Woody > Syzygium > Syzygium cormiflorum > Syzygium cormiflorum
Syzygium cormiflorum
Bumpy Satinash
Origin: The Bumpy Satinash is native to northern Australia and grows in rainforests found in the northeastern tip of the country.
Mike's
Opinion
"
I feel that the Bumpy Satinash is a very underappreciated plant in horticulture, as its incredibly hardy nature and unusual characteristics make it a very interesting plant. Additionally, as it feeds multiple native species it is a net positive to grow under almost any circumstances in Australia. Furthermore, I would be interested in seeing where else the plant can grow, as it has not been grown outside of Australia significantly.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Myrtaceae |
| Genus |
| Syzygium |
| Species |
| cormiflorum |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10 - 12 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-1) - 36 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 30 - 96 |
| Height |
| 20 - 30 m |
| Spread |
| 10 - 12 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Formally the Bumpy Satinash flowers through September to November, but has been observed flowering in March in northern regions. |
| Landscape |
| Bumpy Satinash does best as a specimen plant, as a border, or independently. They grow significantly smaller than in the wild, approximately 12m tall. The tree also attracts many birds and fruit eating bats in its natural habitat, making it a very appealing plant for wildlife appeal. Caution should be taken, as this plant is a favourite of local Ratites which can be very dangerous, especially around children. |
| Cultivation |
| Bumpy Satinash can thrive in any range of shade or sunlight, prefers dryer sandy or clay soils and acidity around 5-6 PH. Can be grown from fruit or cuttings of fresh growth. |
| Shape |
| Bumpy Satinash is largely pyramidal in shape with a rounded top |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| Pests |
| The Bumpy Satinash is prone to scale infestations. |
| Habitat |
| The Bumpy Satinash is native to rainforests primarily. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The Surface of the bark can be bumpy and uneven due to prior flower growth. Otherwise fairly average. Bark is brown with patches of pale grey and is vertically fissured. New growth is bright pink before becoming green and eventually brown. |
| Leaf Description |
| Leaves are ovate, ranging from 6 to 21 centimetres in length and 2.5 to 11.5 centimetres in width. Dark green with alternating veins and petioles ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 cm long. Veins curl upwards towards ends. |
| Flower Description |
| Flowers grow out from the trunk in large clusters, pale cream colour with 4 petals. Many filaments, as many as 150, extend out from the flower body ranging from white to cream coloured. They produce a significant amount of nectar. |
| Fruit Description |
| Fruits are white in colour and irregularly spherical to ovular with a diameter of 30-60mm. They grow in clusters much like the flowers and bear one to two seeds each. The fruit is edible and favoured by wildlife but is not considered palatable for human consumption, though it is similar in texture to an apple. |
| Colour Description |
| Leaves are a deep green, flowers and fruit are cream coloured and new growth ranges from pink to green. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium. |
| Propagation |
| Seeds are to be planted directly into sandy soil with or without the fruit intact, with a high preference for moist conditions. However, too much water will cause the seed to rot. You can also take cuttings from fresh growth of the plant to grow new specimens from, and this should be done in the middle of the plant’s growing season when the new growth is the most aggressive. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The Bumpy Satinash is a popular plant for attracting wildlife of Australia, it is noted to be a particularly major food source for such local wildlife as flying foxes and cassowaries. Otherwise the unique flowering on the trunk of this plant makes it a very popular decorative piece due to its unorthodox appearance. Additionally, native Australians would use the fruit for chewing to relieve thirst while travelling. |
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