Cherry Surprise Lilly Pilly

Cherry Surprise Lilly Pilly (Syzygium australe 'Cherry Surprise') is a compact native screen that tops out around 2.5m tall and only 1.5m wide, so it suits a narrow boundary where a full sized lilly pilly would crowd the path. New growth flushes deep red before hardening to glossy green, and white flowers give way to edible pink berries. Planted 80cm apart it closes into a dense hedge.

Why you'll love it

• Narrow and quick. About 2.5m tall and only 1.5m wide, and fast growing, so a narrow bed reads as a screen sooner than most natives manage.
• Red new growth all season. Every flush comes through cherry red and holds the colour for weeks before it greens off.
• It copes with damp ground. Wet feet tolerant, which is unusual in a hedge and useful in a low spot or beside a downpipe.
• Native, and the birds notice. Australian native, bird attracting, with berries you can eat straight off the bush.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 80cm apart centre to centre for a dense hedge. That is roughly thirteen plants for a ten metre run, and the tighter spacing suits the narrow habit.

Damp and coastal sites. Salt and wet feet tolerance together suit a coastal block or a bed that drains slowly after storms.

Pots, topiary and shaping. It clips cleanly into balls and cones, and a pot 500mm or wider holds a shaped plant for years.

Growing Cherry Surprise Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest red and the densest hedge. Part shade works, but the colour softens. This suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland and tableland gardens want a hardier hedge.

Soil. Not fussy, and more forgiving of damp ground than most lilly pillies. Work compost through the bed at planting and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and late summer keeps the flushes coming and the colour strong.

Pruning. Trim after each flush to build density and trigger the next round of red growth. It reshoots from old wood, so a neglected hedge can be cut back hard. This is not one of the named psyllid resistant selections, so watch the soft growth in humid spring weather and clip affected tips off.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in three sizes: 140mm packs of ten, 200mm packs of six, and single 45L plants. The packs are the sensible way to plant a run, since a ten metre hedge takes thirteen plants and small stock catches up quickly. The 45L size arrives with real height on day one. All three commonly run on backorder, so check the size selector for lead times.

Plants are trimmed and packed to travel upright, so some leaf drop is normal. Water them the day they land, then plant. Expect new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete lilly pilly care guide
• Browse the full lilly pilly range
• Screening plants that finish between 2m and 4m
• Plants that take clipping and shaping

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Eighty centimetres apart, centre to centre. Because it is narrow, the closer spacing is needed for the canopies to meet and read as a solid hedge.

Can I keep it lower than 2.5m?

Yes. Two or three trims a year hold it anywhere between about 1.2m and its full height, and it stays furnished at the base rather than lifting into bare stems.

Are the berries actually edible?

Yes. The pink berries are edible raw, with a crisp, slightly tart apple flavour, and they are often used for jam. Birds usually get to them first.