Cherry Bomb Lilly Pilly

Cherry Bomb Lilly Pilly (Syzygium australe 'Cherry Bomb') is the lilly pilly for a narrow bed. It reaches about 3m tall but only 1.5m wide, so it screens a fence line without pushing out over the path, and every flush of new growth arrives bright red before hardening to glossy green. It is a psyllid resistant selection, which means the new leaves stay smooth instead of pimpling.

Why you'll love it

• Red growth several times a year. Each flush colours up strongly in full sun, so the hedge changes through the season instead of sitting as a flat green block.
• Narrow footprint. A 1.5m width means it works in a bed barely a metre deep, along a driveway, or in the gap between a fence and a paved path.
• Psyllid resistant. No routine spraying to keep the foliage clean, which is the difference between a hedge you enjoy and a hedge you manage.
• Edible berries, and birds that want them. White flowers give way to red berries that are edible and tart, and native birds work through whatever you leave.
• Fast and forgiving. It grows quickly, shoots from old wood, and takes clipping into hedges, balls or cones.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 75cm apart in a single row. The tighter spacing suits its narrow habit, and the row closes into a solid screen within two to three seasons at a useful 2m to 3m.

Topiary and shaping. Small leaves and dense branching make it one of the easier natives to clip into a formal shape, whether that is a pair of cones at a door or a low clipped run.

Pots and courtyards. A single plant in a 400mm or larger pot holds at 1.5m to 2m with two trims a year, which is enough to screen a balcony sightline.

Borders and edging. Trimmed at 1m it works as a substantial evergreen border along a driveway or boundary.

Growing Cherry Bomb Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings out the strongest red on the new growth and the densest habit. Part shade is fine but the colour is muted and the screen stays looser. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and it handles humidity, coastal salt and wind well. It takes light frost only, so in cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens choose a sheltered warm aspect or a hardier hedge plant.

Soil. Any reasonable soil with drainage. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound and work compost through the bed first. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it off the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper back. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer drives the flushes that give you the red colour.

Pruning. Tip prune from the day you plant. Trim after each flush hardens, usually two or three times through the growing season. It reshoots readily from old wood, so a neglected hedge can be cut back hard and will refurnish.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 140mm and 200mm sizes as well as 300mm, 400mm, 75L and 110L. The 140mm packs of ten and 200mm packs of six are the sensible buy for a long hedge run: young plants that cost less per metre and catch up to bigger stock within about two seasons. The 300mm and 400mm pots are the usual middle ground, and the 75L and 110L plants arrive already branched with real height from 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 after planting, then visible new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Growing and maintaining a lilly pilly hedge
• Compare every lilly pilly variety we grow
• Other hedging and screening options
• Browse Australian natives for the garden

Common questions

How far apart do I plant it for a hedge?

75cm apart in a single row. Because it is naturally narrow it needs closer spacing than a wide growing lilly pilly to close the gaps at the same rate.

How narrow will it really stay?

Around 1.5m unpruned. With a light trim on the faces each season you can comfortably hold it at 800mm to 1m wide, which is why it suits tight side boundaries.

Are the berries actually edible?

Yes. The red berries are edible, crisp and tart rather than sweet, and they are traditionally used for jams and jellies. Birds usually get to them first.

Will it get psyllid?

It is bred for psyllid resistance, so under normal conditions the new growth stays clean without spraying. Resistant is not immune, and a stressed plant in a still, humid corner can still pick up some marking.