Solanaceae
Kangaroo Apple (Solanum laciniatum)
Solanum laciniatum
An easy, fast-growing shrub for full sun or part shade in almost any free-draining soil (sand, loam or clay). Once established it tolerates drought and moderate frost (to about -7 °C), but not direct salt spray. It is short-lived; pruning after flowering extends its life and keeps it tidy. Plant it away from children and pets, because the unripe fruit and foliage are toxic.
Every 7 days
Bright indirect
-7° - °C
% - %
Categories
What is Kangaroo apple?
Kangaroo apple (Solanum laciniatum) is a easy-care plant from the Solanaceae family. Solanum laciniatum is an evergreen shrub in the nightshade family (Solanaceae, like tomato and potato), native to south-eastern Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, where it grows in open scrub and forest margins, usually near the coast. It reaches 1-3 m tall and wide, with purplish stems and long,...
Kangaroo apple grows up to 3.0m, spread of 300cm, watering every 7 days. It is not suitable for indoor environments and not safe for pets.
Unlike many tropical plants, Kangaroo apple tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Without precautions, ingestion can cause irritation in pets. Keep out of reach of cats and dogs.
How to Care for Kangaroo apple?
TLDR: Kangaroo apple needs Bright indirect, watering every 7 days, and temperatures between -7-30°C with 40-70% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Kangaroo apple?
Water weekly through the first year. Once established it handles dry spells; in very hot summers a deep soak every 7 to 10 days is enough. Avoid waterlogged soil.
How Much Light Does Kangaroo apple Need?
Full sun or part shade. It flowers and fruits best with plenty of sun.
What Is the Best Soil for Kangaroo apple?
Grows in sandy, loamy or clay soils, ideally fertile and free-draining; in the wild it favours moist, well-drained, often rocky ground.
What Pot Should You Use for Kangaroo apple?
A large container of at least 40 cm with drainage holes and fertile potting soil; in a pot the plant stays smaller and needs more frequent watering.
What Is Kangaroo apple and Where Does It Come From?
Solanum laciniatum is an evergreen shrub in the nightshade family (Solanaceae, like tomato and potato), native to south-eastern Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, where it grows in open scrub and forest margins, usually near the coast. It reaches 1-3 m tall and wide, with purplish stems and long, narrow dark green leaves, 15-30 cm, often cut into irregular lobes. In spring and summer it opens large blue-purple flowers (rarely white), followed by oval berries about 3 cm long that turn from green to orange when ripe and draw birds. It grows fast but is short-lived. Caution: the green parts and unripe fruit are poisonous.
How to Propagate Kangaroo apple?
Seed
Seed germinates without treatment, but 4 weeks of cold stratification speeds it up. Wear gloves when handling fruit and leaves.
- 1 Take seed from fully ripe (orange) fruit and wash off the pulp
- 2 Sow in spring in seed-raising mix, somewhere warm (about 20 °C)
- 3 Keep moist; seeds germinate in 2 to 3 weeks
- 4 Pot on into individual pots, then plant out
Materials needed:
Semi-ripe cuttings
Roots quickly, in about two weeks.
- 1 In midsummer, take 10-15 cm tips of half-ripe shoots
- 2 Strip the lower leaves
- 3 Insert in a light, moist mix in a sheltered frame
- 4 Pot up once rooted
Materials needed:
How Big Does Kangaroo apple Grow?
TLDR: Kangaroo apple can reach up to 3.0m tall with Fast growth rate.
Max height
3.0m
Spread
3.0m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Evergreen
Warning: Toxic Plant
This plant can be toxic if ingested. Keep out of reach of:
Plant Uses
Ornamental
Great for decoration
Medicinal
Medicinal properties
Medicinal Uses
- Leaves and unripe fruit are an industrial source of solasodine, an alkaloid used by the pharmaceutical industry to make steroid drugs (not a home remedy: the plant is toxic)
Culinary Uses
- Fully ripe fruit (orange, ideally already fallen) was eaten by Aboriginal Australians and Maori; unripe fruit is poisonous and the taste is bitter-sweet — not recommended without certain identification
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
Fun Facts
It is grown commercially as a source of solasodine, a raw material for steroid medicines
Its fruit is eaten by birds such as emus and parrots, which spread the seed
In New Zealand it is called poroporo, a name it shares with its sister species Solanum aviculare
Frequently asked questions
Is kangaroo apple poisonous?
How big does Solanum laciniatum get?
Is kangaroo apple frost hardy?
How do I propagate kangaroo apple?
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 | ✓ |
