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 'Straight & Narrow'



For narrow garden beds or tight spaces


Syzygium 'Straight & Narrow'



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'



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 it form more)

Waterhousea floribunda - 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



If you want more of a tree form


Waterhousea floribunda



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 - Lilly Pillys can be cut back at any time of the year and it is best

to water either side of pruning to help with plant stress.


If you are going to go for a heavy prune this is best done in late winter or early spring.


For hedges tip pruning them on a regular basis at the tops and sides will help create dense bushy growth.  This can

be started when plants are young.