VOLUME DISCOUNTS APPLY AUTOMATICALLY AT CHECKOUT.

All stock is grown, maintained and graded in strict accordance with AS 4373-2007, Australian Standard for Nursery Stock.
Best Lilly Pilly Varieties for Hedging: 9 Picks by Purpose

Best Lilly Pilly Varieties for Hedging: 9 Picks by Purpose

Our recommended Lilly Pilly cultivars for hedging in Australian gardens, with practical notes on height, width, psyllid resistance and design use.
Australian NativeHedgingLilly PillyPrivacy TreesSyzygium

Lilly Pilly is the Australian native hedge that gets used more than any other in this country. Glossy foliage, fast growth, bird-friendly fruit and dozens of cultivars to choose from. The trick is matching the right cultivar to the right job.

The nine cultivars below are the ones we recommend most often. They cover both Syzygium and Acmena — the two genera that dominate native Lilly Pilly hedging — plus narrow columnar picks, compact suburban varieties, premium top-shelf selections and colour-feature cultivars. So there's a Lilly Pilly here for almost any space and any look.

  • Waterhousea floribunda — the tall weeping cousin. Soft 6 to 8m screen with bronze new growth and a relaxed weeping habit.
  • Syzygium 'Backyard Bliss' — the compact suburban pick. Tidy width, glossy small leaves, strong psyllid resistance.
  • Syzygium 'Select' — the premium top-shelf Lilly Pilly. Cleanest dense face, vivid red-bronze new growth, the all-round performer.
  • Acmena 'Sublime' — the large-leaf glossy Acmena. Big deep green leaves with bright lime-green new growth flushes.
  • Syzygium 'Straight & Narrow' — the column. A 1m wide footprint at maturity makes it the Lilly Pilly for narrow side passages and tight courtyards.
  • Acmena 'Firescreen' — the crimson-flush colour Acmena. Vivid red-orange new growth on a clean psyllid-resistant hedge.
  • Syzygium 'Resilience' — the psyllid-resistant default. Glossy green foliage with copper-bronze new growth, dense from the base.
  • Syzygium 'Winter Lights' — the colour cultivar. Glossy green leaves with red margins that shift crimson through winter.
  • Syzygium 'Hinterland Gold' — the warm-climate gold. Bright yellow-gold new flushes maturing to glossy green.

Compare at a glance

CultivarHeightWidthFormFoliageBest if you…
Waterhousea floribunda
Weeping Lilly Pilly 		4 to 8m, can be pruned to desired height3 to 5mWeeping, denseEvergreen, glossy green narrow leaves, bronze new growthTall informal screens, boundary planting, large gardens
Syzygium paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss'
Backyard Bliss Lilly Pilly 		3 to 4m, can be pruned to desired height1.5 to 2mCompact, dense from baseEvergreen, small glossy dark green leavesPool surrounds, suburban hedges, narrow boundary planting
Syzygium australe 'Select'
Select Lilly Pilly 		4 to 6m, can be pruned to desired height2 to 3mUpright dense, naturally tidyEvergreen, deep glossy green with strong red-bronze new growthPremium dense hedging, formal screens, boundary planting
Acmena smithii 'Sublime'
Sublime Lilly Pilly 		4 to 6m, can be pruned to desired height2 to 3mUpright denseEvergreen, large glossy deep green leaves with lime-green new growthLarge-leaf glossy hedges, premium screens, feature hedging
Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow'
Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly 		3 to 4m, can be pruned to desired height0.5 to 1mTight columnar, naturally narrowEvergreen, glossy mid green narrow leavesNarrow boundaries, side passages, tight courtyards, low maintenance screens
Acmena smithii 'Firescreen'
Firescreen Lilly Pilly 		3 to 5m, can be pruned to desired height1.5 to 2.5mUpright denseEvergreen, glossy mid-green leaves with bright crimson-orange new growthColour-feature hedges, screens with seasonal warmth, sub-tropical and warm-temperate gardens
Syzygium australe 'Resilience'
Resilience Lilly Pilly 		3 to 5m, can be pruned to desired height2 to 3mUpright, naturally denseEvergreen, glossy green with copper-bronze new growthPrivacy hedges, screens that need to stay clean looking, family backyards
Syzygium australe 'Winter Lights'
Winter Lights Lilly Pilly 		2 to 3m, can be pruned to desired height1 to 2mUpright, denseEvergreen, glossy green with red leaf margins, crimson winter colourFeature hedges, courtyard screens, low to medium hedges with colour
Syzygium australe 'Hinterland Gold'
Hinterland Gold Lilly Pilly 		4 to 5m, can be pruned to desired height2 to 3mUpright, denseEvergreen, golden-yellow new growth maturing to glossy greenFeature hedges, warm climate gardens, sub tropical schemes
Match the cultivar to the width you have
Straight & Narrow holds a 0.5 to 1m strip. Backyard Bliss and Winter Lights sit happily in 1.5 to 2m. Resilience and Hinterland Gold spread to 2 to 3m. Waterhousea wants 3 to 5m as a tall soft screen.
Choose for psyllid resistance
Older Lilly Pilly cultivars get distorted pimpled leaves from psyllids. Resilience, Backyard Bliss, Winter Lights and Straight & Narrow are all bred for psyllid resistance — the hedge stays clean year round.
Decide if you want colour
Winter Lights delivers crimson winter foliage and red leaf margins year round. Hinterland Gold gives bright yellow-gold flushes through warm months. Resilience and Backyard Bliss carry copper-bronze new growth on dense glossy green. Waterhousea is pure soft green with a bronze flush.
Climate fit
All six suit warm-temperate gardens. Hinterland Gold prefers warm humid sub-tropical climates for the strongest gold flushes. Winter Lights, Backyard Bliss and Straight & Narrow handle cool temperate and light frost once established. Waterhousea loves consistent moisture and humid coastal positions.
Decide formal or soft
For a tight clipped formal face: Straight & Narrow, Resilience, Backyard Bliss. For a soft layered screen: Waterhousea. For a hedge that reads as a feature: Winter Lights or Hinterland Gold.
Speed of establishment
Resilience, Backyard Bliss, Winter Lights and Waterhousea establish fastest — a full screen inside two seasons in good soil. Hinterland Gold and Straight & Narrow are slightly slower and steadier.
Waterhousea floribunda

1. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Waterhousea is the tall, weeping cousin in the Lilly Pilly family. Native to Australia, it forms a soft 6 to 8m screen with bronze new growth and a relaxed weeping habit that suits informal boundaries.

Type
Tall weeping Lilly Pilly hedge
Height
4 to 8m, can be pruned to desired height
Width
3 to 5m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Evergreen, glossy green narrow leaves, bronze new growth
Form
Weeping, dense
Conditions
Full sun to part shade. Likes consistent moisture
Maintenance
Trim once or twice a year. Mulch and water deeply in dry spells
Best for
Tall informal screens, boundary planting, large gardens

Why choose it

For buyers who want a tall Lilly Pilly hedge with movement, not a tight clipped wall.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with a single Acer palmatum as a sheltered feature against the green weeping backdrop, Japanese Box Topiary Balls for sculptural punctuation, and Gardenia 'Magnifica' as a fragrant midstorey.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing for a soft layered screen. This is not the right choice for tight formal hedging.

The soft Lilly Pilly that doesn't read as a fence.

Shop Waterhousea floribunda
Syzygium paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss'

2. Syzygium paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss' (Backyard Bliss Lilly Pilly)

Backyard Bliss is the compact, dense Lilly Pilly bred for suburban backyards. Glossy small leaves, tidy 1.5 to 2m width and strong psyllid resistance make it the easiest Lilly Pilly to live with on a tight block.

Type
Compact Lilly Pilly hedge
Height
3 to 4m, can be pruned to desired height
Width
1.5 to 2m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Evergreen, small glossy dark green leaves
Flowers
Cream fluffy flowers in summer, followed by pink edible berries
Form
Compact, dense from base
Conditions
Full sun to part shade. Light frost tolerant once established
Maintenance
Light trim two to three times a year. Mulch annually
Best for
Pool surrounds, suburban hedges, narrow boundary planting

Why choose it

The tidy compact width and the dense glossy foliage are why. Backyard Bliss holds a clean clipped face on a smaller footprint than any other Lilly Pilly, and the psyllid resistance keeps the leaves pristine.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with a single Magnolia 'Little Gem' as a polished feature out in front, Japanese Box Topiary Balls at the base, and Star Jasmine as a fragrant groundcover.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing for a fast-forming dense hedge. Mulch deeply to keep roots cool.

The pool friendly Lilly Pilly with manners.

Shop Syzygium paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss'
Syzygium australe 'Select'

3. Syzygium australe 'Select' (Select Lilly Pilly)

Syzygium 'Select' is the premium psyllid-resistant Lilly Pilly bred for the cleanest dense face. Deep glossy green foliage with strong red-bronze new growth, a tidy naturally upright habit, and the kind of all-round performance that makes it our top-shelf native hedging pick.

Type
Premium psyllid-resistant Lilly Pilly hedge
Height
4 to 6m, can be pruned to desired height
Width
2 to 3m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Evergreen, deep glossy green with strong red-bronze new growth
Flowers
Small white fluffy summer flowers
Form
Upright dense, naturally tidy
Conditions
Full sun to part shade. Hardy across most climates. Psyllid-resistant
Maintenance
Two to three light prunes a year
Best for
Premium dense hedging, formal screens, boundary planting

Why choose it

The cleanest premium Lilly Pilly hedge available. Strong psyllid resistance, vivid red-bronze new growth, and a naturally tidy upright form that holds a clipped face better than older cultivars. A serious hedge for serious projects.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with a single Magnolia 'Coolwyn Gloss' as a polished evergreen feature, Japanese Box Topiary Balls at the base, and Gardenia 'Magnifica' as a fragrant midstorey.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing for a dense formal hedge. Trim straight after each flush so the red-bronze new growth comes back faster.

The premium psyllid-resistant Lilly Pilly. Top-shelf native hedging.

Shop Syzygium australe 'Select'
Acmena smithii 'Sublime'

4. Acmena smithii 'Sublime' (Sublime Lilly Pilly)

Acmena 'Sublime' is the large-leafed glossy Lilly Pilly for buyers who want bolder foliage. Big deep green leaves with bright lime-green new growth flushes, strong psyllid resistance, and a tidy upright form that takes shaping cleanly. The Acmena equivalent of a luxe Magnolia hedge.

Type
Large-leafed glossy Acmena hedge
Height
4 to 6m, can be pruned to desired height
Width
2 to 3m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Evergreen, large glossy deep green leaves with lime-green new growth
Flowers
White summer flowers followed by mauve berries
Form
Upright dense
Conditions
Full sun to part shade. Hardy across most climates. Psyllid-resistant
Maintenance
Light trim two to three times a year
Best for
Large-leaf glossy hedges, premium screens, feature hedging

Why choose it

Bigger glossier leaves than any Syzygium hedge, with the same psyllid resistance and clean clipping behaviour. The lime-green new growth contrasts beautifully against the deep mature foliage, giving the hedge real seasonal interest.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with a single Magnolia 'Coolwyn Gloss' as a polished feature out in front, Japanese Box Topiary Balls at the base, and Gardenia 'Magnifica' as a fragrant midstorey.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing for a dense hedge. Trim straight after each flush — the lime new growth comes back stronger with regular tipping.

The bold large-leaf Acmena hedge.

Shop Acmena smithii 'Sublime'
Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow'

5. Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow' (Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly)

Straight and Narrow is the column. Naturally upright with a 1m wide footprint at maturity, this is the Lilly Pilly for fence line gardens where every centimetre matters.

Type
Columnar Lilly Pilly hedge
Height
3 to 4m, can be pruned to desired height
Width
0.5 to 1m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Evergreen, glossy mid green narrow leaves
Flowers
White summer flowers followed by small berries
Form
Tight columnar, naturally narrow
Conditions
Full sun to part shade. Tolerates a range of soil types. Psyllid resistant
Maintenance
Minimal. Light trim once or twice a year to keep the column tight
Best for
Narrow boundaries, side passages, tight courtyards, low maintenance screens

Why choose it

Recommended when buyers tell us they only have 50 to 80cm of width for a hedge. Nothing else gives this much height in that space.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with a single Acer palmatum for a soft autumn red contrast against the green column, plus Japanese Box Topiary Balls at the base for sculptural punctuation.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing for a dense column hedge. The narrow habit holds without much pruning.

The hedge for the narrow bed problem.

Shop Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow'
Acmena smithii 'Firescreen'

6. Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' (Firescreen Lilly Pilly)

Acmena 'Firescreen' is the warmest-coloured Acmena hedge. New growth flushes vivid crimson-orange before maturing to glossy mid-green, giving the hedge constant seasonal warmth. Psyllid resistant, fast establishing and a feature hedge in its own right.

Type
Coloured-foliage Acmena hedge
Height
3 to 5m, can be pruned to desired height
Width
1.5 to 2.5m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Evergreen, glossy mid-green leaves with bright crimson-orange new growth
Flowers
White summer flowers followed by purple berries
Form
Upright dense
Conditions
Full sun for the strongest colour. Hardy across most climates. Psyllid-resistant
Maintenance
Two to three light prunes a year keep the flame flushes coming
Best for
Colour-feature hedges, screens with seasonal warmth, sub-tropical and warm-temperate gardens

Why choose it

The most intense red-orange new growth of any Acmena. Each fresh flush lights up the hedge with fiery colour before settling to deep green — a hedge that reads as a feature every time it flushes. Strong psyllid resistance keeps the show clean.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with a single Acer palmatum as a sheltered autumn feature for warm-on-warm seasonal contrast, Japanese Box Topiary Balls at the base.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing for a dense hedge. Full sun positions deliver the strongest crimson flushes. Trim straight after each flush.

The hedge that lights up every time it flushes.

Shop Acmena smithii 'Firescreen'
Syzygium australe 'Resilience'

7. Syzygium australe 'Resilience' (Resilience Lilly Pilly)

Resilience was selected to solve the one thing that ruins Lilly Pilly hedges. Psyllid distortion. The leaves stay clean and glossy through the year and the bronze new growth keeps things visually interesting.

Type
Psyllid-resistant Lilly Pilly hedge
Height
3 to 5m, can be pruned to desired height
Width
2 to 3m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Evergreen, glossy green with copper-bronze new growth
Form
Upright, naturally dense
Conditions
Full sun to part shade. Hardy across most Australian climates
Maintenance
Trim two to three times a year for a formal finish
Best for
Privacy hedges, screens that need to stay clean looking, family backyards

Why choose it

If you've ever bought a Lilly Pilly hedge that ended up covered in distorted pimpled leaves, this is the cultivar that solves it.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with a single Acer palmatum as a sheltered feature out in front for warm-cool colour contrast, Japanese Box Topiary Balls at the base, and Gardenia 'Magnifica' as a fragrant midstorey.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing for a dense hedge. Trim straight after each flush so the bronze new growth comes back faster and denser.

The Lilly Pilly hedge you don't have to apologise for.

Shop Syzygium australe 'Resilience'
Syzygium australe 'Winter Lights'

8. Syzygium australe 'Winter Lights' (Winter Lights Lilly Pilly)

Winter Lights has the colour story. Glossy green leaves are edged with red, and the foliage shifts crimson in winter. A hedge that earns its keep for visual interest as well as privacy.

Type
Coloured-foliage Lilly Pilly hedge
Height
2 to 3m, can be pruned to desired height
Width
1 to 2m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Evergreen, glossy green with red leaf margins, crimson winter colour
Form
Upright, dense
Conditions
Full sun to part shade. Light frost tolerant when established
Maintenance
Trim two to three times a year. Resistant to psyllid
Best for
Feature hedges, courtyard screens, low to medium hedges with colour

Why choose it

For buyers who want a hedge that delivers seasonal colour rather than the same green wall year round.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with a single Acer palmatum so the autumn red echoes the red leaf margins of the hedge. Japanese Box Topiary Balls add sculptural punctuation at the base.

Tips for planting

Sunnier positions produce stronger red colour. Light afternoon shade is fine but full sun is better for colour.

A hedge that changes with the seasons.

Shop Syzygium australe 'Winter Lights'
Syzygium australe 'Hinterland Gold'

9. Syzygium australe 'Hinterland Gold' (Hinterland Gold Lilly Pilly)

Hinterland Gold gives a hedge a golden glow. New growth flushes bright yellow-gold and matures to glossy green. A standout when you want a hedge that doubles as a feature.

Type
Coloured-foliage Lilly Pilly hedge
Height
4 to 5m, can be pruned to desired height
Width
2 to 3m
Growth rate
Moderate to fast
Foliage
Evergreen, golden-yellow new growth maturing to glossy green
Form
Upright, dense
Conditions
Full sun for best colour. Warm humid climates ideal
Maintenance
Light trim two to three times a year to encourage fresh gold flushes
Best for
Feature hedges, warm climate gardens, sub tropical schemes

Why choose it

For warmer climate buyers who want a hedge with colour without the red of Winter Lights.

Perfect pair

Layers beautifully with a single Magnolia 'Little Gem' as a polished feature in front of the golden hedge, Japanese Box Topiary Balls at the base.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing for a dense hedge. Full sun positions deliver the most intense golden flushes. Trim straight after a flush.

A hedge with a golden light switch.

Shop Syzygium australe 'Hinterland Gold'

How to plant and care for them

Pick the position
Most Lilly Pilly cultivars want full sun for the densest hedge and the strongest colour. All six tolerate part shade. Waterhousea prefers moister soils than the rest.
Prepare the planting trench
Dig a trench (not individual holes) along the hedge line, twice the width of the rootball and the same depth. Mix the original soil with aged compost rather than replacing it.
Plant at 1m spacing
Use 1m spacing for a dense hedging face across every cultivar on this list. Closer spacing crowds the root zone; wider spacing leaves gaps that don't fill in. Plant level — the top of the rootball sits level with surrounding soil, never deeper.
Water in deeply at planting
Soak each rootball thoroughly so the new soil settles around the roots. Top up the watering well twice in the first day if the soil drinks fast.
Mulch out to the row
Lay 75 to 100mm of organic mulch the full length of the hedge, 50mm clear of each trunk. Mulch keeps roots cool and holds moisture through summer.
Trim straight after each flush
Light trim two to three times a year for a formal finish. Lilly Pilly responds well to pruning straight after a flush — the new growth comes back faster and denser.
Feed with a native blend in spring
A native blend in early spring is enough. Heavy phosphorus damages Lilly Pilly root systems — avoid generic high-phosphorus fertilisers.
Water deeply through the first two summers
Twice a week deep watering in warm weather, once a week in mild weather, through the first two summers. After establishment all six cultivars hold their own on rainfall plus the occasional deep soak.

The wrap up

The six Lilly Pilly picks split by space and look. Straight & Narrow solves the narrow strip problem. Backyard Bliss handles the compact pool and courtyard. Resilience is the workhorse dense hedge. Winter Lights and Hinterland Gold are the colour cultivars. Waterhousea is the tall soft weeping screen.

Whichever cultivar you choose, plant at 1m spacing, water deeply through the first two summers, and trim straight after each flush. Lilly Pilly is the all-rounder of Australian hedging — these six give you a cultivar for every common job.

You might also like

Top Hedging Trees That Thrive in Clay Soils: 12 Picks Plus the Complete Clay-Soil Planting Guide

Drought-Tolerant Trees for Australian Climates

Hedging Plants for Privacy in Australian Gardens

Best Japanese Maples for Australian Gardens

Comments

  • Jen August 29, 2025

    Could you please advise which lilly pilly best to plant at narrow swimming pool edge to block out tall house next door. Thanks.

  • Behrens Ron January 26, 2024

    Lovely site very helpful large variety and plenty of knowledge. Thank you i

  • Emma January 25, 2024

    We would like to replace our privacy screen along back fence under power lines in Canberra. Least amount of mess, fastest growth, about 8m coverage, full afternoon sun, about 3-4m growth required. Would prefer not to have to trim height. What do you recommend, how long to achieve maximum height (3-4m)? Thank you

  • Lani July 15, 2023

    Hi there
    I have a very narrow garden bed 30-50cm and am wanting a Lilly Pilly to plant beside the pool concrete path to screen out neighbours high set house. So would like them to grow very high. What would you recommend?

  • Kathy Mitchell November 7, 2022
    We have an established a hedge of syzygium hinterland gold what is the best treatment for psylids?

Leave a comment. Comments will be reviewed before being published.