Magenta lilly pilly

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; protect young plants from hot, drying winds.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist while establishing. Water established trees deeply during prolonged dry spells; container plants need more frequent watering.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal. Avoid waterlogged ground and very alkaline soil.

Height

20-50 ft (6-15 m) unpruned; can be maintained as a much smaller hedge

Spread

10-20 ft (3-6 m)

Flowers

Clusters of fluffy white flowers in late spring and summer, followed by pink to magenta-purple fruit.

Foliage

Evergreen. Opposite, glossy green, oval to lance-shaped leaves; new growth is often bronze or reddish.

Growth

Moderate to fast where warmth and moisture are adequate.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   8 ft (2.5 m)

3. After 2 years

   10 ft (3.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   12 ft (3.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   15 ft (4.7 m)

About 16 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply through the first two growing seasons, allowing excess water to drain away.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the roots, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring at the label rate; avoid heavy feeding.
• Protect young growth from frost and cold, drying wind.
• In cold climates, grow in a large container and overwinter in a bright, frost-free place.

Pruning. Lightly trim hedges after a flush of growth has hardened, avoiding late-season pruning before frost. For a tree, remove crossing or damaged branches and gradually raise the crown; frequent clipping reduces flowers and fruit.

If using the edible fruit, pick it when fully coloured, slightly soft and easily detached; flavour varies from mildly sweet to tart, and the fruit is often better cooked into preserves. Allow roughly 3-5 years from planting for a useful crop, although young seed-grown plants may take longer. Remove the seeds before processing.

Spring

Plant after frost danger has passed, or repot container-grown plants.

Spring

Apply slow-release fertiliser and renew mulch without covering the trunk.

Late spring

Check new shoots for psyllid damage and scale insects.

Summer

Water during dry weather and lightly clip established hedges as needed.

Late summer to autumn

Pick ripe fruit if wanted and clear fallen fruit from paving.

Late autumn

Move container plants under frost-free cover where winters are cold.

Winter

Keep sheltered container plants barely moist, without allowing the root ball to dry out.

• Clip into an evergreen boundary hedge or tall privacy screen.
• Train as a small shade tree over a lawn or seating area, keeping fruit drop away from paving.
• Use as a glossy backdrop to ferns, lomandra and shade-tolerant flowering plants.
• Grow in a large courtyard container where winter shelter is available.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Modern tropical, Formal, Modern courtyard, Wildlife garden and Topiary garden.

Plant it with: Lomandra, Dianella, Bird's nest fern, Clivia, Native violet and Coastal rosemary.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other insects, while birds eat the fruit. Dense foliage provides shelter and nesting cover.

• Lilly pilly psyllids cause puckered or pimpled new leaves. Remove badly affected shoots on small plants, encourage beneficial insects and avoid excessive nitrogen feeding.
• Scale insects can cause sticky honeydew and sooty mould. Control ants, prune heavily infested shoots and use a labelled horticultural oil when conditions are suitable.
• Myrtle rust causes yellow-orange powdery pustules and distorted young growth. Avoid moving infected plants, seek local plant-health advice and follow regional treatment guidance.
• Waterlogged soil can cause root decline and dieback. Improve drainage, reduce watering and do not leave containers standing in water.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. The ripe fruit flesh is edible, but the seeds are normally discarded; safety information for large amounts of leaves or seeds, particularly for livestock, is limited.

Where it spreads. Listed as invasive in Bermuda, where escaped trees spread into woodland. Birds disperse the seeds, so check local guidance before planting near natural vegetation.

• Brush cherry (Syzygium australe)

  Often sold under the same common names. It typically has redder fruit and conspicuous paired swellings on young stems near the leaf nodes; magenta lilly pilly lacks these pronounced swellings.

• Common lilly pilly (Syzygium smithii)

  Usually has more noticeably wavy leaf edges and pale pink to whitish fruit rather than strongly magenta-purple fruit.

• Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora)

  Its ripe fruit is deeply ribbed like a tiny pumpkin, unlike the smooth fruit of magenta lilly pilly.

The epithet paniculatum refers to its branched flower clusters, while magenta lilly pilly describes the colour of its ripe fruit.

Propagation. Sow fresh, cleaned seed promptly, as it loses viability in storage. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer with warmth and humidity; rooting can be variable.

Accepted botanical name

Syzygium paniculatum

Native range

New South Wales and Queensland.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.