Aussie Gem Lilly Pilly

Aussie Gem Lilly Pilly (Syzygium australe 'Aussie Gem') is the compact answer for a hedge where a standard lilly pilly would be too big. Left untrimmed it reaches about 3m tall and 1.8m wide, two thirds the size of the usual screening varieties, and it holds glossy foliage densely from the base up. New growth flushes bright bronze, and good psyllid resistance keeps it clean.

Why you'll love it

• Compact by nature. About 3m by 1.8m untrimmed, so it screens a fence line without taking a metre of bed on each side.
• Bright new growth. Each flush comes through bronze before hardening to glossy dark green, giving the hedge colour several times a year.
• Good psyllid resistance. Not immune, but far less prone to the leaf pimpling that disfigures older lilly pillies, so routine spraying is not part of it.
• Native, bird friendly and edible. White flowers, then pink berries that birds work through and that people can eat.
• Coastal, humid or dry, it copes. Salt, humidity and drought are all tolerated once established.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row. That closes into a solid screen without crowding, and because the plant is naturally narrow you can run it close to a fence.

Narrow beds and side boundaries. At 1.8m wide untrimmed, and held near 1m with clipping, it fits the awkward strip down the side of a house where a full sized lilly pilly cannot go.

Pots and topiary. A pot 500mm or wider holds it around 1.5m to 2m, and it clips well into balls, cones and standards.

Growing Aussie Gem lilly pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest hedge and the brightest new growth; part shade works but the screen stays looser. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens want a frost hardy hedge instead.

Soil. Not fussy about type, but it wants drainage. On heavy clay plant on a raised mound with compost through the bed, and mulch 75mm deep clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off as the roots go down. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and late summer keeps growth even along the row.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to build density low down, then trim after each growth flush, usually twice a year. It reshoots from old wood, so a neglected hedge can be cut back hard.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown here in six sizes: 140mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, 250mm in packs of three, 300mm, 45L and 100L. The smaller packs are the value choice for a long boundary, taking a season or two longer to close. The 300mm pots are the usual middle ground, while the 45L and 100L plants arrive branched and carrying real height.

Plants are packed to travel upright, and a little leaf drop in the first fortnight is normal. Expect new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to plant and maintain a lilly pilly hedge
• Browse the full lilly pilly range
• Screening plants that finish between 2m and 4m
• Compare hedging and screening plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Closer spacing does not close the gap any faster and makes watering and feeding harder along the row.

Can I keep it at 1.5m?

Yes. Two trims a year hold it between 1.5m and 2m, and because it shoots from old wood it stays furnished at the base instead of lifting into bare trunks.

Are the berries edible?

Yes. The pink berries that follow the flowers are tart and crisp, and are often turned into jam. Birds usually get to them first.