Neomyrtus pedunculata

Neomyrtus pedunculata is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, native to the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Although it sits in the shrub layer, it can reach roughly six metres in height, giving it the form of a large shrub or small tree. It is a temperate species that grows in moist conditions and is not drought tolerant, so it favours ground that stays reasonably damp through the year. It accepts a range of soils, from light sandy ground and medium loams to heavier clay, and grows in full sun or partial shade, making it reasonably flexible about where it is planted. The plant is recorded for its edible fruit, the only part listed as a food source. The fruit can be eaten raw and is often taken fresh as a snack, or dried for later use, and it is also used in jams and preserves. This gives Neomyrtus pedunculata a modest culinary role alongside any ornamental value it holds as an adaptable garden shrub of manageable size. It can be raised from seed or from cuttings, so it is not difficult to establish where its moisture needs are met. It is not recorded as a medicinal plant, and no compounds, therapeutic benefits, or further uses are listed for it. Because the fruit is the sole documented edible part, any use as food should rest on confident identification, and no medicinal application is documented for the species.