Blooming Lilly Pilly

In May 1770 Sir Joseph Banks recorded that, on the shores of Botany Bay in eastern Australia, he had eaten the soft fruit of what is now called Lilly Pilly. The origin of the common name is not known, but is probably aboriginal. The name is used for several species of tree, all in the Myrtaceae family. So they are closely related to gum trees and bottlebrushes. 

This small tree is growing in our garden at Lennox Head. We planted it 5 years ago to give shade to our courtyard. It is now 5 m high. Plants grow quickly in the sub-tropics.

I borrowed my title today from this online publication by the Australian Native Plant Society (originally called the Society for Growing Australian Plants).