Syzygium jambosRose Apple

The Syzygium jambos, commonly known as the Rose Apple, is a dense evergreen tree of Southeast Asian origin whose long narrow leaves flush coppery red before hardening to dark glossy green. Large creamy powder-puff flowers of prominent stamens open in spring and are followed by pale yellow fruit that genuinely smells of roses.

It is planted for shade in parks and along watercourses, in edible landscapes and as a screen, and the coloured new growth is as much of the appeal as the fruit.

Specifications

• Height7 to 12 metres
• Width5 to 9 metres
• Native toSoutheast Asia; long cultivated across the tropics
• FoliageLong, narrow, glossy dark green leaves flushing coppery red when new; evergreen
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers deep, moist, well-drained soils and tolerates a range including sandy loams
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterModerate to high; performs best where water is reliable
• ClimateThrives in tropical and warm subtropical regions and is frost-sensitive

Additional Features

• FlowersLarge creamy-white powder-puff flowers of prominent stamens in spring
• FruitPale yellow fruit with a distinct rose fragrance, edible
• UsesIdeal for shade, streamside and park planting, edible landscapes and screening
• SpacingPlant 6 to 8 metres apart for a closed canopy
• Low MaintenancePrune after fruiting to keep the crown open; takes hard reduction well
• Pest ResistanceGenerally robust; monitor for fruit fly where a crop is retained
• Wildlife AttractionFlowers carry heavy nectar and the fruit is taken by birds and bats
• Seasonal AppealCoppery new growth, spring flowering and a summer fruit crop in sequence

The Rose Apple gives dense shade, a distinctive flower and a fragrant crop from a tree of manageable size.