Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly - Evergreen Trees Direct

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly

$620.00

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Size: 100L

100L

Current Stock Height Guides

100L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4m to 6m (approx.)

Mature Width: 3m to 5m

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly is expected to grow 40cm to 70cm per year. (moderate) (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly

Syzygium australe, the brush cherry or lilly pilly, is a fast growing evergreen Australian native, seen as a large shrub or a small tree depending on how it is trained. The glossy foliage is dense to the ground and coppery red when new, and creamy white flowers give way to pink to dark red edible berries.

It reaches 6 to 10 metres pruned and up to 12 metres unpruned, spreading 3 to 5 metres, and puts on 50 to 80 centimetres a year. Full sun to part shade both suit it. Enriched, well drained soil is ideal, and established plants take coastal exposure, light frost and moderate drought.

Most buyers use it as a tall hedge or privacy screen, though it makes a fine shade tree if allowed to run. It clips hard into formal shapes and recovers quickly, which suits urban gardens and commercial landscapes where a screen must stay in bounds. Flowers and berries add wildlife value at no extra work.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Brush Cherry

What is Brush Cherry?

Syzygium australe is a rainforest species from the east coast of Australia, ranging from southern Queensland through to eastern Victoria. In the wild it grows as a tree along creek lines and rainforest margins. In gardens it is most often kept as a hedge, since it responds to clipping better than almost any other native.

How big does Syzygium australe grow?

Left unpruned it can reach 12 metres, and it typically sits between 6 and 10 metres when pruned, with a spread of 3 to 5 metres. As a clipped hedge it will hold at any height between about 1.5 and 5 metres. Judge the site on width as much as height, because the canopy is broad.

How fast does it grow?

It grows 50 to 80 centimetres a year, which is moderate to fast, and it is one of the quicker ways to get a tall screen. Growth is strongest in warm humid conditions with regular water. A hedge planted from advanced stock will usually close up within two seasons if kept watered and trimmed.

Are the berries edible?

Yes. The pink to dark red fruit is edible, with a crisp texture and a tart, faintly spicy flavour. It is more commonly used for jams, jellies and cordials than eaten in quantity fresh. Fruit forms in summer and autumn after flowering, and birds usually take most of it before anyone gets around to picking.

Is it frost and drought tolerant?

It tolerates light frost once established and copes with moderate dry periods, though it is not a plant for hot arid inland gardens without irrigation. Young plants are more sensitive on both counts and need protection through their first winter in cold districts. Consistent moisture produces the dense foliage that makes a good screen.

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

For a dense informal screen, 1 to 1.5 metres apart works well. For a tighter formal hedge, plant 80 centimetres apart. As a feature or shade tree, allow 3 to 4 metres between trees, or 3 metres for avenue planting where a uniform line is wanted. Spacing tighter than 80 centimetres brings no benefit.

How do I prune and maintain it?

Trim two or three times a year through the warmer months, cutting lightly and often rather than hard and rarely. Water deeply in the first two summers and mulch well. Feed in spring and again in late summer with a native fertiliser. Older plantings can be cut back hard into bare wood and will reshoot readily.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Screening or Privacy
Shrubs
Council or Civic Landscapes
Plant in Pots (or) Suitable for Pots
Windbreak
Driveway Border

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly works in an:

Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly Evergreen or Deciduous?

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4m to 6m (approx.)

Mature Width: 3m to 5m

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly is expected to grow 40cm to 70cm per year. (moderate) (approx.).

Growth Rate of Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly is expected to grow 40cm to 70cm per year. (moderate) (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Fast Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly

Is Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly frost tolerant?

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly Flower?

Syzygium australe produces clusters of small white, fluffy flowers during the warmer months, particularly in late spring and summer. These blooms are followed by glossy red berries that add subtle seasonal colour and contribute to the plant’s ornamental appeal, especially when used for hedging, screening or clipped forms.

Does Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Fluffy

Flower Colour:

White

Is Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly an Australian Native Tree?

Yes

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly is Native to Eastern Australia, from Queensland to New South Wales, where it grows naturally in subtropical and coastal rainforests.

What is the Wildlife Value of Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly ?

Its soft new growth and small white summer flowers attract native bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects, while the dense evergreen foliage provides year-round shelter and nesting opportunities for small birds. The red berries that follow are also eaten by fruit-feeding birds, making Syzygium australe a strong biodiversity-supporting species for suburban gardens.

How much Sunlight does Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly need?

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Syzygium australe performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils with an acidic to neutral pH. It also tolerates lighter sandy soils if improved with organic matter to enhance moisture retention and fertility. Avoid heavy clay, compacted or poorly drained sites unless significantly improved, as these conditions can lead to root stress and reduced vigour. Keep the soil evenly moist during establishment, then gradually reduce watering as the plant matures.

Is Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly Drought Tolerant?

Is Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it requires regular watering to establish properly. Once established, Syzygium australe develops good drought tolerance, maintaining dense foliage and strong growth through warm, dry periods when planted in well-drained soil. Occasional supplementary watering during extended heat supports long-term health and foliage quality.

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How To Plant Your Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly is expected to grow 40cm to 70cm per year. (moderate) (approx.).

Fast Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release native blend in early spring and again in autumn. Avoid high-phosphorus formulations as a precaution.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Syzygium australe - Lilly Pilly in Different Soil

Syzygium australe performs best in well-drained sandy loam or loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Syzygium australe good for screening?
A: Yes, it’s ideal for dense evergreen screening, responds well to pruning, and has a fast growth habit.

Q: Does it produce edible fruit?
A: Yes, the pink to dark red berries are edible and attract wildlife.

Q: Is it resistant to psyllids?
A: Yes, Syzygium australe is generally psyllid-resistant, making it a reliable low-maintenance hedge or screen.