Red Cliffs Lilly Pilly
Botanical Name: Syzygium Australe 'Red Cliffs'
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Eastern Australia
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Overview
‘Red Cliffs’ is a compact, upright lilly pilly that brings year-round colour to Adelaide gardens. New growth flushes a rich claret/copper-red, maturing to glossy green, with a golden cast in summer on sun-kissed foliage. Fluffy white flowers in the warm months are followed by dark red edible berries if you don’t trim straight after bloom—great for wildlife and seasonal interest.
Key Features
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Mature Size: 2–4 m H × 1–2 m W (easily kept 2–3 m with pruning)
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Growth Rate: 40-60 cm per year under good conditions
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Foliage: Dense, glossy leaves; claret to copper-red new growth, often showing golden tones in summer; naturally tidy, pyramidal habit
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Flowers: Small, fluffy white sprays mainly spring–summer; dark red berries late summer–autumn if unpruned
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Seasonal Interest: Evergreen backbone with repeating colourful flushes; warm-season flowers and berries
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Wildlife Value: Nectar for bees/beneficials; berries and dense cover for small birds
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Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; heat, wind & coastal tolerant; light frost tolerant; avoid waterlogging
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Planting Density: Hedge: 1 plant per metre (0.7 m for ultra-tight screens); Specimen: 1.5–2 m apart
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Pet Friendly: Yes — generally non-toxic; ripe berries are edible (moderation advised)
Where It Works Best
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Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (more sun = stronger colour & tighter growth)
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Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay loam
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Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (more in heatwaves); rarely in winter if dry
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Maintenance: Mulch in spring; tip-prune after each flush (or 3–6×/yr) to keep dense and encourage colour; clip after flowering if you want to limit fruit; feed in early spring with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser
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Lifespan: 20–30+ years
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Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal suburbs
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Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred; tolerates mildly alkaline with good drainage
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Narrow, colour-rich privacy hedges that stay neat without constant hard shearing
- Mass plant for a warm, modern backdrop; contrast with silver/blue groundcovers
- Feature near entries and outdoor living areas; also performs in large pots
Why You Will Love It
Instant curb appeal from those deep red flushes plus a glossy, dense habit that delivers dependable privacy. Built for Adelaide’s conditions, it’s quick to establish, bee-friendly in bloom, and easy to keep perfect with simple tip-pruning.
