East Queensland. It grows naturally in rainforest from north-east New South Wales up the Queensland coast to Cape York, and the original specimen came from Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast.

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Sources and credits

Photo: Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Second photo: Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Checked October 2026. Weed listings and council rules change: check the council's and the Queensland Government's pages before you act.