Yellow Pear-fruit (Mischocarpus pyriformis)
Yellow Pear-fruit is an attractive, small to medium sized tree found in coastal rainforest from Seal Rocks to far North Queensland. It has glossy compound leaves (each leaf has 4-9 large leaflets) and an appealing smooth, quite colourful trunk.
Fragrant, cream-coloured flowers are followed by fruits in the form of dry, yellow, pear-shaped capsules from October to December. Each capsule has one or two black, egg-shaped seeds enclosed in a red aril (a fleshy membrane around the seed), which is sought after by the Lewin’s Honeyeater and probably other fruit-eating rainforest birds.
Around the Hastings area it is common along the boardwalk in Sea Acres National Park, the north shore littoral rainforest and the dry rainforest gullies of Bago Bluff National Park.
Grown in the open it would form a small, showy bushy tree and deserves more attention in cultivation. It is currently available in large numbers from the Landcare Nursery, and not often purchased because it is relatively unknown in the community.
Celebrating Landcare Week: 3rd - 9th August 2026
Landcare Week is celebrated during the first week of August to acknowledge the Australians who are actively restoring, enhancing and protecting the natural environment in their community.
We would like to thank Landcare for the amazing work they do in our community, as well as being regular contributors to the Environment Matters newsletter with the Native Plant of the Month article.
Landcare have some exciting activities planned for Landcare Week. Register here if you would like to get involved.
