About Syzygium luehmannii (F.Muell.) L.A.S.Johnson
Syzygium luehmannii, also known as the riberry, is a tree that can occasionally reach 30 metres in height with a trunk diameter of 90 cm. It has a tall straight trunk that is often buttressed at the base for large specimens, and a dense crown made up of small leaves. Its bark comes in red brown, light grey, or pinkish grey, and has soft papery scales. In cultivation, the tree commonly only grows to between 8 and 10 metres in height. The tree produces berries that have a tart, cranberry-like flavour with a subtle hint of cloves. It has been a popular gourmet bushfood since the early 1980s, and is commercially cultivated on a small scale. The fruit is most often used to make jam with a distinctive flavour, and is also used in sauces, syrups, and confectionery. It can also be eaten fresh directly off the tree. The riberry plant is also very popular as a garden ornamental and a street tree. Light pruning can easily keep it maintained as a smaller tree.
