Fried Egg Plant Polyspora axillaris
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Adinandra acuminata
- Gordonia axillaris
- Phonetic Spelling
- pol-ee-SPOR-uh ax-ILL-ar-iss
- Description
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Fried Egg Plant is a flowering, evergreen tree or large shrub in the tea family that is native to western Malesia. It has gained its common name because of its large, fragrant, white flowers with lemony yellow centers. The flowers can be enjoyed on the tree as well as on the ground after they drop. The flowers make it a popular garden plant throughout the Pacific rim countries. At maturity, the plant can reach a height of 20 to 30 feet.
The Fried Egg plant does best in full sun to partial shade with average, consistent watering in loamy soil. Chose a site that is sheltered from cold wind or, alternatively, grow in a pot for overwintering indoors.
Very little maintenance is needed other than a light pruning in spring after flowering to maintain shape. In its native environment, it is often found on hillsides where it has evolved the ability to hold to slopes in the face of rain or storms making it a valuable plant for erosion control.
Kew Garden and other botanical centers consider this plant to be in the genus Adinandra, species acuminata.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Generally disease and insect pest free.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Polyspora
- Species:
- axillaris
- Family:
- Theaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Malesia and Sumatra
- Distribution:
- China, Taiwan, Viet Nam
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit resembles the green part of an acorn.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Large, showy white flowers 4 inches across with crepe-paper petals and yellow centers. The flowers have five white petals, and many yellow anthers. The flower fall off the tree before wilting.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Two to five inch long, 1 to 1 1/2 wide, thickly leathery leaves, hairy and shiny.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Bark Description:
- Peels off in large smooth pieces, rather than fragments.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stout, glabrous stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Erosion
