Australia's favourite native screen — glossy evergreen leaves flushed coppery-red when new, clipping into dense hedges and topiary, followed by edible magenta berries the birds love.
At a glance
- Plant type: Shrub
- Mature size: 4 m H × 2.5 m W
- Aspect: full sun and part shade or morning sun
- Water: regular, moderate watering
- Frost: hardy
- Maintenance: low maintenance
- Origin: Australian native
About Lilly Pilly
Botanically, Syzygium australe is a fast-growing shrub in the Myrtaceae family, native to New South Wales and Queensland. It reaches around 4 m tall and 2.5 m wide at maturity, with evergreen foliage. White flowers appear in spring and summer.
Where to grow Lilly Pilly
Lilly Pilly suits subtropical, warm-temperate and cool-temperate climates and grows best in full sun and part shade or morning sun. It is frost hardy and shrugs off cold winters. It also tolerates salt-laden coastal winds.
Soil & planting
Lilly Pilly does best in clay and free-draining soil. Plant into well-prepared ground, firm the soil around the roots and water deeply to settle it in. For a screen, space plants about 1.5 m apart.
Watering & feeding
Lilly Pilly is regular, moderate watering. As an Australian native, feed it only with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser. In its first year, water deeply once or twice a week to settle the roots in, then taper off as it establishes.
Pruning & care
Prune Lilly Pilly after flowering to keep it compact and encourage the next flush of blooms. It clips well, so trim two or three times a year for a formal finish. Overall it is low maintenance.
Using Lilly Pilly in the garden
Lilly Pilly earns its place for a fast screen or informal hedge, a feature or specimen planting, clipping into topiary, drawing nectar-feeding birds into the garden and edible harvests.
Companion planting & design
For a cohesive, low-care bed, pair Lilly Pilly with other plants that enjoy the same regular, moderate watering and subtropical climate. Repeat it through a border to tie the planting together and give a sense of rhythm. It combines naturally with other Australian natives in a habitat or water-wise garden.
Buying Lilly Pilly
Plant Sale lists Lilly Pilly as tube stock, potted plants and advanced specimens. Stock isn't live yet — register your interest using the panel above and we'll email you the moment it lands.