The main types of lilly pilly are small-leaf hedge varieties, medium shrubs and tall rainforest trees, all in the Syzygium group and all native to Australia. For Sydney hedges and screens, pick a compact, psyllid-resistant variety and check its mature size on the nursery label before you buy.
This guide covers lilly pilly types, species, size and growth rate, plus how to plant, prune and care for them.
Key points
- Lilly pilly is native to Australia, with species found in rainforest and coastal forest from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
- Mature size ranges from compact hedge plants to tall trees, so match the variety to the space (indicative — sizes differ by variety, check the plant label).
- Most lilly pillies like sun to part shade and moist, free-draining soil, and they grow quickly once established with regular water.
- Psyllids cause pimply, distorted new growth on susceptible varieties in humid Sydney summers, so choose a psyllid-resistant type.
Types of lilly pilly at a glance
Lilly pilly is a common name for many evergreen Syzygium, Acmena and related species. Here is the quick profile.
| Feature | What to expect | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical group | Syzygium, Acmena and Waterhousea, in the myrtle family | Nurseries use these names interchangeably, so ask for the full botanical name. |
| Type | Evergreen shrub or tree with glossy leaves | It gives year-round screening and colourful new growth. |
| Native? | Yes, native to eastern and northern Australia | It suits bush-style gardens and attracts birds and bees. |
| Mature size | Compact shrub to tall tree (indicative — check the plant label) | A cheap tube can become a large tree beside a fence. |
| Sun | Full sun to part shade | New growth colours best in sun. |
| Soil | Moist and free-draining; tolerates clay if drainage is fair | Waterlogged clay in western Sydney causes root problems. |
| Frost | Young plants are frost tender (indicative — check the label) | Protect new plants in cold western suburbs and the Blue Mountains. |
| Flowering and fruit | Fluffy summer flowers, then berries in autumn (indicative — varies by species) | Fruit attracts birds and can drop onto paths and lawns. |
Lilly pilly types and varieties in Australia
Garden centres in Sydney stock many lilly pilly varieties Australia-wide. Sizes below are indicative only, so confirm on the label.
| Variety | Size (indicative) | Best use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acmena smithii (common lilly pilly, Syzygium smithii) | Tall in the wild, kept smaller as a hedge | Screen, large hedge | The species most people mean; old forms are very psyllid prone. |
| Syzygium australe (brush cherry) | Medium to tall | Hedge, screen | Popular for hedging, with many cultivars to choose from. |
| Syzygium ‘Resilience’ | Medium | Hedge, screen | Bred for psyllid tolerance; see our lilly pilly resilience guide. |
| Syzygium ‘Straight and Narrow’ | Tall and slim | Narrow screens | Upright shape for tight side passages; see our Straight and Narrow guide. |
| Backyard Bliss lilly pilly | Compact to medium | Low hedges, pots | A compact cultivar with a moderate growth rate (indicative — check the label). |
| Syzygium luehmannii (riberry) | Medium to tall | Feature tree, edible berries | Positively identify any fruit before eating it. |
Types of lilly pilly for Sydney hedges
Hedge choice depends on height, width and how much trimming you want. Here is how the common groups compare.
| Group | Size (indicative) | Growth rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small leaf lilly pilly | Compact to medium | Moderate to fast | Clipped formal hedges and low borders. |
| Medium-leaf screening types | Medium to tall | Fast | Privacy screens along fences. |
| Upright narrow types | Tall and slim | Moderate | Side passages and narrow beds. |
| Weeping and cascading types | Medium | Moderate | Soft screens; see the cascade lilly pilly guide. |
| Rainforest tree types | Very tall | Moderate | Large blocks only, never small yards. |
| Dwarf and pot types | Small | Slow | Pots, courtyards and low borders. |
Is lilly pilly native to Australia?
Yes. Lilly pilly species grow wild in rainforests and coastal forests along the east coast, which is why they handle Sydney conditions so well.
- Syzygium smithii, S. australe and S. luehmannii are Australian natives found in eastern rainforests and gullies.
- Many garden cultivars come from selecting natural variations, so they remain native plants in a garden setting.
- Native lilly pilly suits habitat gardens, as birds, bats and native bees use the flowers and fruit.
- Some imported “lilly pilly” lookalikes are not native, so check the botanical name on the label.
- Lilly pillies grow well beyond their natural range, but cold inland areas may burn young plants.
- Ask your council whether a species is a local weed risk if you live next to bushland.
Lilly pilly size: how tall does lilly pilly grow?
Size varies widely by species and cultivar, which is why nursery labels matter more than the pot size.
- Compact hedge cultivars stay small enough to trim by hand, and often suit a low border (indicative — check the plant label).
- Syzygium smithii height in the garden is usually kept to a hedge, but in rainforest it can become a tall tree (indicative — check the plant label).
- Screening cultivars grow into medium to tall hedges and need regular trimming to keep their shape.
- Rainforest species such as riberry become large trees, so only plant them on big blocks.
- Growth rate depends on water, sun and feeding, and faster growth means more pruning.
- Check your council’s tree rules before planting a tall type close to a boundary or power lines.
Where to plant lilly pilly in Sydney
- Choose a sunny or part-shaded spot with room to reach the mature width, using the label for spacing (indicative — check the plant label).
- Keep taller types well away from houses, pipes, drains and pools, because roots search for moisture.
- Improve heavy clay in western Sydney with compost and a slight mound, so water drains away from the roots.
- Shelter young plants from frost in cold western suburbs, and from strong salt winds on the coast.
- Plant hedges in a straight line with even spacing, which makes trimming easier and more uniform.
- Avoid planting against fences you may need to repair, and book a licensed handyman for fence work.
How to plant lilly pilly
- Choose healthy plants with glossy leaves and no pimply, distorted new growth.
- Dig each hole twice as wide as the pot and no deeper than the root ball.
- Tease out circling roots and set the plant level with the surrounding soil.
- Backfill with the existing soil mixed with a little compost, then firm gently.
- Water in well and mulch with bark, keeping mulch clear of the stem.
- Water deeply and regularly for the first season, following Sydney Water’s Water Wise Guidelines.
Caring for lilly pilly
| Task | When | How |
|---|---|---|
| Watering | Spring to autumn | Water deeply before 10 am or after 4 pm with a trigger nozzle or drip line, and never leave a hose running. |
| Feeding | Spring and early summer | Use a slow-release native or citrus fertiliser and follow the label exactly. |
| Mulching | Autumn or spring | Keep a thick layer of bark mulch over the roots, clear of the stem. |
| Trimming hedges | After spring growth and in autumn | Clip lightly and often, as heavy cuts into bare wood regrow slowly. |
| Removing psyllid damage | When new growth appears | Trim off distorted tips and see a pest controller if damage returns each season. |
| Fruit and leaf clean-up | Autumn | Sweep up fallen berries from paths and lawn so they do not stain or attract pests. |
Common lilly pilly problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pimply, curled new leaves | Psyllid damage in humid summers | Trim affected tips and switch to a resistant variety; see a pest controller for treatment advice. |
| Yellow leaves | Waterlogging or hunger | Improve drainage and feed in spring at the label rate. |
| Brown, scorched leaf tips | Frost, wind or dry soil | Shelter the hedge, mulch and water deeply. |
| Thin, bare lower hedge | Too little light or heavy cutting | Trim the top narrower than the base so light reaches the bottom. |
| Dieback in branches | Root rot or borer | Prune out dead wood and check drainage. |
| Hedge growing too tall | Wrong variety for the space | Trim regularly, or replace with a compact cultivar. |
Trimming lilly pilly hedges
- Trim little and often through spring and autumn, taking only the new growth to keep the hedge dense.
- Shape the sides so the hedge is slightly wider at the base, which keeps the lower leaves in light.
- Wear eye protection, gloves and hearing protection when using hedge trimmers, and do not trim above head height from a ladder.
- Check noise rules: powered tools must not be heard inside a neighbour’s home before 7 am or after 8 pm on weekdays and Saturdays, or before 8 am on Sundays and public holidays.
- Expect hedge trimming for a small Sydney hedge to cost about $69 to $205 per job, with a typical job near $115 (October 2026).
- Book a qualified arborist for tall trees or hedges near power lines.
FAQ: types of lilly pilly questions
Is lilly pilly native to Australia?
Yes. Lilly pilly species such as Syzygium smithii, Syzygium australe and riberry grow wild in eastern and northern Australian rainforest and coastal forest. Garden cultivars are selected from these natives, so they suit habitat gardens and attract birds and native bees.
How tall does lilly pilly grow?
Height depends on the variety, from compact hedge plants to tall rainforest trees (indicative — check the plant label). Always check the nursery label for mature size, and trim regularly if you want to hold a hedge at a set height.
What is the best lilly pilly for a hedge in Sydney?
Choose a compact, psyllid-resistant cultivar such as Resilience for hedges, or an upright type such as Straight and Narrow for tight spots. Check the label for mature height and width, and match it to your boundary and trimming plans.
Are lilly pilly berries edible?
Some lilly pilly fruit is eaten, but you must positively identify the species before eating any berry. Never rely on a plant’s common name alone. If you are unsure, check with a local nursery or botanic garden, and keep children and pets from eating unknown fruit.
Getting lilly pilly help in Sydney
If your lilly pilly hedge is overgrown, uneven or hit by psyllid, we can trim, shape and clear the green waste. Our hedge trimming service in Sydney covers regular and one-off jobs, and our hedges guide helps you compare other species such as murraya, Snow Maiden rhaphiolepis and Geisha Girl. Read our lilly pilly hedge guide for planting and care detail.
