“Quandong: a small or shrubby Australian tree (Fusanus acuminatus or Elaeocarpus grandis synonym Santalum acuminatum) of the family Santalaceae that has lanceolate leaves and small flowers in terminal panicles followed by round edible red drupes“.

We have been asked about the Blue Quandong that is available at times in WA nursery’s and the difference between the Red and Blue Species. The answer is simply that a Blue Quandong is not a Quandong at all. While it shares the same common name based on having a similar knurled seed it is in fact a tropical and sub tropical large tree common to the Queensland rain forests, it is fast growing reaching 30+ meters and is not hemiparasitic.

While the Red Desert Quandong (Sanatalum acuminatum) has many health benefits being high in antioxidants, high in vitamin C and E and with a extremely high oil content in the kernel it it used for more than its edible fruit, as the kernel is used for medical treatment and even hair conditioner. It is favoured to enrich animal food.

The Blue Quandong tree while edible to humans is toxic to pets, it has bitter sour taste. These are not even closely related apart from sharing an unfortunate naming convention. While we are certain the Blue Quandong would be an amazing tree visually and perhaps grow well with certain high water requirements we urge people to research what they are buying if looking for a native Quandong as the naming is not specific to the species Santalum acuminatum.

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