Syzygium australe Big Red

Common Name:
Big Red Lilly Pilly

Description:
Syzygium australe ‘Big Red’ is a robust, fast-growing Australian native shrub or small tree, renowned for its lush, glossy foliage and spectacular deep crimson new growth. A favourite for hedging and screening, Big Red delivers year-round colour with its foliage alone — the vibrant red tips maturing to rich green, creating a striking contrast in any landscape. In summer, it produces fluffy white flowers, followed by edible, deep pink to red berries that are bird-attracting and can be used in jams or sauces.

Well-suited to Melbourne’s climate, Big Red is tolerant of light frost, drought once established, and performs reliably in full sun to part shade. It thrives in most well-drained soils, including clay, and responds beautifully to regular trimming, making it ideal for formal hedges or informal native screens. Its dense, upright growth habit and pest resistance, including a good level of psyllid resistance, make it a practical and attractive option for low-maintenance garden structure.

Form:
*Tree – Small
*Shrub – Large

Mature Size:
*Height: 4–6 metres
*Width: 2–3 metres

Aspect:
*Full Sun
*Part Shade

Flowering:
*Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:
*White

Key Attributes:
*Australian native
*Suitable for Pots (large)
*Drought Tolerant (once established)
*Frost Tolerant (light)
*Psyllid Resistant
*Bird Attracting
*Edible Fruit
*Low Maintenance
*Evergreen
*Suitable for Hedging
*Suitable for Screening
*Fast Growing
*Seasonal Foliage Colour
*Responds Well to Pruning

Toxicity:
*Non-toxic to humans
*Non-toxic to pets

Companion Plants:
*Callistemon ‘Slim’
*Lomandra ‘Tanika’
*Westringia ‘Grey Box’
*Trachelospermum jasminoides
*Dianella ‘Little Jess’