Syzygium australe

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Eudicots > Rosids > Malvids >  Myrtaceae > Syzygium australe

Other links:     

Plant  information

Common name:              Creek Lilly-pilly

• Other common names that include brush cherry, scrub cherry, creek satinash and watergum

Conservation status:    ...

Etymology:   

Flowers:                  

• Flowers are white and in clusters

Fruit:                         

• The pink, elongated, edible fruits range from a size of 1.5 to 2.3 cm long

• They ripen mainly in summer and autumn

• The fruit surrounds a small, circular seed

• The flavour of the fruit is described as having a refreshing taste, and have a small hint of sourness to them

Leaves:         

• The leaves are opposite, simple, lanceolate from 4–8 cm long

Stem & branches: 

• It can attain a height of up to 35 m with a trunk diameter of 60 cm

• In cultivation, this species is usually a small to medium-sized tree with a maximum height of only 18m

Roots:         

Habit:        

• It is a rainforest tree 

Habitat:   

• Native to eastern Australia 

Distribution:                  

• The species occurs in coastal regions in Queensland and NSW, northwards from Batemans Bay

Additional notes:     

• Identification

  • This species is commonly confused with magenta cherry and the blue lilly pilly

  • However, the brush cherry has a paler trunk

Cultivation

• Syzygium australe usually takes about 6 weeks to germinate depending on the temperature and the soil moisture

• Ideal temperatures for germination is 18-26 degrees Celsius

• The soil needs to be moist, but not waterlogged as this can rot the seed

• For successful germination, remove all the flesh from the seed

• Plant the seeds about 13 mm deep in soil

• If planting in a pot, make sure it has good drainage

Uses

• Brush cherry is commonly cultivated in gardens in Eastern Australia, mostly as shorter, shrub-like cultivars such as "Aussie Boomer", "Aussie Compact", "Birdsville", "Bush Christmas", "Minipilly" and "Tiny Trev" - these are especially popular as hedges

• The pleasantly sour fruit are also eaten fresh or cooked

• The fruit can be used to make jams and jellies

• This species has been adopted by Coffs Harbour City Council as the City's floral emblem

• Brush cherry is used as a subject for bonsai.

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syzygium_australe (2023)