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
‘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
‘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

Big Red Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Lilly Pilly

Syzygium australe 'Big Red'

The Story

Plant Bio

Syzygium australe, commonly known as the creek lilly pilly or brush cherry, is an evergreen rainforest tree native to the coastal and subcoastal regions of eastern Australia. It develops a dense canopy of glossy, dark green leaves and produces fluffy white flowers followed by fleshy, edible pinkish-red berries that attract native birds.

'Big Red' is a compact, upright cultivar selected for its large, thick foliage and deep crimson to burgundy new growth flushes. It exhibits higher natural resistance to the disfiguring lilly pilly psyllid than older selections of the genus.

Uses & Benefits:

Provides year-round structure with glossy evergreen foliage and highly decorative, deep crimson new growth flushes.

Serves as an excellent, fast-growing privacy screen or formal hedge with high natural resistance to common lilly pilly psyllids.

Nectar-rich flowers support native bees and beneficial insects, while the fleshy berries and dense canopy provide food and nesting habitat for native birds.

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

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

236 inches

Width

118 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

9, 10

Water

Medium

Humidity

High

Lifespan

Long-lived

Native To

Australia

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Bloom period

Spring – Summer

In flower about 4 months of the year

Planting

How to Grow

Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and to the same depth, ensuring the soil is free-draining.
Position the plant so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil surface.
Backfill with native soil, firm gently, and water in thoroughly to eliminate air pockets.
Apply a five-centimetre layer of organic mulch around the base, keeping it clear of the main stem.

Pro Tip

Avoid shearing deep into the old, leafless interior wood where dormant buds are absent, as recovery is extremely slow; instead, tip-prune the outer foliage three to four times a year to maintain a dense, flush-heavy hedge.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Water deeply and regularly during the first eight weeks to prevent the root ball from drying out.
Tip-prune regularly after each growth flush to stimulate dense branching and fresh crimson foliage.
Apply a balanced slow-release native or general-purpose fertiliser in early spring.

Don't

Do not allow the soil to become waterlogged, as chronic wetness induces root rot.
Do not prune hard back into bare, woody stems that lack visible green shoots or active buds.
Do not use heavy overhead watering in humid conditions, which increases susceptibility to myrtle rust.

Seasonal Care Calendar

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

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Formal hedgesPrivacy screensWindbreaksTopiaryLarge container specimens

Companion Plants

Westringia fruticosa Lomandra longifolia Dianella caerulea Grevillea species

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Big Red Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Lilly Pilly questions

What zones can Big Red Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Lilly Pilly grow in?

Big Red Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, 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 Big Red Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Lilly Pilly bloom?

Big Red Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, 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 Big Red Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Lilly Pilly need full sun?

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

Is Big Red Lilly Pilly, Brush Cherry, Creek Lilly Pilly, Lilly Pilly drought tolerant?

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