Syzygium australe
| Syzygium australe | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Syzygium |
| Species: | S. australe |
| Binomial name | |
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Syzygium australe (H.L.Wendl. ex Link) B.Hyland |
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| Synonyms | |
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Syzygium australe, with many common names that include brush cherry,scrub cherry,creek lilly-pilly,creek satinash, and watergum, is a rainforest tree native to eastern Australia. 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.
The leaves are opposite, simple, lanceolate from 4–8 cm long. Flowers are white and in clusters. The dark pink to red fruits are edible.
This species is commonly confused with magenta cherry and the blue lilly pilly. However, the brush cherry has a paler trunk.
The species occurs in coastal regions in Queensland and New South Wales, northwards from Batemans Bay.
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.
Outside Australia, brush cherry is used as a subject for bonsai.
Mature brush cherry at Mount Keira, Illawarra, Australia
Mature brush cherry at Watagans National Park, Australia
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Wikipedia