SYZYGIUM

Ed Silberbauer

There exists a confusion as to what Syzygium is, and which and what species to avoid planting in your garden in and around Betty’s Bay.  If you study the following sources and list of syzygiums, you may be forgiven if you become more confused.

Source	Botanical name	Common name
National List of Introduced Trees, F von Breitenbach	Syzygium cumini	Java Plum  x783
	Syzygium paniculatum(= Eugenia paniculata)	Water Pear  x784
SA Book of Trees, Prof Wicht (pg 229)	Syzygium cordatum     (=Eugenia cordata)	Water Berry
Problem Plants and Alien Weeds of SA, Clive Bromilow (pg 145)	Syzygium cuminii	Jambolan
	Syzygium jambos	Rose Apple
	Syzygium paniculatum	Water PearBromilow writes: ‘It is however, like all syzygiums, a potential invader replacing indigenous vegetation.’
Trees of Southern Africa, K Palgrave (p 690)	Syzygium cordatum	WaterbessiePalgrave writes: ‘This species hybridises freely with the typical sub species of S. guineese.’
	Syzygium cumini	Jambolan Plum
	Syzygium guineense	Woodland Water BerryPalgrave writes: ‘This species is even more variable than Eugenia capensis and is probably the most variable woody species in the whole of Africa.’
	Syzygium jambos	Rose Apple
	Syzygium masakuense

Having read that lot, you need no longer be confused. If it looks like a waterbessie, DON’T plant it and if it is on your property, get rid of it. Syzygiums of whatever species are very invasive in our area.