Phyllanthaceae

Cheese Trees (genus Glochidion)

Glochidion

Easy ☀️ Bright indirect 🐾 Pet safe

An easy, low-maintenance tree for warm climates. It wants sun or light shade and plenty of water until established. After that it copes with drought and has few pests.

💧 Watering

Every 7 days

☀️ Light

Bright indirect

🌡️ Temperature

-2° - 38°C

💨 Humidity

% - %

What is Cheese trees?

Cheese trees (Glochidion) is a easy-care plant from the Phyllanthaceae family. Glochidion is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Phyllanthaceae, close relatives of the leafflowers (Phyllanthus). There are about 170 species, from Madagascar and tropical Asia to Australia and the Pacific Islands. In Australia they are called cheese trees or buttonwood, because the fruit lo...

Cheese trees grows up to 10.0m, watering every 7 days, -2°C – 38°C. It is not suitable for indoor environments and safe for pets.

Unlike many tropical plants, Cheese trees tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Unlike many popular species, Cheese trees is safe to keep around pets.

How to Care for Cheese trees?

TLDR: Cheese trees needs Bright indirect, watering every 7 days, and temperatures between -2-38°C with 40-70% humidity.

💧

How Often Should You Water Cheese trees?

Water once a week, deeply, during the first year. Once established, rain is usually enough; water in long dry spells.

☀️

How Much Light Does Cheese trees Need?

Full sun or light shade. In sun the crown grows denser.

🪴

What Is the Best Soil for Cheese trees?

Grows in sandy, clay or ordinary garden soil. Does best in soil with added compost that holds a little moisture.

What Is Cheese trees and Where Does It Come From?

Glochidion is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Phyllanthaceae, close relatives of the leafflowers (Phyllanthus). There are about 170 species, from Madagascar and tropical Asia to Australia and the Pacific Islands. In Australia they are called cheese trees or buttonwood, because the fruit looks like a tiny round cheese divided into wedges. It starts green, turns white or pink, and splits open to show bright red seeds that pigeons and parrots eat. The flowers are tiny and green-yellow, and each species is pollinated only by its own leafflower moths, which lay eggs in the flower; their caterpillars eat some of the seeds. The most planted species, Glochidion ferdinandi, usually reaches about 8 metres, with oval leaves 3 to 10 cm long and a dense crown.

How to Propagate Cheese trees?

🌱

Seed

Germination is easy but can take a few months. Be patient and do not let the mix dry out.

1
Collect the fruits when they split and show the red seeds
2
Remove the red coating around each seed
3
Sow shallowly in moist seed mix
4
Keep moist and in a bright spot until they sprout

Materials needed:

Ripe fruitsSeed-raising mixTray

⏱️ Time: 1-4 months to germinate 📊 Success rate: high 🗓️ Best season: Summer

🌱

Cuttings

Cuttings strike easily.

1
Take semi-hardwood tip cuttings 10 to 15 cm long
2
Strip the lower leaves
3
Insert in a light, moist mix
4
Keep humid and in bright shade until rooted

Materials needed:

Clean prunersLight cutting mixPlastic bag

⏱️ Time: 4-8 weeks 📊 Success rate: high 🗓️ Best season: Spring

How Big Does Cheese trees Grow?

TLDR: Cheese trees can reach up to 10.0m tall with Fast growth rate.

📏

Max height

10.0m

📈

Growth rate

Fast

🍃

Foliage

Evergreen

Plant Uses

🌺

Ornamental

Great for decoration

💊

Medicinal

Medicinal properties

💊

Medicinal Uses

In Asia, the bark and seeds of some species are used in traditional medicine for stomach and skin complaints

Is your plant showing symptoms?

Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:

🟡 Yellow Leaves 🥀 Wilting Leaves 🔴 Leaf Spots 🍂 Dry Tips 🍃 Falling Leaves 🪱 Root Rot 🐛 Pests 🍄 Fungus 🐢 Slow Growth

What Diseases Commonly Affect Cheese trees?

TLDR: Cheese trees is susceptible to 1 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.

Caterpillars

High

Caterpillars are the larval stage of moths and butterflies that feed voraciously on plant foliage, stems, flowers, and fruits. Common species include cabbage loopers, tomato hornworms, armyworms, and cutworms. These pests can cause extensive damage by consuming large amounts of plant tissue in a short time. They vary in size from small (1/4 inch) to large (5 inches), with colors ranging from green to brown, often featuring stripes or spots. Caterpillars are highly mobile and can quickly spread throughout gardens, making them one of the most destructive common pests.

View solution

Fun Facts

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Each species relies on its own moth for pollination, much like figs and fig wasps.

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Some botanists propose merging the whole genus into Phyllanthus.

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In Australia the dense crown of the cheese tree is a favourite nesting site for birds.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called a cheese tree?

The fruit is round, flattened and divided into wedges, like a tiny wheel of cheese. When ripe it splits open to show red seeds.

Is a cheese tree frost hardy?

It tolerates light frost, but it is a warm-climate tree and does not suit places with hard winters.

Is it hard to look after?

No. After the first year it needs little water and is rarely troubled by pests. Avoid digging around the roots, as the tree may send up suckers.

Are the fruits edible?

There is no reliable information on eating them. The fruits are bird food; do not eat them without checking a trustworthy source.

Compare with similar plants

Attribute	Difficulty	Light	Watering	Pet Safe
Field Maple	Easy	Bright indirect	14d	✓
Iberian Houseleek	Easy	Direct sun	14d	✓
Silver Birch	Easy	Direct sun	14d	✓
Common Blanketflower	Easy	Direct sun	10d	✓

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Sources & References

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