Sunset Lilly Pilly

Sunset Lilly Pilly (Syzygium australe 'Sunset') is a fast growing native hedge that settles at about 3m tall and 2m wide, which is the height most people actually want along a boundary. New growth flushes warm orange before hardening to green, so the hedge carries colour through the year without any work from you. Planted 75cm apart it closes into a dense screen quickly.

Why you'll love it

• The right size for a fence line. At 3m by 2m it screens a standard boundary without becoming a tree you need a ladder to trim.
• Fast to close. Vigorous growth means a tube planted run reads as a solid green wall far sooner than most alternatives.
• Colour in the new growth. Every flush comes away orange toned, and each trim triggers another one.
• Exposed and coastal sites are fine. Salt tolerant, wind tolerant and comfortable in humidity, so a beachside block does not burn it.
• Native, with flowers and berries. White flowers are followed by edible berries that local birds work through.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 75cm apart in a single row for a dense hedge. Tighter spacing wastes plants and makes watering and feeding harder without closing the gap any faster.

Pots and topiary. It takes clipping well, so it suits a shaped ball, a standard or a matched pair at an entry. A container naturally holds it below its full height.

Growing Sunset Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest growth and the strongest colour in the new foliage; part shade works but the screen stays looser. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate plant. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts and hard frosting southern gardens will burn the new growth each winter.

Soil. Any reasonable garden soil that drains. Work compost through the row before planting, then mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off as the roots go down. Controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the foliage dense.

Pruning. Tip prune from the day you plant. Two or three trims a year hold it anywhere between 1.5m and 3m, and because it reshoots readily a hedge kept low stays leafy at the base.

What to expect when it arrives

Sunset Lilly Pilly is sold as tube stock. Tubes are young single stemmed plants, and for a long boundary they are the sensible buy: affordable enough to plant a full run at proper spacing, and quick to establish because the root system has never been checked by a large pot.

Expect a quiet few weeks after planting, then new growth from four to six weeks in warm weather, and a hedge you can begin shaping in the first season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the complete lilly pilly care guide.
• Compare varieties across the full lilly pilly range.
• Weigh up other hedging and screening plants.
• Browse screening plants that finish between 2m and 4m.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Space plants 75cm apart in a single row. At that spacing the canopies meet and the screen reads as solid, with no thin patch along the bottom.

Can I keep it lower than 3m?

Yes. Two or three trims a year will hold it at 1.5m to 2m comfortably. It shoots freely from cut wood, so a hedge held low stays furnished rather than lifting into bare stems.

Will it handle frost?

Light frost only. A few degrees below zero will burn new growth and set young plants back, so in cold districts choose a frost hardy screen instead.