Lilly Pilly

Syzygium australe Straight and Narrow is a very slender, semi-compact Australian native with a naturally upright, columnar habit. Its dense, tight foliage emerges in rich warm red tones before maturing to glossy green, creating year-round visual interest. In spring and summer, clusters of soft white flowers appear, followed by attractive pink to red fruit that add further ornamental appeal. This elegant lilly pilly provides a native alternative to Italian cypress or pencil pine, making it ideal for narrow spaces where height and structure are desired without excessive width. It is particularly well suited to hedging, screening, feature planting, and large pots or containers. Tip prune while the plant is young to encourage dense foliage growth. Once established, prune yearly or as required to maintain its neat, upright form.

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Drought, heat and coastal tolerant. Frost tender.
Size: Height 5-8m x width 1-1.5m

Syzygium Resilience is a fast-growing, compact lilly pilly prized for its dense, tightly packed foliage and excellent resilience in a range of garden conditions. New growth emerges in attractive reddish-bronze tones before maturing to fresh pale green, creating year-round colour and interest. In spring, clusters of fluffy creamy-white flowers attract bees, butterflies and birds, followed by edible berries. Ideal for hedging, screening, topiary and bonsai, this versatile Australian native responds well to pruning and forms a neat, lush display with minimal maintenance.

Soil: Most well-drained soils.
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. Drought and coastal hardy.  Light frost tolerance.
Size: Height 5m x width 3m

Hardy and versatile, Syzygium Cascade is a large native shrub that produces a stunning display of pink ‘fluffy’ flowers during the summer months. Mid-sized, glossy apple green leaves begin as attractive red and pink new growth that is apparent throughout most of the year. Pink pom-pom flowers precede small fuschia pink berry-like fruits that delight the eye and are highly prized by the native bird life. The fruits are astringent and although not sought after for eating, are used for jams and chutneys. Visits from bees, butterflies, and nectar-feeding birds will be your reward for including this one in your garden.

Soil: Sandy loam, clay loam, well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Coastal, drought and light frost tolerant. 
Size: Height 4m x width 2m

Syzygium wilsonii Powder Puff is a striking Australian native shrub or small tree valued for its colourful foliage and dramatic flowers. The new growth emerges in vivid shades of pink to red-bronze, creating a beautiful contrast against the mature green foliage. In summer the plant becomes especially eye-catching when large crimson to pink-red pompom flowers appear in fluffy clusters along the branches. These are followed in autumn by pure white berries that are considered bush-tucker fruit when cooked. It can be grown as a feature shrub, informal hedge, screen, or even in a large container. In its natural rainforest understorey habitat it can be somewhat open in habit, but in brighter garden positions with regular watering and pruning it becomes much denser and bushier, producing more abundant flowers. Regular pruning will encourage a fuller shape and maintain the desired height, and the plant can be hard-pruned if needed to keep it around 2 m. 

Soil: Well-drained soil. It is sensitive to drought, so a thick layer of mulch is essential to keep its roots cool and moist.

Conditions: Dappled shade to part shade/full shade. For best results plant in a sheltered position protected from strong winds and harsh, all-day hot sun. 

Size: Height 5m x width 4m

Acmena smithii Sublime is an evergreen native tree with vivid lime green new growth which slowly darkens over time. In summer Sublime produces an abundance of fluffy white flowers that will further develop into edible deep mauve berries. The lilly pilly is ideal for screening and hedging and can be trimmed as desired. 

Soil: Well-drained to heavy clay loam soil.
Conditions: Full sun. This particular variety will tolerate a variety of conditions which include cold temperatures, and light frost. 
Size: Height 5m x width 2-3m

Syzygium australe, commonly known as Bush Cherry Lilly Pilly, is a fast-growing evergreen native widely found across Australia. Its oval green leaves emerge bronze before maturing to a deep, glossy green, creating an attractive and dense canopy. Flowering begins in late spring when clusters of soft, white fluffy flowers appear along the branches, attracting bees and other pollinators. These are followed by small fruits that begin pale and ripen to pink or deep red. The sweet berries can be eaten fresh from the tree or used in jams, jellies, muffins, biscuits, cakes and even wine. This versatile plant is widely cultivated for hedging and screening, as it responds well to pruning and can easily be maintained as an edible hedge around 1 m high. Regular trimming encourages fresh new growth and keeps the plant compact and tidy, making it ideal for gardens of all sizes.

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Drought, light frost and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 4-6m x width 2-3m

Cherry Surprise is a naturally compact, extremely hardy lilly pilly with striking bright red new growth that contrasts superbly with the older green foliage. Small cream flowers appear in spring and summer. Perfect for hedging, screening or topiary. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape as a dense hedge, and fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer in late winter and early autumn.

Soil: Well-drained soil with added enrichment. Mulch well after planting and water well in dry weather.
Conditions: Full sun. Drought, light frost and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 1-2m x width 1.5m.