In fruit right now is one of the most common and widespread local shrubs of the Illawarra region: the Coffee Bush (Breynia oblongifolia). And it's looking spectacular!
Before you get too excited though, I have to start with a disclaimer: this bush does not produce coffee beans, or fruit that look like coffee beans, and there is actually ongoing debate about whether the fruit are even edible! And I haven't yet found a convincing account of how it got its common name. So please don't try roasting the fruit!
That said, Coffee Bush is a gorgeous shrub or small tree, with interesting reddish-green new growth, numerous round fruit that turn from green to yellow, then red, then black, and have a propensity to attract a wide range of insect friends.
Coffee Bush is a widespread plant across the Illawarra region, occurring everywhere from coastal sand scrub and hind dunes, across the coastal plain, up the escarpment and even up on the Hawkesbury sandstone plateau. In ideal, sheltered conditions on rich soil, it can reach 4m and live as a spreading large shrub or small tree for 10-15 years. In harsher, drier or sandier conditions it is much shorter, maybe 1.5-2m high and narrow in habit. You'll see it in almost any natural area you visit across Illawarra.
This plant is also an excellent habitat species. A range of birds including Crimson Rosellas and Eastern Rosellas eat the fruit, and caterpillars of the Large Grass-yellow butterfly (Eurema hecabe) feed on the leaves. Many bugs, beetles and other insects can be seen among the foliage.
At the moment I'm seeing a lot of Australian Jewel Bugs (Lampromicra aerea) on Coffee Bush leaves, though I have yet to get a half-decent photo. See what insects you can spot on your local Coffee Bush plants. You might even be lucky enough to see a Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus species).
