Superior Lilly Pilly

Superior Lilly Pilly (Syzygium australe 'Superior') is a narrow, fast growing native screen for warm gardens. Untrimmed it reaches about 5m tall and only 2.5m wide, which is the shape you want on a boundary with height to gain and no width to spare. Two trims a year hold it at 2m to 3m as a hedge instead. White flowers in spring are followed by edible pink berries that the birds get to first.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by nature. At 5m by 2.5m it screens a two storey window without pushing into the garden bed.
• Fast cover. A quick grower in warm weather, so a boundary planting closes in two to three seasons.
• Australian native, and the birds know it. Nectar in spring, then edible berries through summer, which brings honeyeaters into the garden.
• It handles wet ground and salt. Wet feet tolerant and salt tolerant, so damp corners and coastal boundaries both work.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs, and the berries are edible for people.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1m apart for a dense screen. That gives each plant room to furnish from the base while the canopies knit into a solid face.

Hedging. The same 1m spacing suits a clipped hedge held at 2m to 3m. Because it shoots from old wood, a neglected hedge can be cut back hard and will refurnish.

Windbreaks and feature planting. A staggered double row at 1m filters wind on an exposed block. Single plants shape well into a slim column beside an entry.

Growing Superior Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest growth; part shade works but the screen stays looser. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate plant, and it is comfortable in humidity. It takes light frost only, so cold inland and tableland gardens want something hardier.

Soil. Not fussy, and unusually forgiving of damp ground. Work compost through the trench, 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 again in late summer keeps the growth strong.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to build density low down, then trim after the spring flush and again in late summer. Like most lilly pillies it can pick up psyllid on soft new growth; trimming affected tips keeps it in hand.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in four sizes: tube stock, 140mm packs of ten, 200mm packs of six and 300mm pots. Tubes and 140mm plants are the value choice for a long boundary, a season slower but quick to establish. The 200mm and 300mm plants arrive branched and carrying real height.

Plants are packed to travel upright. Expect a quiet fortnight, then new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather and up to a metre of height a year once the roots are away. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our lilly pilly care guide.
• Compare varieties in the full lilly pilly range.
• Browse other screening plants from 4m to 8m.
• See the wider hedging and screening collection.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One metre apart in a single row. Planting tighter does not close the gap faster and makes watering and feeding harder.

Can I keep it at 2m?

Yes. Two trims a year hold it at 2m to 3m, and because it shoots from old wood it stays furnished at the base rather than lifting into bare trunks.

Is it safe for pets?

Yes. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, and the ripe berries are edible, with a tart apple flavour.

Will it grow in a cold southern garden?

Only where frosts are light. It is a warm climate plant, so tableland and hard frosting inland gardens damage the new growth each winter.