Forest Satinash Tree

The Forest Satinash (Syzygium tierneyanum) is the native screening tree for the damp corner of the block. It is a creek line species from northern Australia, so it copes with ground that stays wet after rain, and in a home garden it settles at about 8m tall and 4m wide rather than the 25m it reaches in the wild. Cream flowers in the warmer months are followed by edible white fruit that the birds find first.

Why you'll love it

• It tolerates wet feet. Few screening trees sit happily in slow draining ground. This one grows along creek banks in habitat, so a soggy back corner suits it.
• A genuine Australian native. Cream flowers feed insects and the white fruit brings in fruit eating birds through the warm months.
• Dense evergreen cover. It holds foliage all year and screens a boundary at 8m without the width of a fig or a poinciana.
• Coastal and humidity tolerant. Salt laden wind and long humid summers are both handled without leaf burn.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 3m apart in a single row for a tall screen. That spacing lets each canopy fill out while still knitting into a continuous wall of foliage.

Feature planting. A single tree carries a glossy canopy and a clean trunk, so it anchors a courtyard or a native bed.

Shade tree. At 8m by 4m it shades a seating area or a western wall without taking over a suburban backyard.

Growing the Forest Satinash in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or part shade, and it is one of the better screening trees for a partly shaded aspect. Tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens suit it. It is frost tender, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and southern gardens with regular frosts are out.

Soil. More forgiving than most. It handles heavy soil and ground that holds moisture, though compost through the backfill still helps. Keep 75mm of mulch over the root zone and clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, then weekly in dry spells. It is not drought tolerant, so a hot dry position needs irrigation. Feed with a controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer.

Pruning. Growth is slow, so pruning is light work. Tip prune from planting to thicken a screen, and lift the lower branches only for a clear trunk. It reshoots from older wood if a hedge gets away from you.

What to expect when it arrives

Three sizes are grown: 300mm pots, 45L and 200L. The 300mm plants are young and single stemmed, the value choice for a long boundary. The 45L is the middle ground, and the 200L arrives branched and carrying real height on day one.

Because it is slow growing, size at purchase matters more here than with a fast screening plant. Expect a quiet first season, then steady rather than rapid growth. Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the full syzygium range
• Caring for syzygiums and lilly pillies
• Other screening plants in the 4m to 8m range
• Browse Australian native trees

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Three metres apart in a single row. Closer planting does not close the screen faster, it just crowds the roots.

Will it really reach 25m in my garden?

No. That height belongs to old rainforest specimens on permanent creek lines. In cultivation, with normal garden soil and rainfall, expect around 8m.

Can it handle a boggy spot?

Yes, better than almost any other screening tree we sell. Ground that stays damp after rain is fine, though water sitting permanently over the crown will still cause problems.

Is the fruit worth eating?

It is edible and mildly tart rather than sweet. Most people leave it for the birds, which strip a tree quickly once the fruit softens.