Species

Syzygium australeBrush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Lilly Pilly, Creek Lilly Pilly

9 other cultivars

‘Baby Boomer’Baby Boomer Lilly Pilly, Dwarf Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly
‘Straight and Narrow’Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry
‘Resilience’Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly-Pilly
‘Select’Select Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Southern Lilly Pilly
‘Aussie Southern’Aussie Southern Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Creek Satinash
‘Big Red’Big Red Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Lilly Pilly
‘Hinterland Gold’Hinterland Gold Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry
‘Pinnacle’Pinnacle Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Satinash
‘Tiny Trev’Tiny Trev Lilly Pilly, Creek Cherry, Brush Cherry

shrub

Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas

Syzygium australe 'Bush Christmas'

The Story

Plant Bio

Syzygium australe, commonly known as the brush cherry or lilly pilly, is an evergreen rainforest tree native to eastern Australia. The species features glossy green foliage and fluffy white powder-puff flowers that develop into edible pink to purple fleshy fruits.

'Bush Christmas' is a compact, dense-growing cultivar selected for its tight, upright habit and highly responsive nature to clipping. The fine foliage produces striking orange to orange-crimson new growth flushes that become particularly prominent during winter.

Uses & Benefits:

Provides dense, glossy green foliage with striking orange-crimson winter flushes, ideal for formal hedges, screens, and topiary.

Serves as an effective windbreak, privacy screen, or container plant that tolerates coastal exposure and high humidity.

Attracts native bees, insects, and nectar-eating and seed-eating Australian birds with its fluffy white flowers and fleshy fruits.

SpeciesSyzygium australeBrush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Lilly Pilly, Creek Lilly Pilly

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

157 inches

Width

118 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

9, 10

Water

Moderate

Humidity

High

Lifespan

Long-lived

Native To

Eastern Australia

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Bloom period

Spring – Summer

In flower about 4 months of the year

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in a full sun to lightly shaded position with well-drained soil, such as sandy loam or clay loam.
Water regularly during the establishment period and during dry summer spells to maintain consistent soil moisture.
Apply a balanced, low-phosphorus slow-release fertiliser in spring to support healthy foliage flushes.
Prune lightly and regularly throughout the growing season to shape into a hedge, screen, or topiary.

Pro Tip

Shear the outer foliage regularly to force the brilliant winter orange flushes and maintain a tight, dense form; avoid cutting back into old, leafless woody stems where adventitious buds fail to shoot reliably.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Prune just before flower bud burst if you wish to limit fruit production.
Provide regular watering during dry summer spells to prevent stress.
Apply a native-safe or general low-phosphorus fertiliser in spring.

Don't

Do not prune severely into old, leafless woody stems where regrowth is unreliable.
Do not allow the soil to waterlog, though moderate moisture is tolerated.
Do not expose the plant to heavy frosts, as it only tolerates light frost.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fertilize
Harvest
Pest Check
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

HedgeScreeningTopiaryCoastal GardenBird Garden

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas questions

What zones can Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas grow in?

Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

When does Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas bloom?

Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas typically blooms in spring through summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas need full sun?

Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.