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

Select Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Southern Lilly Pilly

Syzygium australe 'Select'

The Story

Plant Bio

Syzygium australe, native to the rainforests and coastal regions of eastern Australia, is a resilient evergreen species in the Myrtaceae family. The wild form produces glossy green foliage, fluffy white terminal flowers in spring and summer, and fleshy red edible berries that attract native birds.

'Select' is a compact, highly structured cultivar selected for its naturally dense growth habit that retains foliage completely to ground level. This form exhibits high resistance to lilly pilly psyllid and produces distinctive coppery-red to bronze new foliage flushes.

Uses & Benefits:

Provides a dense, year-round green screen with colourful coppery-red new growth flushes and fluffy white flowers.

Serves as an effective windbreak and noise barrier that tolerates light frost, high humidity, and moderate coastal exposure.

Flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and honeyeaters, while the berries feed native birds and the dense foliage provides nesting sites.

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

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

196 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

Dig a planting hole twice the width of the root ball and to the same depth, incorporating well-rotted organic matter into the backfill.
Position the plant in a full sun to partially shaded location, ensuring the soil level matches the surrounding ground to prevent stem rot.
Water deeply immediately after planting and maintain daily watering for the first six to eight weeks to establish the root system.
Apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base, keeping it clear of the main trunk to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Pro Tip

Regular rhythmic tip-pruning immediately after each growth flush is essential to lock in density; neglecting this pruning schedule causes the lower branches to become leggy and sparse.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Water deeply during extended dry spells to maintain consistent growth and prevent leaf drop.
Prune three to four times per year to maintain a tight, formal hedge or screen.
Apply a low-phosphorus native fertiliser sparingly in early spring to support steady growth.

Don't

Do not over-fertilise with high-nitrogen or high-phosphorus products, which forces soft, disease-prone foliage.
Do not plant in deep shade, as this reduces foliage density and dulls the bronze colour of new growth.
Do not allow the soil to remain waterlogged, which leads to root rot.

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

Formal hedging and privacy screensTopiary and structured garden specimensWindbreaks and coastal perimeter plantingWildlife and habitat gardens

Companion Plants

Westringia fruticosa Lomandra longifolia Dianella caerulea

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Select Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Southern Lilly Pilly questions

What zones can Select Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Southern Lilly Pilly grow in?

Select Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Southern Lilly Pilly 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 Select Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Southern Lilly Pilly bloom?

Select Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Southern Lilly Pilly 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 Select Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Southern Lilly Pilly need full sun?

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

Is Select Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Scrub Cherry, Southern Lilly Pilly drought tolerant?

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