Syzygium paniculatum

 

  Australian Brush Cherry

  Family: Myrtaceae

  Origin: Australia

Hardiness: USDA Zones 9b and 10; damaged below 25 degrees
Growth: Rapid growth to 30 feet or more with an 8 foot spread
Form: Upright columnar tree usually pruned as a shrub
Leaves: One inch oval; new leaves bronzy
Flowers: Clusters of cream-white flowers in the summer; many stamens
Fruit: Purple-red fruit is edible but not very tasty

Exposure: Sun or part shade
Water: Does best with regular watering
Soil: Any well drained soil; prefers to be kept moist
Fertilizer: NPK in spring
Prune: Thin and shape as needed to control size
Problems: Psyllids attack new leaves. See damage in photo below.

Australian Brush Cherry is also commonly called Eugenia, and nurseries usually use this name. It was used for large privacy hedges in Southern California landscapes for years. The eugenia psyllid appeared in the 1980s and the damage from this insect was so severe, it killed many plants and deformed those it didn't kill. It is little used these days. But the insect can be brought under some control. Be sure to spray in the spring as new growth begins, and be sure to prune off damaged new foliage as it appears. Fortunately, there are several dwarf forms that are less susceptible to the psyllid. These grow much more slowly and should be considered for Southern California and Central Coast landscapes.

© 1997 by Jim Clatfelter.         Go to Garden California Home Page

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page