Common Name:

General Information

Syzygium luehmannii is a medium to large, evergreen tree with a dense, weeping crown. In the wild, specimens up to 30 metres tall can be encountered, but in cultivation plants seldom exceed 10 metres tall. The long, straight bole, especially on larger trees, is buttressed and can be 70cm in diameter[, , ].
The fruit has become a popular 'bush food' in Australia, where it is grown commercially and various varieties have been developed, including seedless forms[, ]. The tree is also the source of a commercial timber, marketed as 'Cherry Satinash' and is a popular hedge and ornamental, valued especially for its decorative young foliage which has bright pink tints[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australasia - eastern Australia to New Guinea.

Habitat

Rainforests on sandy soils[]. Mossy oak forests at elevations around 1,600 metres in New Guinea. Well developed rain forest on a variety of sites at elevations up to 1,500 metres in Australia[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Butterflies, Flies
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant grows naturally in a sub-tropical to tropical climate with a distinct dry season. However it can tolerate quite low temperatures in winter and mild frost, particularly after establishment[]. No damage has been shown to occur with temperatures as low as 0°c[].
Prefers a sunny position, but also tolerates moderate shade[, ]. Succeeds in both sandy and clay-based soils[]. Sandy soils benefit from a reasonably high level of organic matter, minimising the need for irrigation. Prefers a pH in natural conditions of 4.5 - 5.5, but in cultivation can succeed with a pH up to 6.5[].
The fruit is borne in great quantities[]. Mature trees have been known to yield 70 kilos or more of fruit[].
Plants grown from cuttings can produce fruit from their second year of growth, and have been shown to produce 3 - 5 kilos of marketable fruit per tree in the third year[].
Plants grown from cuttings are usually much smaller than plants grown from seed[].
Trees respond well to being cut back[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , ]. A distinctive, clove-like flavour[]. Although sometimes eaten raw, the fruit is more commonly cooked, being used to make jams, jellies, sauces, marmalade etc[]. The red, pear-shaped fruit is 9 - 12mm long, 6 - 10mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is ornamental, has dense foliage and responds well to clipping. It can be grown as an ornamental, fruit-bearing hedge.

Other Uses

A useful general purpose structural timber[].
We do not have any more specific information for the wood of this species, but the various species of Syzygium tend to have somewhat similar timber. The general description of syzygium timber is as follows:-
The heartwood is a golden brown, greyish brown or brown, with pink or purplish glints; it is not clearly demarcated from the 1 - 4cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is fine; the grain slightly interlocked, sometimes wavy or irregular; there are resin deposits. The wood is heavy; moderately hard; somewhat durable, being moderately resistant to fungi and termites, but susceptible to dry wood borers. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It works well with ordinary tools, nailing and screwing are good so long as the wood is pre-bored; gluing is correct. The wood is used for musical instruments, tool handles, furniture components, ship building, heavy carpentry, flooring, joinery etc[].

Propagation

Seed - sown fresh, it germinates in 3 - 4 weeks[].
Cuttings are fairly easy to root[].

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