Broad leafed lillypilly
Syzygium hemilamprum

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows to 20 m tall and spreads to 5 m wide. The stout stem has buttresses. The bark is grey. It has a dense bushy crown. The young shoots are dark red. The leaves are dark green and like an ellipse. They have a blunt tip. The top side of the leaf is glossy, while the underside is dull. There are very few oil glands visible. (These leaf characteristics help distinguish it from Acmena smithii.) The leaves are 4-12 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The edge of the leaf often curves backwards. The flowers are small and white and with a fluffy appearance. They occur on branched flower stems near the ends of branches. The fruit are pale bluish purple berries. They are 1-2 cm across. They are globular in shape. The fruit stalks are round in cross section. The flesh is edible.

There are 15 Acmena species. They occur in tropical Asia and Australia.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical tree. It occurs naturally in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It also occurs in Papua New Guinea. It prefers a coastal rainforest position with a well-composted soil. It is drought and frost tender although established trees can survive moderate frosts. It needs watering during dry periods and probably benefits from fertiliser. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Geelong Botanical Gardens. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. It makes a good jam.

It is used as a food in Australia, but it is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It is grown from fresh seed. Seeds germinate slowly. It can be grown by tip cuttings 10 cm long and taken when growth is slowest.

Fruit ripen May to August. (January to September). Large fruited forms can be selected.

Its other names

Local names

Blush Satinash

Synonyms

Acmena hemilampra (F. Muell.) Merr. & L. M. Perry; Eugenia hemilampra F. Muell.; Eugenia smithii var. hemilampra F. Muell; Syzygium acmenoides Merr. & L. M. Perry;