Olive variety Elaeocarpus serratus (forum)

JenJen starts with ...
Hi everyone, hoping someone can help me. I am looking for the olive tree variety
'Elaeocarpus serratus', known as 'Veralu' in Sri Lanka, I would say it mostly grows in Sri Lanka and possibly aindia too. Would anyone know where I may be able to source a seedling or plant from?
It is a sweet fruit when ripe and is eaten straight off the atree. We also use it in pickles. So different to the traditional olive we get here.

Any help where to source one would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all in advance!

Time: 19th February 2020 1:30pm

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About the Author JenJen
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Linton says...
Veralu, the Ceylon Olive or Elaeocarpus serratus. Don't know anywhere locally that you buy this plant but Im growing some small ones and loving them, so I was intrigued to read your posting. Never knew that you could eat the Veralu fruit straight off the tree. Have only tried the ones in the can from the Indian groceries store, but you cant eat those as they need to be prepared first, right?

I think there are many secret uses for Veralu fruit that is so wildly popular in Sri Lanka and would like to learn about those. I read somewhere that they can be eaten fresh dipped in raw cane sugar.

It is also claimed that Elaeocarpus serratus was brought into Sri Lanka from outside, but nobody seems to know where it originated from. How strange!
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Time: 21st February 2020 2:25pm

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About the Author Linton
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JenJen says...
Hi Linton,
Yes you can definitely eat them ripe off the tree. As a young kid we used to go hunting for fallen fruit to eat as rhey were super ripe, soft and sweet.

Could I ask where you got seeds to grow and methods to successfully get them sprouting? Your little plants look fantastic, and I'd love to try it myself.

I'll be honest I've never tried the bottled fruit as I'm not a fan of the pickled ones. So sorry can't help you with prep.

Yes I also read it has many medicinal purposes too.

Would love to see you you get on with the seedlings and how they go through winter.

Time: 22nd February 2020 8:20pm

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Linton says...
Got the seeds sent over from Sri Lanka a couple of years ago. However our customs department have since changed the rules for importing seeds so its a bit harder these days. All seed consignments need to be packed in commercial seed packets but even then they can still be rejected. The only sure way is if the seed supplier provides a phytosanitary certificate to go with the shipment.

The method I used to grow the seeds is to put them in a ziplock bag with some coco peat and keep it moist but not wet. They should then be kept in a constantly warm place. You also need to open the bag every so often so air can get through in case of any mould forming. Keep doing this for one and a half years and after that time you might find a couple of them starting to germinate. Once they have sprouted they can then be transferred into pots like the ones that were shown in the pictures.

So the main requirement is that you need a lot of patience, but well worth it at the end of the day!

Time: 23rd February 2020 6:08pm

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Original Post was last edited: 23rd February 2020 9:18pm

About the Author Linton
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Lyn Timmins says...
Hi Linton. I am based in Melbourne as well. Been looking for this for a long time. How did you go with the Ceylon Olive? Does it grow well in Melbourne weather?

Time: 18th January 2021 3:29pm

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About the Author Lyn Timmins
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Linton says...
Sadly most of the Veralu seedlings perished during the cruel winter and I don't have a hothouse which would be a better way to raise them. However there are 2 survivors so I'm hoping that as they grow bigger and become more established they will be more hardy to withstand the colder seasons.
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Time: 22nd January 2021 11:11am

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About the Author Linton
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