Lilly-pilly

Syzygium smithii, the lilly-pilly or common lilly-pilly (formerly Acmena smithii), is a medium to large evergreen tree in the family Myrtaceae native to the rainforests, gully forests, and littoral scrubs of eastern Australia, from Cape York to eastern Victoria. It typically reaches 8-20 m in cultivation but can become a substantial canopy tree of 30 m in old rainforest. The opposite leaves are leathery, ovate to lanceolate, 3-10 cm long, dark glossy green above and paler beneath, with prominent intramarginal veins. In summer, terminal panicles of small, cream to greenish-white, fluffy flowers attract numerous nectarivorous insects and birds. The decorative fruit is a globose to pear-shaped berry 8-20 mm wide, ripening through pink, mauve, and lavender to deep magenta-purple, with crisp, slightly tart white flesh enclosing a single seed. It is widely planted as a hedge, screen, and ornamental.