Browse plants / Myrtaceae
'Bush Christmas' lilly pilly Syzygium australe 'Bush Christmas'
A cultivar of Syzygium australe
When it flowers
- January, flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, not flowering
- April, not flowering
- May, not flowering
- June, not flowering
- July, not flowering
- August, not flowering
- September, not flowering
- October, not flowering
- November, flowering
- December, flowering
Compact, psyllid-resistant lilly pilly with red new growth, ideal for low hedges and pots.
A compact selection of brush cherry that stays far smaller than the species. Its new growth is red to bronze and it has good resistance to pimple psyllid. Popular for low to medium hedges, topiary and large pots.
In the garden
- Flowers
- Fluffy white flowers, often lost to clipping.
- Leaves
- Small, glossy leaves; red to bronze new growth.
- Attracts
- Pollinating insects and shelter for small wildlife
Growing conditions
- Climate
- Subtropical and temperate
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Sandy, loam and clay
- Drainage
- Needs good drainage
- Frost
- Light frost
- Water
- Some dry spells
- Coast
- Sheltered coastal gardens
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Cuttings
Planting
Sun or part shade in well-drained soil. Space 60 to 80 cm apart for a hedge.
Pruning
Clip two or three times a year to keep it dense.
Care
Water in dry spells and feed in spring. Myrtle rust can attack new growth; remove badly affected shoots. Feed potted plants twice a year.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Myrtaceae
- Order
- Myrtales
- Native to
- Garden origin
Where to buy
Widely available.
We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.
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Further reading
- Syzygium australe 'Bush Christmas' on the Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas of Living Australia)
Native nurseries near you
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