Scrub or magenta cherry. There are about 50 species in Australia occurring in the Kimberly region of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and northern New South Wales. There has been considerable botanical revision of this and the related genera Acmena and Eugenia . The species formerly known as Eugenia australis is now regarded as two separate species, Syzygium australe and S.paniculatum . S.paniculatum is a shrub or small tree with flaky bark.
White flowers appear in summer and are followed by large, fleshy, magenta-coloured fruits.
These are ovoid in shape and around 20 mm long with a large seed. The fruits are edible and are often made into jams. S.paniculatum is a reliable species in most temperate and subtropical climates. It prefers rich soils and assured moisture. An attractive form with variagated foliage is in cultivation.