Lilly Pillys are an Australian Native and the perfect choice for hedging and screening in Australia.

They are split up into three different species - Acmena, Syzygium & Waterhousea.

However with so many different Lilly Pilly varieties out there it can be confusing which one to choose!

Here are some of the most common requirements and which varieties will suit best.


 

To achieve taller heights than the usual 4-5m 


Waterhousea floribunda

Acmena smithii

Syzygium luemannii

Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow'

Acmena hemilampra



For narrow garden beds or tight spaces


Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow'

Syzygium australe 'Up and Away'

Syzygium australe 'Pinnacle'



Dwarf varieties up to 1m tall


Acmena smithii 'Allyns Magic'

Syzygium 'Baby Boomer'



For green only foliage


Acmena smithii 'Sublime'



For brighter pops of coloured foliage


Acmena smithii 'Cherry Surprise'

Acmena smithii 'Purple Rain'

Syzygium 'Cascade'

Syzygium luehmannii



For NO berries


Acmena smithii 'Sublime'

Waterhousea floribunda



For coloured flowers other than white


Syzygium 'Cascade' (Pink flowers)



More frost tolerant varieties


Acmena smithii 'Sublime'

Amena smithii 'Firescreen'

Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame'

Syzygium 'Cascade'



For Shade


Most of the varieties prefer full sun but can also handle part shade



If you want a more relaxed look without the need for hedging too often or at all, choose one of the weeping varieties


Syzygium 'Cascade'

Waterhousea floribunda



Less maintenance


Syzygium 'Straight & Narrow' - is a tighter more upright narrow lilly pilly and holds its form more

Waterhousea floribunda - weeping nature and if you have the space to leave it in its natural form

Syzygium 'Cascade' - a more relaxed foliage with a weeping nature




If you want a stand alone lilly pilly


Waterhousea floribunda

Acmena hemilampra



If you want more of a tree form


Waterhousea floribunda

Acmena hemilampra



For a great all rounder Lilly Pilly


Syzygium 'Resilience'

Syzygium 'Select'

Syzygium paniculata 'Backyard Bliss'




Caring for Lilly Pillys


Common pests


Psyllid - Most of the above varieties are resistant to psyllid (a sap sucking insect which causes pimpling to the leaf). 


The Waterhousea floribunda are a variety that are susceptible to psyllid but can easily be treated.


Scale - Use White Oil


Sooty Mould (black) - Use Neem or White Oil


Comped leaves likely due to Lilly Pilly Beetle - Use Neem or Eco Oil


Myrtle Rust - Cut off the effected leaves and spray with a fungicide


 


Care


Remember that pests and disease will be more attracted to unhealthy plants. 

So by doing the following you can help eradicate any pests or disease taking over. 


Fertilizing - In spring use a slow release fertilizer and add in some compost manure. 
 

Mulching - place a layer of approx 5-8cm of organic mulch such as sugar cane mulch.


Watering - Lilly Pillys like good drainage soil and regular watering especially when it is particularly hot.


Pruning - Pruning is best started when the plants are young at least twice per

year in order to keep them bushy from base to top.  Doing this on a regular

basis and pruning the tops and sides will also help create dense bushy

growth.


They can be cut back at any time of the year however if you are going to go

for a heavy prune this is best done in late winter or early spring.  Watering

either side of pruning will help with plant stress.