Actually Artie, you are probably a victim of the "Native Plant Police". This is, I am told, a sinister band of zealots who seak around nurseries replacing exotics with useful and interesting natives, while no one is looking. (Although I am with you in your aversion to most Eucalypts - I'd rather have a Syzygium jambos any day). I found one in the bush, one day, and proudly posted a picture on this forum. My enthusiasm for this plant soon waned when I was told, in no uncertain terms, that it was - EEEK! A WEED!

You shouldn't be too disheartened about the Eucalypt (if that's what it is). They bring all sorts of native animals such as parrots, possums, owls, flying foxes etc. So long as they are not right up against the house, all you need to do is collect the odd fallen branch and rake the leaves up for the garden. Depends on what you like though really.

OK, Grant - I take your point : better to have a native *anything* than an introduced weed.

Pos, if my block was over 1000 sq m (its less than 700), I'd strongly consider a Eucalypt - I do like the aesthetics of many of the Corymbia's, for example. The problem is that the majority of them become far too large, and the branches can be a danger to life and property when they come down.

I'll try to find someone who can give me a positive ID on the thing, then I'll probably remove it before it gets any larger. Painful, but a lot easier now than in 6 months time - if only the rest of my plants grew so quickly :(

Here is a photo of said 'pony' ........

Here is a link that might be useful: Ring-in 'Lillypilly'

Artie,
I think the label might have been correct
Grant

Artie
I agree with Grant, looking at photos elsewhere I think what you have IS a Syzygium jambolana.

Roy

And probably somewhere around Allenstown, I would further guess
Grant

Grant and Roy,

Thanks for that - its reassuring to know that I got what I paid for, even if it bears little resemblance to my other Syzygiums. I take comfort in the fact that Corymbias are also myrtles, and they dont look much like my lillypilliys.

Grant, you are on the wrong side of Rocky with your guess. Allenstown has become increasingly popular over the last 12 or so months, but everyone knows that the Northside is the place to be :)

You are right, Artie. Northside it is. I used to live in Frenchville until I decided that Rocky was a bit too cool for my liking and moved further north :-)

Hi,

This looks like a nice tree and bears fruit too ?
How does it go in clay?

Where did you end up buying it from artiew? (Which Nursery?)

ps. first post :)

cheers

Hi rarrgh (!),

I think you'll find that many of the regulars have an aversion to non-native rainforest species such as Syz. Jambolana, often with good reason. These plants often have characteritstics which can make them difficult to live with in a suburban garden, and absolutely devastating if they escape into the bush.

At this stage, I'm not aware of specific weed issues relating to Syzygium Jambolana or Syzygium Jambos (very commonly stocked amidst the 'Natives' at places like Bunnings...), but its clear that both are tough, fast-growing trees, so I have little difficulty imagining them as such. I bought my Jambolana from 'Rocky Palm Farm' on High St, and I believe that it will eventually bear a large apple-like fruit - see the link below for further details. I also trusted my nurseryman's advice that it wont grow too large in my garden, and it is quite waterwise for a rainforest plant, but I am haunted by the realisation that I have ignored the 'local provenance' edict yet again. Surrounded by gardens which have few, if any, rainforest species, I told myself that anything in the Syzygium family had to be an improvement, but I would prefer to have planted something indigeneous to Central Queensland. At this stage, I'm following the plants rapid progress with awe, and procrastinating on whether to replace it or not.

Cheers,

Artie

Apologies

Here is a link that might be useful: Syz Jambolana