• Home
• About
• Visit
• Plant
  Collections
• Gardens & Climates
• In Bloom
• Plant Finder
• Collections Dept.
• Plant Sales
• Calendar of Events
• Library
• Bookstore
• Education
• Support
• Volunteer

In Bloom

Look for Syzygium smithii at the northern end of the Easten Australian garden. They are located along the path between the north entrance (Friend Gate) and the restrooms, and above the Wild Fowl Pond.

Location Scientific Name Syzygium smithii Common Name Lilly-Pilly Tree Family Myrtaceae Plant Type Evergreen large shrub or tree Environment Well adapted to Bay Area conditions, but thrives in full sun with deep, rich soil and ample water. Bloom The fluffy white blooms are insignificant compared to the pale lavender to purple fruit which persist on the branches throughout the late winter and spring. Uses The berries (known as "jambos" in SE Asia) can be eaten fresh or made into jellies or cordials. The fruit also attracts birds. More Info Australian Plants Online Profile Contributor: Fred Bové

Syzygium smithii, the Lilly Pilly tree, its purple berries covering it from crown to foot, is a visual delight in the spring. The color of the berries is unlike any other fruit and the reason for planting it as an ornamental.

Native to Australia's wet eastern shores, the Lilly Pilly thrives in temperate rain forest conditions. It can grow to 100 feet and has lustrous evergreen leaves which have an aromatic scent, linking it to the Myrtle family.

As a timber tree its wood is bright red, very hard, and prized for flooring, turnery and moldings. Thomas Church used lilly pilly in many of his Bay Area gardens designed in the 1950s and later. He often specified that they be shaped to contain their height. SFBG has two trees in the Eastern Australia section. Where did it get its name? We don't know, but the "Australian Encyclopaedia" says that it is most likely taken from the Australian aboriginal language.

Contributors: Docents Joanne Taylor and Kathy McNeil

• Archive 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006

Magnolia campbellii January	Magnolia denudata February	Magnolia x veitchii March
Iris douglasiana April

Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' January	Magnolia campbellii 'Darjeeling' February	Bomarea spp. March
Rhododendron occidentale April	Polystichum munitum May	x Chiranthofremontia lenzii June
Salvia leucantha July	Hydrangea seemannii August	Wollemia nobilis September
Cyathea cooperi October	Pinus radiata November	Correa spp. December

Garrya elliptica January	Magnolia x soulangeana February	Senecio glastifolius March
Ribes spp. April	Oxalis oregana May	Calandrinia grandiflora June
Taxus baccata July	Romneya coulteri August	Passiflora parritae September
Malvaviscus arboreus October	Monterey Cypress November	Aloe arborescens December

Aloe plicatilis January	Banksia seminuda February	Zantedeschia aethiopica March
Magnolia laevifolia April	Araucaria heterophylla May	Toxicodendron diversilobum June
Clarkia sp. July	Agapanthus August	Brugmansia September
Cedrus spp. October	Protea repens November	Camellia sinensis December

Thujopsis dolabrata January	Gordonia longicarpa February	Rojasianthe superba March
Echium spp. April	Iris douglasiana May	Digitalis purpurea June
Felicia amelloides July	Ceroxylon quindiuense August	Amaryllis belladonna September
Ginkgo biloba October	Acer morrisonense November	Ilex aquifolium December

Picea sitchensis January	Telanthophora grandifolia February	Aeonium arboreum 'Schwartzkopf' March
Leptospermum April	Salvia gesneraeflora May	Lavandula spp. June
Pelargonium July	Fuchsia paniculata August	Luma apiculata September
Luculia October	Arbutus unedo November	Cycad December

Restionaceae January	Hellebores February	Ceanothus March
Rhododendron April	Psoralea pinnata May	Fremontodendron californicum June
Leucadendron argenteum July	Crocosmia August	Gunnera tinctoria September
Pellaea rotundifolia October	Fuchsia boliviana November	Erica canaliculata December

Magnolia campbelli January	Magnolia denudata February	Camellia March
Geranium maderense April	Acmena smithii May	Eschscholzia californica June
Dendromecon harfordii July	Romneya coulteri August	Eupatorium purpureum September
Epilobium canum sp. October	Grevillea spp. November	Drimys winteri December