Crossberry Plant Care

Crossberry (Grewia latifolia) belongs to the Malvaceae family within the Grewia genus. Crossberry is native to Northern and Eastern Australia. Crossberry is also known as Lavender Star Flower, South African Crossberry.

Crossberry displays an upright, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 4 ft. Crossberry produces small, bell-shaped flowers in various colors.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Crossberry every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Crossberry thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Grewia latifolia tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. Crossberry prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Crossberry to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Crossberry every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Crossberry is suited to USDA Zone 13a – 12b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Crossberry can spread to about 4 ft (1.2 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 4 ft (1.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Crossberry while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Crossberry is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Crossberry can be propagated through seeds, hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to velvet grewia plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Crossberry is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Crossberry grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Crossberry is native to Northern and Eastern Australia. In cooler regions, grow Crossberry as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.