Muntries,Kunzea pomifera, also known as Emu Apples and Native Cranberries are evergreen, woody, low-growing fruit bearing plants, native of Australia found on its Southern coast, The fruit is valued by Aboriginal people and are now considered to have good commercial potential.

Leaves are small, glossy, round and 5mm in diameter. Flowers are born in early springtime carried on the ends of short branches. They are hermaphrodite, white fluffy looking followed by edible berries.

Muntries Fruit

The fruit, berries, produced by these plants are around 1 cm in diameter, green with a tinge of red at maturity, crisp in texture, sweet and withe flavor of a spicy apple. The Fruit is consumed fresh or made into pies and jellies. Muntries contain up to four times more antioxidants than blueberries and supply natural waxes that are good for skin nourishment.

Kunzea pomifera is a low growing plant in the wild and forms a dense, weed inhibiting ground cover with a spread of 1.5 meters. However, commercial growers have with success managed to trellis the plants.

Trellises provide easier access for harvesting and management. It also allows a more effective usage of orchard space. Kunzea pomifera can be trained rather easily through weaving the growing plant through and along trellis wires, employing plant ties to fasten them.

Muntries Propagation Methods

Plant propagation is in general by cuttings but also by seed. Muntries withstand dry periods and very high temperatures. Respond well to pruning and appear to prefer a well drained, moderately acid to strongly alkaline, pH 6.0 – 8.0, soil. Muntries need a sunny location but will tolerate some shade.

Water logging and extremely dry soils should both be avoided. Moderate restriction of water in the early springtime may be advantageous in hastening flowering and quashing competitive vegetative growth. Anecdotal evidence suggests that over-watering may result in a dilution of flavor in the Muntries berries. Kunzea pomifera is a member of the family Myrtaceae the genus Kunzea.

Muntries, Kunzea pomifera

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