Lilly Pilly Tree —
Weeping, Large & Mature
Lilly Pilly Complete Guide

What Is a Lilly Pilly Tree?

Lilly Pilly (also written as Lilli Pilli or Lilly-Pilly) is the common name for a group of Australian native trees and large shrubs belonging primarily to the genera Syzygium, Acmena, and Waterhousea in the family Myrtaceae — the same family as Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, and Bottlebrush. There are over 50 species of lilly pilly native to Australia, found predominantly in the rainforests of eastern Australia from Queensland to Victoria, with some species extending to the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Lilly pilly trees are evergreen — retaining their dense glossy foliage year-round — and are among the most important and widely planted Australian native trees in both residential and commercial landscapes. Their popularity stems from several outstanding qualities: fast growth rate, dense foliage ideal for hedges and privacy screens, spectacular colorful new growth (often bronze, red, or pink), attractive white fluffy flowers, and small edible berries that provide food for native birds. Use our AI Tree Identifier to identify any lilly pilly species from a photo instantly.

🌿 Lilly Pilly trees are among Australia's most versatile native plants — dense, fast-growing evergreens with colorful new growth, white flowers, and bird-attracting berries. Widely used for hedges, screens, shade trees, and ornamental plantings across Australia.

Weeping Lilly Pilly Tree — Waterhousea floribunda

The Weeping Lilly Pilly tree (Waterhousea floribunda, formerly Syzygium floribundum) is the most distinctive and architecturally elegant of all lilly pilly species — a large rainforest tree with gracefully drooping branches that create a weeping form unlike any other common Australian tree. Native to subtropical rainforests of coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales, the weeping lilly pilly tree grows 8-15 meters tall at maturity, making it a large landscape tree suitable for big gardens, parks, and street planting.

The weeping lilly pilly tree is identified by its long, narrow, lance-shaped glossy leaves (8-15cm) that hang on drooping branches, creating a curtain-like effect. In summer, it produces masses of small white fluffy flowers (typical of the Myrtaceae family) that attract bees and insects, followed by small round to oval berries (5-8mm) that turn from green to red or pink as they ripen, providing food for fruit pigeons, figbirds, and other native birds. The new growth on weeping lilly pilly is light bronze-green, flushing in waves throughout the growing season.

As a garden tree, the weeping lilly pilly tree provides dense shade from its large spreading-weeping canopy, effective screening up to 4-8 meters wide, and year-round interest from its elegant weeping form. It is fast-growing, relatively drought-tolerant once established, and generally resistant to the lilly pilly psyllid pest that affects some other species. Weeping lilly pilly trees are available at most major nurseries and the weeping lilly pilly tree at Bunnings is typically stocked in 200mm and 300mm pots.

Large Lilly Pilly Trees — Best Species for Big Impact

Large lilly pilly trees make outstanding specimen trees, tall privacy screens, and shade providers for larger gardens and landscapes. When selecting a large lilly pilly tree, consider both the ultimate mature height and canopy spread, and whether you need the tree to be pruned to a specific size or allowed to reach its full grown lilly pilly tree dimensions.

The largest lilly pilly species in cultivation include Weeping Lilly Pilly (Waterhousea floribunda) at 8-15m, Syzygium luehmannii (Small Leaf Lilly Pilly/Riberry) which reaches 5-20m in native habitat, Acmena smithii (Common Lilly Pilly) which can reach 10-15m unpruned, and Syzygium paniculatum (Magenta Lilly Pilly/Brush Cherry) growing to 15m in its natural form though usually maintained at 3-6m in gardens. These large lilly pilly trees are all available from specialist native plant nurseries, with mature lilly pilly trees for sale from landscape suppliers for immediate impact planting.

Large lilly pilly trees provide exceptional wildlife habitat — the dense canopy provides nesting sites for many bird species, the flowers support native bees and insects, and the berries feed dozens of bird species including pigeons, parrots, figbirds, and bowerbirds. A large lilly pilly tree in full berry is one of the most spectacular and wildlife-rich plantings an Australian garden can have.

Mature Lilly Pilly Trees for Sale — Buying Guide

Mature lilly pilly trees for sale are available in a range of sizes from small tube stock through to large semi-mature specimens. The right size to buy depends on your budget, urgency, and the specific application.

Lilly pilly tree Bunnings typically stocks plants in 140mm, 200mm, and 300mm pots — sizes that are affordable, establish quickly, and grow to useful hedge size within 2-3 years. Bunnings is the most accessible source for popular cultivars like 'Resilience', 'Pinnacle', 'Bush Christmas', and Weeping Lilly Pilly. The lilly pilly tree Bunnings range varies by season and location — largest selection is usually available in spring (September-November) and autumn (March-May).

For larger mature lilly pilly trees for sale, specialist native plant nurseries and landscape suppliers stock semi-mature trees in 45L bags or large containers (1-2m+ height) and field-grown mature specimens for immediate privacy and impact. These larger mature lilly pilly trees for sale cost significantly more than Bunnings pot sizes but provide immediate results — particularly valuable when privacy screening is urgently needed or for prestige landscape projects.

Full grown lilly pilly tree sizes available from specialist suppliers include 1.5m, 2m, and occasionally 3m+ specimens of popular varieties. For a full grown lilly pilly tree of screening height (1.8-2.5m), expect to pay $50-$200+ per tree from specialist nurseries depending on size and species. When buying mature lilly pilly trees, always check root quality — avoid trees with circling or pot-bound roots that will restrict long-term growth.

✂️ Lilly Pilly hedge — one of the most popular uses of lilly pilly trees in Australian gardens. Dense foliage, fast growth, and excellent response to pruning make lilly pilly the top choice for privacy screens and formal hedges. Varieties like "Resilience" and "Pinnacle" are best for hedging.

Lilly Pilly Tree Varieties — Complete Guide

The following profiles cover the 6 most popular lilly pilly tree varieties available in Australia, with identification features, sizes, and growing information for each.

How to Grow Lilly Pilly Trees — Expert Tips

Lilly pilly trees are among the easiest Australian native trees to grow — they tolerate a wide range of conditions, respond well to pruning, and establish quickly. The following growing tips apply to all lilly pilly species and cultivars.

Lilly Pilly Tree Identification — Key Features

Lilly pilly tree identification uses the following features: evergreen glossy leaves with a distinct pointed tip and prominent midrib, new growth that is often brightly colored (red, bronze, or pink), white or cream fluffy flowers with many stamens (typical Myrtaceae flower form) in clusters, small round to oval berries in shades of pink, red, purple, or white, and aromatic crushed leaves with a pleasant spicy scent.

The most reliable identification feature for distinguishing lilly pilly from other trees is the combination of glossy opposite leaves with oil glands (visible as tiny dots when held to light — characteristic of the Myrtaceae family), brightly colored new growth, and small berry-like fruits. The fluffy white flowers with no visible petals but masses of stamens are also characteristic of the family and immediately recognizable once you know the pattern. Upload a photo to our AI Tree Identifier for instant lilly pilly species identification.

🍒 Lilly Pilly berries — small edible fruits in shades of pink, red, purple, and white depending on species. The berries are edible with a tart, slightly spicy flavor and are used in jams, jellies, sauces, and drinks. They are also an important food source for native Australian birds.

Lilly Pilly Fruit — Edible and Wildlife Value

All lilly pilly species produce edible berries, and this is one of their lesser-known but highly valuable qualities. The berries vary considerably between species in size (5-25mm), color (white, pink, red, magenta, purple), and flavor (from mild and sweet to tart and clove-spiced). Syzygium luehmannii (Riberry) produces the most culinarily valued lilly pilly fruit — small pear-shaped red berries with a distinctive tart clove-like flavor used by Australian chefs in jams, sauces, dressings, and desserts. Acmena smithii berries are large (up to 25mm) and mild-flavored. Syzygium australe berries are smaller but pleasant-tasting.

For wildlife, lilly pilly berries are among the most important food sources of suburban and urban Australian gardens. Dozens of native bird species consume lilly pilly fruit including Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Superb Fruit-Dove, Figbird, Rainbow Lorikeet, Lewin's Honeyeater, and many others. Fruit bats (flying foxes) are also important consumers and seed dispersers. Planting a large lilly pilly tree or a lilly pilly hedge in berry provides a spectacular wildlife watching opportunity from late summer through winter when the fruit ripens.

Lilly Pilly Psyllid — Prevention and Treatment

Lilly pilly psyllid (Trioza eugeniae) is the most significant pest issue for lilly pilly trees — a tiny sap-sucking insect that attacks new growth and causes characteristic pitting, dimpling, and distortion of young leaves. While psyllid damage is primarily cosmetic (it rarely kills trees), it can significantly reduce the ornamental value of affected plants, particularly on hedges where the dimpled new growth is highly visible.

The most effective long-term strategy against lilly pilly psyllid is variety selection — choosing cultivars with demonstrated psyllid resistance. Syzygium australe 'Resilience' was specifically bred for psyllid resistance and is the top recommendation for anyone planting a lilly pilly hedge in eastern Australia. 'Bush Christmas' also shows excellent resistance. Acmena smithii varieties are generally most susceptible and are better avoided in areas with known psyllid pressure.

Treatment for existing psyllid infestations includes: spraying new growth with neem oil or horticultural oil (suffocates psyllid nymphs), removing and disposing of heavily affected new growth, encouraging natural predators by planting companion flowers near the hedge, and systemic insecticide treatment for severe infestations that don't respond to organic methods.

Frequently Asked Questions — Lilly Pilly Trees

Identify Your Lilly Pilly Tree Instantly

Not sure which lilly pilly species or variety you have? Upload a photo to our free AI Tree Identifier for instant identification. Related guides: Trees With White Flowers, Fast Growing Trees, Trees With White Bark, Fruit Tree Identifier.

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