The Great Lilly Pilly Showdown: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Finding the Perfect Fit: The Best Lilly Pilly for Your Hedging Needs
Matching Your Plant to Your Place: Lilly Pilly Varieties for Every Aussie Garden
The Great Lilly Pilly Showdown: A Head-to-Head Comparison
To make your decision easier, we've created a simple comparison chart. This isn't based on theory; it's based on what we see working for thousands of Aussie gardeners every year. Here's how the top contenders stack up.
Feature
Syzygium 'Resilience'
Syzygium 'Select'
Syzygium 'Hinterland Gold'
Syzygium 'Goodbye Neighbours'
Psyllid Resistance
Bred for psyllid resistance; foliage remains clean Good resistance, but may show minor pimpling under stress
Susceptible; will likely show pimpling without preventative care
Good resistance, but may show minor pimpling under stress
Growth Rate
Fast (Up to 1.5m/year)
Fast (up to 1.5m/year)
Moderate
Very Fast (2m+/year)
Foliage Density
Very Dense
Dense
Dense
Dense, but can get leggy
Ideal Use
All-purpose screening
Formal hedges, topiary
General screening
Tall, rapid privacy screens
Maintenance
Low
Moderate (psyllid watch)
Moderate (psyllid watch)
High (needs frequent pruning)
Direct Comparison: Lilly Pilly Resilience vs Select and Others
As the chart shows, the difference between Lilly Pilly varieties comes down to a trade-off between growth speed, pest resistance, and maintenance. While a variety like 'Goodbye Neighbours' offers incredible speed, it requires more frequent pruning to prevent it from becoming thin at the base. 'Hinterland Gold' is a classic, but many Aussie gardeners find it susceptible to psyllid damage, which can ruin the look of a hedge.
In our experience, 'Resilience' hits the sweet spot. It offers the fast growth needed for privacy without the high maintenance or pest susceptibility of other varieties. Its naturally dense, branching habit means you get a thick screen from top to bottom with minimal effort.
Finding the Perfect Fit: The Best Lilly Pilly for Your Hedging Needs
Beyond a simple comparison, the best choice depends on your specific goals. Are you after speed, low maintenance, or a solution to a specific pest problem? Let's break it down by use-case.
Best Lilly Pilly for Hedge Australia
When customers ask us, "What is the best Lilly Pilly for a hedge?", we almost always start with 'Resilience'. A great hedge needs three things: speed, density, and health. 'Resilience' delivers on all three. It's one of the fastest growing Lilly Pilly hedge varieties that still maintains a full, bushy shape. This makes it the top Lilly Pilly for screening out neighbours or unsightly views, giving you a lush, green wall in just a couple of seasons.
Choosing Psyllid-Resistant Lilly Pilly Varieties
The biggest headache for many Lilly Pilly owners is the psyllid. These tiny, native sap-sucking insects cause ugly, bumpy pimples on new leaves, stunting growth and making the plant look diseased. While you can spray, the best solution is to choose a plant that isn't affected.
This is where Syzygium australe 'Resilience' truly earns its name. As leading wholesale nurseries like Benara Nurseries note, its very name, 'Resilience', was chosen to reflect its significant resistance to the psyllids that can damage other Lilly Pilly varieties. For a set-and-forget hedge that looks great year-round, choosing a psyllid-resistant Lilly Pilly is non-negotiable. If you're ready to create a stunning, pest-free hedge, you can choose the pest-free Lilly Pilly 'Resilience' for your hedge and have it delivered to your door.
Low Maintenance Hedge Plants Australia
We all want a beautiful garden, but not everyone has time for constant upkeep. A low-maintenance hedge is one that requires minimal pruning , is not prone to pests, and can handle tough conditions. Hardy Lilly Pilly varieties are perfect for this. Because 'Resilience' is psyllid-resistant and has a naturally tidy growth habit, it requires far less attention than other fast-growing screeners. A light prune once or twice a year is all it needs to stay in perfect shape, making it one of the best easy-care hedge plants available.
Matching Your Plant to Your Place: Lilly Pilly Varieties for Every Aussie Garden
Your local climate and soil conditions play a huge role in how well your hedge will perform. While most Lilly Pillies are robust, choosing the right one for your specific environment is key to success.
Matching Lilly Pilly to Your Garden's Conditions
Most popular Lilly Pilly varieties, including 'Resilience', thrive in full sun across Australia and are adaptable to a range of soils, from sandy loam to well-draining clay soils. For a Lilly Pilly in narrow spaces or tight garden beds, 'Resilience' is an excellent choice as its upright growth can be easily kept to a width of 1-1.5 metres with a simple annual prune.
While they are reasonably drought tolerant once established, consistent watering during the first two summers, especially during heatwaves, will ensure rapid, healthy growth. If you're looking for the best Lilly Pilly for pots, a more compact variety from the Acmena family might be suitable, but for a tall, slender screen in the ground, 'Resilience' is hard to beat.
Conclusion: The Clear Choice for a Perfect Hedge
While there are many Lilly Pilly varieties in Australia , the decision becomes simple when you prioritise health, appearance, and ease of care. For the vast majority of Australian backyards seeking a fast-growing, dense, and trouble-free privacy screen, the choice is clear. Lilly Pilly 'Resilience' offers the ultimate package: exceptional psyllid resistance, rapid growth, and lush, deep green foliage with minimal fuss. It's the expert's choice for a reason, providing a reliable, beautiful living wall for your garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Lilly Pilly is best for a fast growing hedge?
What is the best Lilly Pilly to avoid psyllids?
What is the difference between Syzygium australe and Acmena smithii?
