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. Being psyllid resistant, 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 works in a bed barely a metre deep, along a driveway, or between a fence and a paved path.
• Psyllid resistant. No routine spraying to keep the foliage clean.
• Edible berries, and birds that want them. White flowers give way to tart red berries, and native birds work through whatever you leave.

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 at 2m to 3m within two to three seasons.

Topiary and shaping. Small leaves and dense branching make it one of the easier natives to clip into a formal shape or a pair of cones at a door.

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

Growing Cherry Bomb Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings out the strongest red and the densest habit; part shade is fine but the colour is muted. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and handles humidity, coastal salt and wind well. 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 with compost worked through the bed. Mulch 75mm deep, 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 red flushes.

Pruning. Tip prune from the day you plant, then trim after each flush hardens, two or three times a 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

Sizes run 140mm and 200mm through 300mm and 400mm to 75L and 110L. The 140mm packs of ten and 200mm packs of six are the sensible buy for a long hedge run, costing less per metre and catching up to bigger stock in about two seasons. The 300mm and 400mm pots are the usual middle ground; the 75L and 110L plants arrive branched with real height.

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 narrow will it really stay?

Around 1.5m unpruned. A light trim on the faces each season holds it at 800mm to 1m wide, which is why it suits tight side boundaries.

Are the berries actually edible?

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

Will it get psyllid?

It is bred for psyllid resistance, so new growth normally stays clean without spraying. Resistant is not immune: a stressed plant in a still, humid corner can still mark.