Central and Sth Europe. Broadly conical, deciduous. Small clusters of tiny yellow flowers on bare branches in winter. Red or orange glossy fruits in January/February are sour but edible and used for conserves. Good shelter screen.

Eastern USA. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Healthy large green leaves - yellow in autumn. Branches on older trees have a few large thorns. 2cm wide white flowers in large clusters and large scarlet fruits. Good screening.

Broadly spreading, evergreen. Tough shelter shrub for exposed and coastal conditions but is too frost tender for inland South Island areas. Wood is hard and black, streaked with white.

Symphyomyrtus, more prone to insect attack. Mountains of Victoria. Broadly conical when young, grows rapidly, cold hardy to -12C, best in regular rainfall at higher altitude. Unthrifty by age 20 at low altitude in warmer districts, but yields a lot of firewood. Low tolerance to drought. 700-1750mm rainfall, not for coastal sites, easily killed by fire. Grows to 1300m altitude, and in Westland on well drained soils. Timber non-durable used for flooring, furniture, saws well, needs careful drying. Sheds long strips of bark, coppicing less reliable. Recommend planting in early Spring after chance of frosts.