The Best Lilly Pilly Variety for your Garden

Overview:

1. Introduction to Lilly Pilly
2. Syzygium Paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss'
3. Waterhousea Floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)
4. Syzygium Straight and Narrow
5. Syzygium 'Winter Lights' 
6. Acmena Smithii 'Firescreen'
7. Acmena Smithii 'Sublime'
8. Syzygium Australe 'Hinterland Gold'
9. Conclusion

Lilly Pilly, also known as Syzygium or Acmena, is a popular and versatile Australian native plant that can be used for many purposes in landscaping. In this post, we'll explore the best Lilly Pilly varieties for screening and privacy.

Syzygium Paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss'

Syzygium Paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss' is a compact and dense variety ideal for creating a low to medium-sized screen or hedge, growing up to 3-4 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide. 'Backyard Bliss' is well-suited to most soil types, including those around pools due to its non-aggressive root system. It can withstand light frost and temperatures down to around -2°C for short periods, making it an excellent choice for smaller outdoor spaces.

Best Suited to: Syzygium Paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss' can tolerate light frost and temperatures down to around -2°C for short periods, but may suffer some damage if exposed to prolonged cold conditions. Its non-aggressive root system also makes it well-suited for planting around pools.

Waterhousea Floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

The Weeping Lilly Pilly is a stunning and elegant tree with weeping foliage and attractive bronze new growth. It can grow up to 8 meters tall and 4 meters wide and is perfect for creating a natural and flowing screen or as a feature tree in larger gardens.

Best suited to: Waterhousea Floribunda is best suited to areas with full sun to part shade and well-draining soil. It is also suitable for poolside hedging as it has a mostly non-invasive root system. This tree is generally tolerant of mild frosts and can handle temperatures down to around -3°C. Its dense foliage makes it ideal for large dense screening projects. It's elegant weeping foliage and attractive bronze new growth make it a great feature tree in larger gardens.

Syzygium Straight and Narrow

Syzygium Straight and Narrow is a newer variety of Lilly Pilly that is becoming increasingly popular for its narrow, upright growth habit. It features attractive glossy green foliage and white fluffy flowers in summer and can grow up to 4 meters tall and only 1 meter wide, making it perfect for creating a tall and narrow screen or hedge. Syzygium Straight and Narrow is well-suited to temperate and subtropical regions and is tolerant of most soil types. It can also tolerate full sun to partial shade and is resistant to psyllids, making it a low-maintenance option for screening and privacy.

Best suited to: Syzygium Straight and Narrow is best suited to smaller outdoor spaces where a narrow screen or hedge is desired. Its upright growth habit makes it ideal for creating a tall barrier without taking up too much space. This variety is also suitable for coastal regions and can tolerate light frost. Its non-invasive root system makes it safe to plant near buildings and other structures.

Syzygium 'Winter Lights'

Syzygium 'Winter Lights'  is a popular variety of Lilly Pilly that is known for its attractive foliage and dense growth habit. It features glossy green leaves with new growth that emerges in shades of pink and bronze, providing a colorful display throughout the year. This variety can grow up to 4 meters tall and 2 meters wide, making it a great option for creating a medium to large-sized screen or hedge. 

Best suited to: Syzygium 'Winter Lights' is best suited to creating a medium to large-sized screen or hedge. It is also suitable for coastal regions and can tolerate light frost. Its non-invasive root system makes it safe to plant near buildings, pools and other structures, and it can be grown in full sun to partial shade. Additionally, it has better resistance to psyllids makes it a low-maintenance option.

Acmena Smithii 'Firescreen'

Acmena Smithii 'Firescreen' is a psyllid-resistant shrub/tree that grows quickly and has attractive copper-red new growth. It's ideal for hedges, screening, and as a specimen plant, and can be grown in large containers or shaped into topiary. This Australian native plant is hardy once established and prefers open to partially shaded positions. It has slightly broader leaves than regular Acmena Smithii and can grow up to 5-6 meters tall and 2-3 meters wide, making it a popular choice for urban landscapes and creating dense screens.

Best suited to: Acmena Smithii 'Firescreen' can grow in full sun to part shade and is tolerant of light frost, making it suitable for planting in most areas of Australia. Acmena Smithii 'Firescreen' can be planted near a pool due to its non-invasive root system. When planting, it's important to ensure adequate space for growth, as it can reach up to 5-6 meters tall and 2-3 meters wide. Additionally, Firescreen is suitable for hedges, screening, and as a specimen plant.

Acmena Smithii 'Sublime'

Acmena Smithii 'Sublime' is a compact and dense Lilly Pilly variety that is ideal for small to medium-sized gardens where space is limited. It is best suited to hedge and screen properties, and is suitable for a range of climates including VIC, NSW, QLD, and South Australia. Acmena Smithii 'Sublime' features attractive glossy green foliage and grows up to 3 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide. It looks similar to a ficus from afar but has a non-invasive root system. 

Acmena Smithii 'Sublime' is suitable for topiary and formal hedges due to its compact and dense growth habit, which can be easily maintained and shaped to suit specific design requirements.

Syzygium Australe 'Hinterland Gold'

Syzygium Australe 'Hinterland Gold' is a stunning and vibrant Lilly Pilly variety that features bright golden-yellow new growth that matures to a glossy green. It can grow up to 4-5 meters tall and 2-3 meters wide, making it perfect for creating a colorful and attractive screen. This variety is also known for its tolerance of full sun and its ability to thrive in warm and humid climates.

Best suited to: Warm and humid climates with plenty of full sun. Ideal for creating large and colorful screens.

Choosing the Right Lilly Pilly for Your Environment

When choosing the right Lilly Pilly variety for your environment, it's important to consider the climate, space, and purpose of the plant.

If you're looking for a fast-growing and hardy Lilly Pilly for a large screen or hedge, Acmena Smithii 'Sublime', Acmena Smithii 'Firescreen',Syzygium Paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss'or Waterhousea Floribunda may be the best options. These varieties can withstand a wide range of climates and soil conditions and are known for their dense growth habit.

If you're looking for a compact and low-maintenance Lilly Pilly for a smaller screen or hedge, Acmena Smithii 'Sublime', or Acmena Smithii 'Minor' may be the best options. These varieties are easy to prune and shape and are perfect for creating a formal or structured garden.

For those looking for a stunning and colorful Lilly Pilly variety, Syzygium 'Winter Lights', Syzygium Australe 'Hinterland Gold', Acmena Smithii 'Firescreen', Acmena Smithii 'Forest Flame' may be the best options. These plants feature vibrant new growth and can add a pop of color to any garden.

In conclusion, Lilly Pilly is a versatile and popular Australian native plant that can be used for many purposes in landscaping. Whether you're looking to create a dense and attractive screen, a formal hedge, or a colorful feature plant, there is a Lilly Pilly variety that can suit your needs. By considering your environment and purpose, you can choose the right Lilly Pilly variety that will thrive in your garden and provide you with years of beauty and privacy.