Common Name: Brush Cherry

General Information

Syzygium paniculatum is a slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with a dense, pyramidal crown[]. It usually grows 3 - 7 metres tall, but exceptional specimens up to 20 metres are found[, ].
The edible fruit is sometimes gathered from the wild, though it is not widely appreciated[]. The tree is commonly grown as a hedge and ornamental[, ].
The plant is endangered, with a serious risk of disappearing from the wild within one or two decades if current land use continues[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland

Habitat

Rain forests and sandy soils by the sea[]. Subtropical and littoral rainforest on sandy soils or stabilised dunes near the sea[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Found in warm temperate to tropical areas of Australia[]. It is not very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -3°c[].
Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[]. Prefers a sandy soil, but grows in any good, well-drained soil[, ]. Plants are tolerant of poor soils[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. Crisp and very juicy, the aromatic rose-purple fruits are often eaten to quench the thirst[, ]. A succulent, fleshy pulp with a slightly sweet flavour[]. The fruit is up to 15mm long and 10mm wide[].The magenta fruits are 15-25 mm in diameter and contain a single seed[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants are very tolerant of trimming[]. They are widely used for hedging and to provide shelter from the wind in frost-free areas of California and Florida[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - polyembryonic, usually producing several seedlings from each seed. Germination taks 3 - 4 weeks[].
Stem cuttings root fairly easily[].