Bolwarra (Native Guava

~ Eupomatia laurina ~

EUPOMATIACEAE

Bolwarra is one of the most primitive flowering plants alive today, with ancient lineage from Gondwanaland. Its flowers are fragrant and its fruit is sweet and edible. It’s also known to be pollinated by a native weevil. These weevils are primitive pollinators thought to have pollinated conifers in the Triassic and Jurassic periods. After Bolwarra flowers, sweet berries form in winter. Similar to a guava, the fruit is full of small seeds and can be made into jams and jellies as well as dried and ground into a spice. Its high vitamin C levels are known to help with immunity and digestion. The Native Guava is a brilliant companion to keep on your deck in a large pot so you can harvest its mineral-rich and immune-boosting fruit through the cold and flu season.

WHERE TO LOOK

Also known as Copper Laurel, it can be found along Australia’s east coast, from the foot of the Australian Capital Territory to as far north as Cape York Peninsula. It can be seen at the edges of rainforests and in the understory of humid Eucalypt forests in the company of other native rainforest-lovers like Hoya australis, Native Raspberry, Rosella and Wonga Wonga Vine.

Locations → Queensland: Beerwah State Forest, Boombana at Mount Nebo in D’Aguilar National Park, Reedy Creek and Springbrook National Park; NSW: Blue Mountains National Park, Royal National Park, Bugong National Park and Dorrigo National Park.

FEATURES

This small tree or large multi-stemmed shrub grows 3–5m and toggles between copper-coloured leaves in colder months and deep glossy green leaves in the warmer seasons. The leaves measure 5–20cm. The flowers grow directly from the branches and are held within gumnut-baby buds that explode with small white perfumed flowers. Its many seeds are held within the creamy, pulpy, urn-shaped fruit, which is around 15–20mm wide.

FLOWERING SEASON

Spring and summer → Its perfumed blooms can be seen in spring and early summer and berries ripen in winter, turning green to brown and becoming soft to squeeze.

TRADITIONAL USES

Bolwarra is the Indigenous name for the Native Guava. Its bark fibre is soaked or crushed and twisted together to make twine and fishing line.

PLANTING

The Native Guava can be planted out in the garden or kept within a large pot or container. It can be propagated by cuttings, which produce fruit after two years. Seeds don’t need special pre-treatment, can be easily found online and in nurseries, and need four to six years of growth before they fruit. Plants and tube stock are also widely available. They can be kept in full sun or part shade in most soil types and enjoy moist soils and some mulching. Keep some seed from the fruit to replant and see germination results between three and five weeks. Keep the plant away from frost.