Francis's Lilly Pilly

Francis's Lilly Pilly (Syzygium francisii) is the choice when a two storey neighbour needs blocking rather than a fence line. In a garden it settles at around 8m tall and 4m wide, with dense glossy foliage, coppery new growth and a handsome trunk if you lift the canopy. It also makes an excellent shade tree, and the small mauve berries that follow the cream flowers are edible.

Why you'll love it

• Real height for real privacy. At about 8m it screens an upstairs window or a multi storey build behind you, which a 3m hedge cannot do.
• Dense and evergreen. The canopy holds a solid wall of small glossy leaves all year, and the bronze new growth gives seasonal colour.
• It doubles as a shade tree. Grown as a single trunk with the lower limbs removed, it casts genuine shade over a seating area or a lawn.
• Comfortable in wet and coastal ground. Wet feet tolerant, salt tolerant and humidity tolerant, so damp gullies and coastal blocks both work.
• Edible berries. Cream flowers are followed by small mauve fruit that is edible and heavily worked by birds.

Where it works best

Tall screening and hedging. Plant 1.5m apart in a single row for a tall dense screen. That spacing lets each tree build width while the canopies still close into a wall. Trimmed, it holds at 3m to 5m as a formal hedge.

Shade and feature planting. A single specimen with a clear trunk suits a large lawn or a driveway turning circle, where the dark canopy and coppery flush both show.

Growing Francis's Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest canopy; part shade works but the screen stays looser. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland districts, the tablelands and cold southern gardens want a hardier screen.

Soil. Deep and reasonably fertile is ideal, but it is less fussy than most trees of this size and tolerates ground that stays wet after rain. Work compost through the backfill and mulch 75mm deep.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, since this is a rainforest tree and will not establish on neglect. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and late summer keeps growth moving.

Pruning. Growth is slow to moderate, so trim to shape rather than to control size. For a hedge, tip prune early and trim after the spring flush. For a shade tree, remove the lowest limbs gradually.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes: 200mm in packs of six, 45L, 100L and 200L. The 200mm plants are the value option for a long screen, though this species grows slowly. A 45L is a solid young tree, while the 100L and 200L sizes arrive with real height and canopy on them.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a quiet month, then steady growth through the warm season, and our 30 day healthy plant guarantee on every plant.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to plant and maintain a lilly pilly screen
• Browse the full lilly pilly range
• Compare screening plants from 4m to 8m
• More syzygiums for hedges and trees

Common questions

Does it really reach 30m?

In its rainforest habitat it can, given a century and a closed canopy pushing it upwards. In a suburban garden it settles at around 8m tall and 4m wide, and most gardeners trim it below that.

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One and a half metres apart in a single row. Closer spacing does not close the gap sooner and leaves each tree competing for water, which shows as thin growth at the base.

How fast does it grow?

Slow to moderate compared with a hedging lilly pilly. That is partly why it stays tidy, but it also means the larger pot sizes are worth the difference if you need the screen working soon.