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
‘Resilience’Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly-Pilly
‘Bush Christmas’Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Bush Christmas
‘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

Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry

Syzygium australe 'Straight and Narrow'

The Story

Plant Bio

Syzygium australe, native to the coastal and sub-coastal rainforests of eastern Australia, is a dense evergreen tree with glossy green leaves and fluffy, white, duster-style flowers. The species produces fleshy red berries in autumn that attract a wide range of frugivorous native birds.

'Straight and Narrow' is distinguished by its highly fastigiate, columnar growth habit that reaches only 100 to 150 centimetres in width. This cultivar is selected for high resistance to the lilly pilly psyllid, preventing the leaf galls that disfigure older selections.

Uses & Benefits:

Provides a tight, columnar architectural form with glossy green foliage and contrasting red new growth.

Serves as a narrow, space-saving privacy screen or windbreak in tight urban passages.

Provides nesting cover for small birds and nectar for native bees; the berries feed frugivorous birds.

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

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

240 inches

Width

48 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

9, 10

Water

Medium

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

Select a site in full sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil.
Dig a planting hole twice as wide as the root ball and condition heavy clay soils to encourage lateral root growth.
Position the plant at the same depth as it was in the container, backfill, and water in thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base, keeping it clear of the main stem.

Pro Tip

Space plants 80 to 120 centimetres apart for a dense, fast-closing screen, and avoid planting in unconditioned clay post-holes which restrict lateral root expansion.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Tip prune young plants frequently to establish a dense framework.
Apply a low-phosphorus or native-safe slow-release fertiliser in spring.
Water regularly during dry spells to maintain consistent soil moisture.

Don't

Do not prune aggressively back into old, leafless wood as recovery is slow.
Do not allow the soil to become waterlogged or suffer from prolonged standing water.
Do not plant specimens too far apart if a continuous, dense hedge is desired.

Seasonal Care Calendar

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

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Narrow privacy screensHedgesArchitectural framingUrban courtyard plantingNative gardens

Companion Plants

Acmena smithii 'Sublime'Westringia fruticosa Lomandra longifolia Dianella caerulea

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry questions

What zones can Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry grow in?

Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry 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 Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry bloom?

Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry 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 Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry need full sun?

Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly, Columnar Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry drought tolerant?

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