Saturday, September 6, 2008

Syzygium luehmannii,Riberry

Syzygium luehmannii
Riberry, in a formal garden setting

This native lillypilly is one of the best to grow because of its graceful weeping habit and eventual compact form. It initially grows as an untidy open shrub and can be quite slow but patience rewards those wait, for once it gets to about 2 metres it starts to develop into a beautiful small tree.Eventually it reaches about 5 metres but can get bigger in a "rainforest" style garden or in fertile rich soil.
New growth is flushed pale green to pink and is very attractive. The small pear shaped berries which are produced in huge quantities are pleasantly clove tasting and suitable for a range of recipes. The Vic Cherikoff cookbook called "Uniquely Australian" has recipes for both savoury and sweet dishes using the riberry. There are also a couple of dwarf forms of this lillypilly available including "Lulu" and "Royal Flush".

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