Nitraria billardierei – Nitre or Dillon Bush seeds X 15

The Nitre Bush is a stiff, spreading shrub found in all states of Australia. In Western and Southern Australia, it is a coastal shrub, in Victoria, it becomes a member of the Mallee country while in New South Wales it has a very large presence on the North and South Western Plains and the North and South Far Western Plains. It has a wide tolerance to soils and habitat, growing on sand dunes, limestone soils, cliffs, loam and clay soils (particularly if they are overgrazed), saline creek flats and other low-lying areas. It is tolerant of frost, drought and salinity.

A spreading shrub growing to 2 metres (6 ft) high and often up to 4 metres (12 ft) in diameter. The branches are tangled and sometimes spiny; the leaves are alternate, often clustered and oblong (1-3 cm long or 3/8 – 1 1/4 in), thick, flat, smooth, blue-green with only one visible vein; the flowers are small, white and borne in small clusters along the branches mainly September thru December (Southern Hemisphere).

The fruit is a fleshy, ovoid drupe that ripens to red, purple or gold in mid-summer and contains a small sculptured stone. Taste is like a salty grape. The plant is not particularly palatable to stock but the fruit is eaten by emus and other birds which assists germination when the seed is expelled.

The Aboriginal people used the fruit as part of their diet, while early settlers made jams and sauces with them.

Offered is a packet of 15 seeds with propagation notes.