Syzygium australe
Scrub cherry, Scrub Cherry
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo · licence
Family: Myrtaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Syzygium australe (Scrub cherry) is a non-native California shrub in the Myrtaceae family, recognized by Only Syzygium species naturalized in California, waif from Australian horticulture.
Scrub cherry is a naturalized shrub found in San Diego County in disturbed urban riparian areas at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering with white flowers in small clusters, this plant produces round petals 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter. Growing with branchlets that have distinctive 4-winged or 4-ribbed tips that merge in pairs to form small pockets near nodes, it develops smooth tan bark that flakes with age. Its leaves are obovate or elliptic, 3 to 9 centimeters long with an acute or abruptly pointed apex, typically 2.2 to 2.8 times longer than wide. The fruit is nearly spherical, ranging from 14 to 23 millimeters long and colored red or purple.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Syzygium species naturalized in California, waif from Australian horticulture
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rare in disturbed urban riparian areas
Elevation: < 50 m
Outside California: southeastern Australia
How to tell it apart
vs Prunus: Syzygium has opposite leaves and numerous stamens; Prunus has alternate leaves and ~20 stamens.; vs Myrtus: Syzygium has 4-petaled flowers with one round seed; Myrtus has 5 petals and kidney-shaped seeds.; vs Photinia: Syzygium has opposite leaves and red/purple berries; Photinia has alternate leaves and red pomes.; vs Eugenia: Syzygium fruits have one large round seed filling the berry; Eugenia typically has smaller seeds.; vs Camellia: Syzygium has opposite leaves and fleshy berries; Camellia has alternate leaves and woody capsules.
Frequently asked questions
Is Syzygium australe native to California?
No. Syzygium australe is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Syzygium australe belong to?
Syzygium australe is in the Myrtaceae family, genus Syzygium.
What habitat does Syzygium australe grow in?
Syzygium australe grows in Rare in disturbed urban riparian areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.