Scientific Name: Syzygium leuhmannii (was Eugenia leuhmannii)

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  • Pronunciation:
    sigh-ZIDGE-ee-um
  • Common Name:
    Riberry, Small-leaved lilly pilly, Cherry Alder, Small-leaved Water Gum.
  • Derivation:
    Syzygium: from the Greek syzygos - yoking. from syn - together zygon - yoke. In some species petals join to form calyptra (cap, hood, cape) which is shed as flower expands.
  • Type:
    Tree , medium
  • Family:
    MYRTACEAE
  • Flowers:
    White, November to December
  • Fruit:
    Berry, pink, red, 9-12 mm dia, ovoid or pear-shaped.
  • Vegetation Type:
    Rainforest scrubs. Good soil moisture preferred.
  • Species List:
    Kin Kin Arboretum, Plants for Coastal Gardens, Bush food, FI Podberscek, Community Gardens, NNP Palm Grove, Wooroi Day Use Area Tracks, Cooroy Mill Site, Wooroi Palm Grove, BSDoonan, Cooloothin Corner, Fraser Island, Cooroibah Conservation Park, Rainforest, along moist scrubby watercourses, NNP Tanglewood, Dandaloo, Heritage Park, RE 12.9-10.16x1.
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Bush food: Part Used: Fruit: Red / pink ovoid or pear-shaped fruit, 12-15 mm long.

|Flavour: Strongly flavoured, tasting of cloves and spice.

Food Use: For fruit-type flavour in sweet and savoury products. Whole fruit can be blended for use in ice cream, chocolates and sauces for meat dishes. The red colour pales to pink on cooking.

Identification Notes

Leaf: small , drawn out to very long point. Le4ss than 12 pr. veins. ||New growth: bright scarlet. ||Branchlets: weeping. Trunk: Buttressed ||Flower: Flowers in terminal panicles. ||

Associated Fauna

Bird attracting. ||Butterflies: nectar feeding butterflies, Bright Oakblue||Fruit eaten by Figbird.||

Landscaping Notes

Landscaping potential in suitable areas. Noosa Council Preferred Species list . ||Successfully propagated by Noosa & District Landcare. ||Best in well drained soils in sun or part shade. Moderately salt-tolerant. ||May be pruned to hedge. ||Indoor pot plant potential.||Propagation is from seed, ripening in summer, which is easy to germinate. Cutting strike readily.||Feature foliage - new growth especially||Successfully propagated by Coolum Community Native Nursery|Successfully propagated by Tin Can Bay City Farm Nursery|Successfully propagated by Florabunda Bushcare nursery, Woombye|Successfully propagated by Mooloolah Native Nursery||Successfully propagated by Barung Landcare||