Express Lilly Pilly

Express Lilly Pilly (Syzygium australe 'Express') is the lilly pilly to plant when the fence line needed screening last year. Left alone it reaches about 5m tall yet only 2m wide, so it builds real height without swallowing the garden bed; most owners hold it at 2m to 3m as a clipped hedge. Speed and a narrow habit are the whole point of this selection.

Why you'll love it

• Bred for speed. One of the faster lilly pillies to fence height, so a young hedge starts doing its job from the first warm season.
• Tall and narrow by nature. At about 5m by 2m it suits side boundaries and the tight strip between path and fence where wider screens do not fit.
• Glossy foliage that clips cleanly. Dense growth takes a formal face well, or stays soft with a single yearly trim.
• Flowers, then berries for the birds. White flowers are followed by edible berries that bring birds into the garden.
• Comfortable in exposed warm gardens. It tolerates salt, wind and humidity, so exposed coastal boundaries are well within its range.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense fast screen. The narrow footprint keeps the screen close to the fence instead of leaning into the lawn.

Hedging. Two trims a year hold it anywhere from 2m to 3m with a solid face; one trim a year gives a taller, looser boundary.

Small gardens, pots and containers. The upright habit suits courtyards, and a pair in large tubs will screen a balcony or frame a gate. Potted plants stay smaller and drink more often.

Growing Express Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun grows the densest screen; part shade works with a looser result. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and takes light frost once established. Cold inland districts and hard frosting southern gardens should look to a hardier hedge.

Soil. Any reasonable garden soil with drainage suits it. On heavy clay, plant on a slightly raised mound with compost worked through, then mulch 75mm deep and keep the mulch clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off as the roots get away. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the growth coming.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting so the hedge thickens from the base. Trim after each warm season flush, and do not be afraid to cut hard if it ever outgrows the space, because it reshoots from older wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Express Lilly Pilly as tube stock: young, single stemmed plants that go in with a trowel and establish quickly. Tubes are the value way to plant a long run, and the low price per plant suits the minimum order of $300 before delivery.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect a quiet fortnight after planting, then fresh 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

• The complete lilly pilly care guide
• Browse the full lilly pilly range
• Compare hedging and screening plants
• Lilly Pilly 'Resilience', the psyllid resistant alternative

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. That spacing closes into a solid screen without the plants competing so hard that the base thins out.

How fast does it actually grow?

Fast for a lilly pilly. With warmth, water and feed, tube stock makes visible progress every month and a young row reads as a screen within a few seasons. Growth slows in cooler gardens and through winter.

Can I keep it at 2m?

Yes. Two trims a year hold it comfortably at 2m to 3m, and clipping keeps the face dense right down to ground level.

Will it handle frost?

Light frost only, and only once established. In districts with regular hard frosts the new growth burns, so choose a frost hardy screen instead.