10/04/2026
Scientists from the Botanic Gardens of Sydney have helped to replant the endangered Smooth Davidson’s plum (Davidsonia johnsonii) near Billinudgel. By carefully analysing and choosing which trees to plant, and where, the the team is helping to restore the rainforest tree best known for its mouth‑puckering, vitamin C–rich fruit.
Scattered across fragmented pockets of northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland, Smooth Davidson’s plum rarely produces fertile seed. Instead, it spreads by root suckers, a survival strategy that limits genetic diversity and leaves the species more vulnerable to environmental change.
To turn the odds, plant cuttings were collected from isolated populations across the species’ range and grown together to encourage cross‑pollination between distinct genetic lines. It's a living experiment in genetic matchmaking, designed to strengthen the species’ long‑term resilience.
The planting took place on Bundjalung Country, with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal rangers providing cultural guidance throughout to ensure the work respected Country and community values.
Supported by the Saving Native Species Fund, the project brought together the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Jagun Alliance, Madhima Gulgan Indigenous Rangers, the Jali Ranger Team, bushland restoration specialists, and students from the Indigenous Conservation and Land Management TAFE course, all working together to help this tart-tasting fruit have a much brighter future.
