Amaroo Weeping Lilly Pilly

Amaroo Weeping Lilly Pilly (Waterhousea floribunda 'Amaroo') is a compact selection of the weeping lilly pilly, reaching about 5m tall and 3m wide rather than the size of the straight species. Foliage cascades from arching branches, so a row reads as a soft green curtain instead of a clipped wall. It is an Australian native, it copes with wet feet, and unlike older Syzygium hedges it is not a psyllid target, so new growth stays smooth.

Why you'll love it

• Smooth new growth. Waterhousea is not troubled by the psyllid that pimples older lilly pilly hedges, so no routine spraying.
• A weeping screen, not a box. Pendulous foliage softens a fence line or driveway edge in a way an upright hedge cannot.
• Handles wet ground. Wet feet tolerant, so it suits low spots, creek banks and clay that stays damp after rain.
• Native and bird friendly. Cream white flowers bring in birds, and it belongs to eastern Australian riverbank country.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart in a single row for a dense screen. At that spacing the weeping canopies overlap within two to three seasons and hold cover low down.

Driveways and avenues. Spaced 3m to 4m apart and lifted to a clear trunk, it makes an even, low litter avenue that softens a long approach.

Hedging and feature planting. It trims well to 3m if a boundary needs holding, and a single plant on a lawn shows the weeping habit at its best.

Growing Amaroo Weeping Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest screen, part shade works but stays looser. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland districts, the tablelands and cold southern gardens are outside its range.

Soil. Adaptable, and more forgiving of heavy damp soil than most screening plants. Improve the bed with compost and mulch 75mm deep, kept off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then weekly in dry spells. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and late summer supports growth without forcing soft shoots.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to thicken the base. Trim after the spring flush and in late summer for a formal screen. It shoots from old wood, so a neglected row can be cut back hard.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in six sizes. The pack of six in 200mm pots and the 300mm are the value choice for a long boundary: slower to close, but quick to establish. The 400mm and 45L sit in the middle, and the 100L and 200L arrive branched, with real height on day one.

Plants are packed upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a quiet fortnight, then 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

• Weeping lilly pilly care guide
• Browse the full lilly pilly range
• Screening plants from 4m to 8m
• Trees suited to driveways and avenues

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

1.5m apart in a single row. The weeping canopies knit together at that spacing and the screen reads as solid within two to three seasons.

How is it different from a normal lilly pilly?

Waterhousea weeps rather than standing upright, and it is not affected by the psyllid that disfigures older Syzygium hedges. This selection is also more compact.

Can I keep it at 3m?

Yes. Two trims a year hold it around 3m, and because it reshoots from old wood it stays furnished at the base rather than lifting into bare trunks.

Will it cope with a damp spot in the yard?

Better than most screening plants. It is wet feet tolerant and grows naturally along watercourses, so a low damp area suits it.