Birds have been visiting the fruit on my Celerywood (Polyscias elegans) one of the pioneer plants that pop up in this area. Pioneer plants are the local natives that seed freely, grow quickly and have evolved to fill empty or damaged areas of a forest. Their quick growth provides shade to allow the natural establishment of slower maturing plants. The wattles are a good example of this. Pioneer plants have a shorter life span. they will be shaded and outcompeted by the forest trees that will take their place.
Meanwhile, pioneers like wattles and the Celerywood are worth a place in our gardens, if only for their quick results. Their shorter lifespan gives the gardener time to see their garden maturing, select another species, or replant more of the same.
By Stephanie Haslam
Celerywood (Polyscias elegans)