Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree Archive

Syzygium jambos is a small ornamental and fruit-producing tree from South East Asia. There are a number of varieties producing fruit of various colours and they are grown in many (frost-free) areas of the world. It has been introduced to all continents except Antarctica and can be invasive and a threat to local ecosystems in some areas.

The flowers have small greenish petals and sepals with a spectacular bunch of long white stamens. In temperate regions the tree flowers in summer. The fruit has one or two large seeds and a strong pleasant bouquet (hence the name rose-apple). It can be grown easily from seed, will do well as a container plant and will flower in as little as three years from seed. It is said to tolerate some slight frost.