Straight and Narrow™ Lilly Pilly

Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly (Syzygium australe 'SAN01') gives you height without taking the garden bed with it. Left alone it reaches about 5m tall and holds itself to roughly 1m wide, so a fence line or a narrow side passage can carry a full green screen. Planted 60cm to 80cm apart it closes into a continuous wall of glossy foliage, with new growth flushing bronze red before hardening to deep green.

Why you'll love it

• Narrow by nature, not by pruning. The columnar habit is bred in, so it holds near 1m wide without repeated trimming.
• Height where you need it. About 5m untrimmed covers a fence and the window above it, and a tip prune sets any lower height.
• Built for exposed blocks. Salt tolerant, wind tolerant and comfortable in humidity, so coastal boundaries do not scorch it.
• Australian native and bird friendly. White summer flowers are followed by berries the birds work through.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Narrow screening and privacy. Plant 60cm to 80cm apart in a single row. That is tighter than a standard lilly pilly hedge because each plant fills half the width, and it is what gives you a solid face rather than separate columns.

Small gardens and side passages. A 1m footprint screens a boundary without surrendering the bed. Allow 60cm clearance from the fence so air moves behind the plants.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. Use a container at least 500mm across and never let it dry out completely.

Growing Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest column; part shade works but stays looser. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost once established, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens want a sheltered warm wall or a frost hardy screen instead.

Soil. Any reasonable soil suits it provided water drains away. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound and dig compost through the whole run rather than into each hole. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper to weekly and eventually to dry spells only. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and late summer keeps the colour strong.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Tip prune the leaders once the plants reach your height, and run shears lightly over the face after the spring flush for a crisper edge.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in ten sizes, from tube stock through 140mm, 200mm, 250mm, 300mm and 400mm pots to 25L, 45L, 75L and 100L. Tube and 140mm plants are the value choice for a long boundary: a season slower to close, but quick to establish. From 25L up they arrive branched and carrying real height on day one.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a quiet fortnight while the roots move out, then new growth inside six weeks in warm weather. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Lilly pilly care guide: choosing, planting and pruning
• Compare the full lilly pilly range
• Browse hedging and screening plants
• Planning a lilly pilly screen for privacy

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

60cm to 80cm apart in a single row. Because each plant fills only about a metre of width, spacing at a metre or more leaves visible gaps at eye level for years.

Will it really hold at 1m wide?

Close to it. The narrow habit comes from the plant rather than from clipping, so expect around 1m with no intervention. One light trim a year tightens it further.

Does it get psyllid?

It is one of the modern selections bred for resistance and needs no routine spraying. Resistance is not immunity, so check the soft spring growth and hose off any early pimpling.