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If you want to add beauty, shade, and delicious produce to your garden, Queensland native fruit trees are the way to go. These trees aren’t just low-maintenance but also perfectly suited to our local climate. Plus, they bring unique flavours to your table while supporting local wildlife. Let’s explore 15+ native fruit trees you can grow, what makes them special, and how to care for them.
Why Grow Native Fruit Trees?

Native fruit trees are an awesome choice. Here’s why:
- They’re Resilient: Native trees are built to handle Queensland’s heat, dry spells, and pests, so you don’t have to worry about constant maintenance.
- They Attract Wildlife: Grow a native fruit tree, and you’ll also create a haven for birds, bees, and other creatures.
- They’re Packed with Flavour: Forget boring supermarket fruit. Native varieties like Davidson’s Plum and Finger Lime offer flavours you won’t find anywhere else.
- They’re Part of Our Heritage: Many of these trees have been used by Indigenous Australians for thousands of years, making them an important part of Australia’s cultural story.
Queensland’s Best Native Fruit Trees
Now, let’s get into the details of some of Queensland’s best native fruit trees!
1. Davidson Plum (Davidsonia spp.)
- Height: 5–10 m
- Fruit: Deep purple, tart, and tangy
- Uses: Jams, sauces, desserts
- Growing Conditions: Prefers shaded spots with rich, well-drained soil
Davidson’s Plum is a stunning tree that grows up to 10 metres tall and produces deep purple fruit with a tart, tangy flavour. This fruit is perfect for making jams, sauces, and desserts. It prefers a shady spot in rich, well-draining soil. Make sure the tree gets consistent water, especially while it’s young. Once established, it’s an easy-care tree that rewards you with plenty of unique fruit.
2. Finger Lime (Citrus australasica)
- Height: 2–4 m
- Fruit: Cylindrical, filled with tangy “lime caviar”
- Uses: Cocktails, seafood, desserts
- Growing Conditions: Thrives in well-drained soil with partial sun
Finger Lime is a favourite for good reason. This small shrub produces fruit filled with tiny juice pearls, often called “lime caviar.” These pearls burst with tangy citrus flavour, making them perfect for cocktails, seafood, or desserts. Finger Lime grows 2–4 metres tall and thrives in well-drained soil with partial sun. Its thorny branches even double as a protective hedge for small birds.
3. Macadamia Nut (Macadamia integrifolia)
- Height: Up to 20 m (dwarf varieties available)
- Fruit: Buttery, delicious nuts in hard shells
- Uses: Snacking, baking, oils
- Growing Conditions: Loves full sun and well-drained soil
You’ve probably eaten macadamias before, but they’re so much better when you grow your own! These iconic Queensland trees grow up to 20 metres tall, though there are dwarf varieties for smaller gardens. Macadamias need full sun and well-drained soil. Once they’re established, they’re surprisingly low-maintenance. The nuts are buttery and rich – perfect for snacking, baking, or making oils. It might take a bit of effort to crack the shells, but the reward is absolutely worth it.
4. Native Ginger (Alpinia caerulea)
- Height: 1–2 m
- Fruit: Bright blue berries with a mild, tangy flavour
- Uses: Edible rhizomes and berries for culinary dishes
- Growing Conditions: Thrives in a shady, moist position
Native Ginger is a versatile plant that thrives in Queensland’s rainforests. It typically grows to a height of 1–2 metres, making it perfect for understory planting. Its bright blue berries and ginger-flavoured rhizomes can both be used in cooking. Plant it in a shady, moist spot with well-drained soil just like its favourite, natural habitat. Once established, Native Ginger doesn’t need much care – just some water during dry times.
5. Lemon Aspen (Acronychia acidula)
- Height: 4–15 m
- Fruit: Small, yellow, with a sharp citrus flavour
- Uses: Sauces, drinks, desserts
- Growing Conditions: Prefers tropical climates with rich, moist soil
If you’re after something citrusy and aromatic, Lemon Aspen is a fantastic choice. This beauty of a tree grows between 4 and 15 metres tall and produces small yellow fruits with a sharp, tangy flavour. They’re great for sauces, drinks, and even desserts. Lemon Aspen loves tropical and subtropical climates in rich, moist soil and a sheltered location.
6. Illawarra Plum (Podocarpus elatus)
- Height: 10–15 m
- Fruit: Sweet, purple-black
- Uses: Fresh fruit, jams, sauces
- Growing Conditions: Part shade, well-drained soil
The Illawarra Plum grows 10–15 metres tall and produces sweet, plum-like fruit. You can eat it fresh or turn it into jams and sauces. This tree loves part shade and well-drained soil. Its fruit is also a magnet for birds, so it’s perfect if you’re looking to create a wildlife-friendly space.
7. Herbert River Cherry (Antidesma bunius)
- Height: Up to 10 m
- Fruit: Small, red to black berries with a sweet-tart flavour
- Uses: Fresh eating, jams, jellies, wines
- Growing Conditions: Thrives in full sun to partial shade
Herbert River Cherry is a stunning tree native to Queensland. It grows up to 10 metres tall with clusters of berries that ripen from red to black. They’re quite tasty, sweet and tart, and perfect for fresh eating or making jams, jellies, and even wines. This tree is adaptable to many soil types but grows best in full sun to partial shade. Water regularly while it’s young. Once it’s established, it’s quite low-maintenance.
8. Riberry (Syzygium luehmannii)
- Height: 5–10 m
- Fruit: Small, red, tart
- Uses: Jams, sauces, cordials
- Growing Conditions: Thrives in tropical and subtropical climates
The gorgeous riberry tree produces small fruits with a tart, cranberry-like flavour. They’re fantastic for jams, sauces, and cordials. Riberry trees are hardy and adaptable – incredibly low-maintenance once established. Birds love them, too!
9. Brush Cherry (Syzygium australe)
- Height: 2–6 m
- Fruit: Crisp, bright red berries
- Uses: Fresh eating, desserts, preserves
- Growing Conditions: Excellent as a hedge or feature tree
The brush cherry is a versatile, easy-to-grow lilly pilly variety with bright red berries that are crisp and slightly sweet. You can eaten them fresh, straight off the tree, or in desserts. It makes a fantastic edible hedge!
10. Creek Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii)
- Height: 10–15 m
- Fruit: White to pinkish berries
- Uses: Jams, baking
- Growing Conditions: Prefers moist soil
The Creek Lilly Pilly grows pale pink berries that work well in jams and baking. It’s a larger tree, so it’s best for bigger gardens (great for shade or privacy!). It’s probably too big for most smaller backyards but if you have the space, it’s well worth growing. Another favourite of the birds!
11. Cocky Apple (Planchonia careya)
- Height: 8–10 m
- Fruit: Tart, eat fresh or use in bush tucker
- Uses: Traditional bush foods
- Growing Conditions: Tolerates dry conditions and a variety of soils
Cocky Apple is a resilient native tree that grows in dry conditions. Its tart fruits are often eaten fresh or used in traditional recipes. It’s easy to care for and produces stunning white flowers, making it as ornamental as it is functional.
12. Atherton Raspberry (Rubus probus)
- Height: 1–2 m
- Fruit: Red, sweet, raspberry-like berries
- Uses: Fresh eating, desserts, jams
- Growing Conditions: Prefers well-drained soil and partial shade; suitable for tropical and subtropical climates
My favourite! It’s not technically a tree but I had to include it regardless. This is such a heavy cropper here in North Queensland! The Atherton Raspberry is a native shrub with delicious red berries similar to the common raspberry. Our fruits never make it to the kitchen – we eat them straight off the plant. Delicious. It loves rich, well-drained soils with partial shade. One of the best for Queensland’s tropical and subtropical regions.
13. Native Mulberry (Pipturus argenteus)
- Height: 3–5 m
- Fruit: White, sweet, mulberry-like berries
- Uses: Fresh eating, desserts
- Growing Conditions: Adaptable; prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate coastal conditions
The Native Mulberry is a shrub or small tree with white, sweet berries very similar to traditional mulberries – just much smaller. They’re beautiful eaten fresh, or you can use them in desserts. It’s quite adaptable but prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate coastal conditions.
Final Thoughts
Queensland native fruit trees are more than just a source of food. They’re a way to support wildlife, connect with cultural heritage, and enjoy flavours you won’t find anywhere else.
What will you plant first? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear how your garden grows!