How to grow lilly pilly in Australia

Lilly pilly is hardy and adaptable, tolerating light frost once established, and can be planted across much of the country.

Subtropical and tropical (Brisbane, Cairns): Ideal. Plant almost any time of year, though spring and autumn are kindest for establishment.

Warm temperate (Sydney, Perth, Adelaide): Excellent conditions. Plant in spring or autumn and it grows quickly into a dense screen.

Cool temperate (Melbourne): Grows well. Plant in spring so it is established before winter, and choose a reasonably sheltered spot for younger plants.

Cold (Hobart, Canberra, alpine): Workable with the hardier species in a sheltered position. Plant in spring and protect young plants from the hardest frosts.

Arid (Alice Springs): Possible with reliable water and some shelter from extreme heat, though it is happier in gardens with more humidity.

Plant nursery stock into soil improved with compost, at the same depth it sat in the pot, water in well and mulch. Space plants according to the variety and your purpose, closer for a tight hedge, wider for specimen shrubs or small trees, since mature sizes vary enormously between types.

Lilly pilly establishes readily and responds well to feeding and watering while young. A light trim after the main flush of growth encourages the dense branching that makes a good hedge, and you can begin shaping from an early age.

Compact lilly pilly selections make good large-pot and courtyard plants, and take clipping into formal shapes well. Use a big pot and quality mix, and keep the water and feed up, since potted plants dry out and deplete faster.

In the ground, lilly pilly is one of the most useful screening plants available, forming hedges from waist height to several metres depending on the type. Just be sure to match the plant to the job, as buying a forest tree by mistake and trying to keep it hedge-height is a common regret.

It grows in full sun to part shade. Full sun gives the densest growth and best fruiting, while it will still do a respectable job in a part-shaded position, useful for screening along a shady boundary.

Water regularly while establishing and through dry spells, especially in pots. Once settled it has reasonable drought tolerance, but consistent moisture produces better foliage, flowering and fruit. It is not fussy about soil provided drainage is reasonable.

Berries ripen through summer and into autumn, and are ready when they have coloured fully, usually to pink, red or purple, and come away easily. Taste as you pick, since flavour ranges from tart and spicy to mild and pleasant depending on the species. The riberry type in particular is prized for its clove-like tang.

Use the fruit fresh as a crunchy, slightly astringent snack or garnish, or cook it down into jams, sauces and cordials, where its flavour really shines. Birds love the berries too, so you may be sharing the crop.

The classic lilly pilly problem is psyllid damage, tiny sap-sucking insects that cause raised, pimple-like galls and dimpling on new leaves, worst on some of the older Syzygium and Acmena types. The simplest fix is to plant a psyllid-resistant cultivar from the start, and otherwise to prune off affected growth and encourage predatory insects.

Scale and sooty mould can occur and are managed with horticultural oil. Otherwise it is a genuinely easy, non-toxic plant, safe around families, with berries that are a natural food for native birds.

As a hedge or screen, lilly pilly is generally grown in its own line rather than interplanted, but it makes an excellent backdrop and windbreak for a productive garden, sheltering more tender plants. Underplant a hedge with low, shade-tolerant groundcovers such as native violet rather than anything that competes hard at the roots, and leave airflow between plants to reduce pest pressure.

Are lilly pilly berries safe to eat?

Yes. Lilly pilly berries are edible and non-toxic, eaten fresh or made into jam and cordial. Flavour ranges from tart and spicy to mild depending on the species, with the riberry among the tastiest.

What causes the pimples on my lilly pilly leaves?

Psyllids, tiny sap-sucking insects that cause raised gall-like bumps on new growth. The best fix is to plant a psyllid-resistant cultivar; otherwise prune off affected growth and support predatory insects.

Which lilly pilly should I plant for a hedge?

Choose a compact, psyllid-resistant Syzygium australe cultivar sized to your intended hedge height. Avoid buying a large forest type by mistake and trying to keep it small.