Syzygium cordatum
| Waterberry (Syzygium cordatum) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific name | Syzygium cordatum |
| Common names | Waterberry; water berry; hute; umJoni |
| Genus | Syzygium |
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Order | Myrtales |
| Growth form | Evergreen tree |
| Native range | Southern and eastern tropical Africa |
| Mature size | 8–15 m |
| Climate and site | Tropical to subtropical; streambanks, forest margins, riverine vegetation, and swampy sites |
| Propagation | Fresh seed; do not allow the seed to dry |
| Flowering | August–November in the South African flowering record |
| Fruit | Oval berries ripening from red to dark purple; slightly acid and edible |
Syzygium cordatum is an evergreen African waterberry tree of streambanks, forest margins, riverine vegetation, and swampy sites. It usually reaches 8–15 m and has elliptic to nearly circular bluish-green leaves, fragrant white to pink flowers, and oval berries that ripen red to dark purple.[1][2]
Description[edit | edit source]
The tree is associated with wet ground and flowing water across southern and eastern tropical Africa. Its growth form, foliage, flowers, and fruit support identification when combined with the accepted binomial; common names such as waterberry are not sufficient for identification on their own.[1][2][4]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In nature, Syzygium cordatum occupies streambanks, damp forest margins, riverine vegetation, and swampy sites. Begin with moisture-retentive soil that remains well supplied with water, while preserving enough drainage to avoid stagnant conditions around a container or planting bed. A waterside or otherwise damp position matches the habitat more closely than a dry, drought-prone site.[2]
As a Syzygium, it is reasonable to begin with warm, moisture-retentive growing conditions; the species-specific basis here is its documented water-loving habitat and cultivation near streams or other damp ground, not a fixed irrigation schedule.[2][3]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
PlantZAfrica places cultivation in full sun near a stream or other damp area. Give a young tree strong light with reliable moisture and good air movement; the full-sun recommendation is species-specific, while any further humidity target should be treated as a site decision rather than a measured species requirement.[2]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The South African flowering record runs from August to November, a cool-season-to-spring window in that region. In cultivation, keep the root zone consistently supplied with moisture through the active growing season and avoid allowing fresh seed or young seedlings to dry. [2][3]
A botanical cultivation account places the species in tropical or subtropical conditions, gives best daytime temperatures of 15–25 °C, and lists a broader tolerated range of 10–35 °C. Treat those figures as qualified cultivation guidance rather than hard species limits.[3]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Use fresh seed and sow it promptly. Germination is given as 90% after 25 days in one cultivation account, and seed viability is described as falling to about one day after the seed has been removed from the fruit and allowed to dry; these figures are useful handling guidance, not a guarantee for every seed lot.[3]
After germination, feed seedlings with organic liquid fertilizer and pot them individually as they develop. Keep the seed and young seedlings evenly moist while avoiding conditions that exclude air from the root zone.[2]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Flowering is recorded from August to November in South Africa. The oval berries develop from red to dark purple as they ripen. Harvest timing is therefore tied to the regional flowering and ripening cycle rather than to a fixed calendar value.[4][2]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The fruit is described as edible and slightly acid. It may be eaten fresh or processed into jams and jellies; alcoholic use is also recorded in the regional literature.[2][3]
Traditional medicinal and fish-poison uses are associated with the species in some accounts, but these traditions do not establish safe preparation, dosage, or clinical efficacy. They are not recommendations for ingestion or treatment.[2][3]
Photos[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Syzygium cordatum flower.jpg — flowers and leaves; Damien Farrell; CC BY-SA 3.0. Individual file page. Attribution: Damien Farrell; Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.
- Syzygium cordatum 1.jpg — tree in the Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga; Franz Xaver; CC BY-SA 4.0. Individual file page. Attribution: Franz Xaver; Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.
