Syzygium cordatum (SA Tree List No. 555) has grey or brown bark that becomes rough, corky and fissured on old stems. The young branchlets are four-angled. The leaves are opposite, clustered towards the branch ends with short or no petioles. They vary in shape, often elliptic to nearly round or ovate in shape. Young leaves are reddish, blue-green above when mature and leathery. The midrib and lateral veins are visible.

The flowers are creamy white to pink in dense heads, growing at the branch ends. The stamens dominate the fragrant flowers’ appearance. Blooming continues throughout the year apart from midwinter. The fruit is ovoid and fleshy, changing colour a few times until becoming purple when ripe (Coates Palgrave, 2002).