Coffee bush

Breynia oblongifolia

Small erect shrub with grey green leaves. Flushes of red new growth after rain. Pendant fruits turns red when ripe then black. Fruits summer to autumn. Male and female flowers on same plant. Does not like frosts. Host plant for the yellow butterfly Eurema hecabe.

Type of Plant

Small Tree

Size

2m tall x 1m spread

Flower Structure

Very tiny flowers

Flower Colour

Red, Green

Flowers When?

Winter, Spring

Leaves

Small round grey green leaves

Light Levels

Full Sun, Light Shade

Soil Types

Acid to neutral sandy, Loam, Sandy, Moist some of the time, Sandy loam

Soil Moisture

Well Drained

Garden Use

Garden Filler, Screening Plant

Care

Low maintanance

Special Features

fast growing, prunes well, Spreads slowly from suckers

Attracts

Butterflies

Family

Phyllanthaceae

Cultivars, Hybrids, Varieties

History, meaning of the name

Breynia – named for Jacob Breyne (1637–1697) and his son Johann Philipp Breyne (1680–1764) – who were Polish botanists. oblongifolia – from the latin oblongifolius – meaning with oblong leaves, although the leaves are usually regularly oval to elliptic.

Distribution

Australia and New Guinea.