Kangaroo Apple is a captivating plant native to Australia and New Zealand, known for its unique appearance and intriguing name. Despite its common name, this plant is not related to true apples but belongs to a diverse family with both edible and toxic members. It balances ornamental appeal with a need for careful understanding regarding its fruit.
What is Kangaroo Apple
Kangaroo Apple refers primarily to two species within the Solanum genus: Solanum laciniatum and Solanum aviculare. These plants are part of the Solanaceae family, which also includes familiar crops like tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. Both species are native to temperate regions of Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, as well as New Zealand. Solanum aviculare prefers damper environments compared to S. laciniatum.
These plants grow as soft-wooded shrubs, reaching heights of 1 to 4 meters. They feature deep green foliage; Solanum laciniatum has two types of leaves—large, irregularly lobed juvenile leaves and smaller, more entire adult leaves. Both species produce vibrant bluish-purple flowers with bright yellow anthers, appearing through spring and summer. Following the blossoms, egg-shaped berries emerge, initially green, then mature to an orange-yellow or orange-red color.
Edibility and Toxicity
Understanding Kangaroo Apple’s edibility is important, as different parts of the plant and varying stages of fruit ripeness carry distinct properties. All green parts of the plant, including leaves, stems, and especially unripe fruits, contain toxic glycoalkaloids, primarily solanine. Consuming these unripe parts can lead to adverse effects, as is common with many Solanum family members.
The edibility of ripe fruit differs between Solanum laciniatum and Solanum aviculare. For Solanum laciniatum, ripe, orange-yellow fruits are considered edible and can be consumed raw or cooked. These ripe berries are 20-30 mm long and may have a warty appearance. Conversely, Solanum aviculare’s ripe fruit is less straightforward; while some sources suggest it can be eaten raw or cooked when fully ripe and orange-red, others advise caution. The taste of S. aviculare fruit can vary significantly, sometimes being sickly sweet or bitter even when ripe.
To ensure safety, consume only fully ripe fruits that have softened and turned their characteristic orange-yellow or orange-red color, or ideally, have fallen from the plant. Softening indicates that toxic alkaloids have significantly diminished. If there is any doubt about species identification or fruit ripeness, it should not be consumed. The fruit pulp contains numerous tiny seeds.
Growing Kangaroo Apple
Kangaroo Apple plants are fast-growing shrubs suitable for a garden. They thrive in a range of well-draining soil types, including sandy, loamy, or clay-laden mediums. While they can tolerate some shade, these plants prefer full sun to partial shade for good growth and flowering.
These plants are adaptable to various moisture conditions, preferring moist but not waterlogged soil, and can tolerate some drying out once established. Kangaroo Apple is suited to USDA hardiness zones 8 to 11, indicating its preference for subtropical climates and sensitivity to prolonged freezes. In areas with colder winters, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors to protect it from frost.
Propagation can be done from seeds or cuttings. Seeds may take several weeks to germinate; they are best sown in a warm greenhouse in spring. Cuttings from half-ripe wood taken in mid-summer are effective, rooting easily within a few weeks. Young plants may require staking in windy conditions.
Beyond the Fruit
Kangaroo Apple offers several other attributes. It serves as an ornamental plant, providing attractive foliage and abundant purple blossoms. Its rapid growth makes it suitable for use as a screen or fast-establishing cover. The plant’s ability to colonize disturbed areas and tolerate various soil types makes it useful for bank stabilization and reclaiming mine wastes, even in soils with high concentrations of heavy metals.
The flowers and fruits also play an ecological role, providing a food source for native bees and birds. Native bees engage in “buzz pollination” to collect pollen from the flowers. Historically, indigenous Australians and Maoris utilized Kangaroo Apple for both food and traditional medicinal purposes. While these historical uses highlight the plant’s diverse properties, modern consumption for medicinal purposes is not recommended.