Lilly Pilly are easy care evergreen trees with attractive glossy green leaves. and white flowers in summer.
They are one of the most popular native plants in Australia and grow well in full sun to part shade.
With so many varieties available for sale, you can find a Lilly Pilly plant to suit any landscaping situation.
The flowering time is from spring through to summer and the berries form and ripen from mid summer to autumn.
As for the taste of the Lilly Lilly fruit, when properly ripe is taste a little like nashi fruit and a tart strawberry with lemon. Different species do have different taste profiles, especially S. rubrimolle, which is closer to an apple in both taste and texture.
Lilly Pilly trees come from three related species, Syzygium, Waterhousea and Acmena.
Choosing the best Lilly Pilly variety.
It is essential when choosing a Lilly Pilly to consider what you are looking for as an addition to the garden.
The best Lilly Pilly plant will depend on your landscaping application.
You can choose from a range of heights, foliage colours and growth habits, they really are versatile plants.
Most varieties for sale are suited for use as hedging plants, and having naturally dense foliage, being reasonably fast growing and very easy to prune, it is easy to see why they are so popular.
In general it is best to look for the size of tree to suit your needs and then to look for a psyllid resistant variety. Psyllids cause bubbles on the foliage.
Psyllids, are a little (native) sap sucking parasite are about the only problem that these plants face. They can be controlled by spraying. We suggest looking for psyllid resistant lily pilly cultivars and species. Acmena smithii and Syzygium luehmannii are said to be resistant.
This resistance means that the glossy leaves remain attractive through the year. If psylids are a problem you use confider tablets. These are placed in the ground, which eliminates the need for spraying.
The most resistant varieties to psyllids are the Acmena smithii cultivars, followed by Syzygium leuhmanii cultivars.
Lilly Pilly Varieties
Lilly Pillies are available as tall growing trees that will reach well over 5 metres.
They can also be found as dwarf cultivars that can be used for low hedges at around 1 metre in height.
Six of the best Lilly Pilly trees.
From tall growing types ( over 5mtrs) to smaller varieties (under 1 mtr) there will be a variety that is right for you, including:
• Waterhousea floribundum the Weeping Lilly Pilly – With a distinct weeping habit this is a large tree to 20 metres, best in larger gardens and parks
• Syzygium australe ‘Tiny Trev’ – Very low growing to around 1 metre in height. Also consider Acmena smithii ‘Hedgemaster’ around the same height.
• Acmena smithii ‘Hot Flush’ – Reaches around 5 metres and makes an excellent hedging plant.
• Syzygium australe Resilience – Reaches around 4 – 5 metres and is psyllid resistant.
• Acmena smithii Cherry Surprise – Low growing to around 2m in height. Very attractive new red growth.
• Syzygium paniculatum Backyard Bliss – Grows to around 4 metres, excellent screening tree.
Other common names include ‘Riberry’, ‘Satinash’ and ‘Cherry Alder’, with over 60 varieties they provide a range of foliage colour, especially new growth which ranges from coppery to brilliant red.
Other popular varieties include:
- Syzygium australe ‘Bush Christmas’
- S. australe ‘Aussie Southern’,
- Syzygium luehmannii ‘Royal Flame’
- Acmena hemilampra
- ‘Backyard Bliss’
Care and Growing Conditions
Once established these are a very easy care tree. The root system is not invasive, however they are best planted away from drainage lines and pipes.
All varieties require good drainage and all are very easy to prune to shape and size.
- Height
From 1m to over 10m in height depending on variety, most can be easily pruned to size. - Spread
The width or spread depends on the variety, from 5m in width down to 1m with the new narrow growing forms. - Soil
Generally a humus rich well drained soil is adequate. - Position
Plant in full sun to part shade, deep shade is not suitable - Watering
Once established they are reasonably drought tolerant. Water through the first few summers and them a deep soaking during long dry periods.
Planting Out
- When planting, dig a hole as deep as required, so that the plant will be at the same depth it is in the container.
- The hole should be twice the diameter of the container as this loosen the soil and encourage the root system to spread.
- New trees should be watered in well with some additional water through the first summer.
- Mulch around the tree to provide a cool moist root run.
- Pruning from an early age will keep the plant bushy and at the desired size.
Lilly Pilly uses
- The fruit can be used in jams, sauces, eaten fresh and sometimes candied. It is also distilled to make a unique gin.
- As a hedging plant which its major use.
- For topiary.
- As a windbreak tree.
- Th attract native birds to the garden.
- As a specimen tree.
- New narrow growing upright forms could be a replacement for non native trees.
Lilly Pilly Trees are available for sale from the following nurseries
55 McDougal Rd Neerim South Victoria 3831 PH: (03) 56281507
Advanced ornamental trees and garden designs and concept plans. Direct to your property combined with specialist knowledge and outstanding service.
www.blericktreefarm.com.au
Wholesale Suppliers
email ask@plantmark.com.au
One of Australia's largest wholesale trade nurseries. Over 30,000 species available, tubestock to advanced trees, an almost unlimited choice of plants.
www.plantmark.com.au
1750 Westernport Rd Heath Hill VIC 3981
Australias largest grower of semi advanced native and deciduous trees. .9 - 2.6mts high. Supplying councils, developers and landscapers. Includes Acacia implexa, acacia melanoxlylon.
www.dream-time.com.au
111 Stanhope Road Theresa Park NSW 2570
Offering a variety of sun hardy Australian natives and exotic trees, shrubs, groundcover's and perennials from semi advanced through to super advanced and semi-mature stock.
www.downesnursery.com.au
55 McDougal Rd Neerim South Victoria 3831 PH: (03) 56281507
Advanced ornamental trees and garden designs and concept plans. Direct to your property combined with specialist knowledge and outstanding service.
www.blericktreefarm.com.au