When to Plant Lilly Pilly in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Lilly Pilly guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to May, Sep to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
Lilly pillies are Australian rainforest trees and hedges with tart pink to purple berries. All the fruit is edible, but some taste better. Brush cherry (Syzygium australe) is the one recommended for eating.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Brush cherry fruits March to May and October or February and March (another Daleys listing). Plant in autumn or spring with mulch kept off the trunk (Yates). Psyllids are common, so choose resistant types (Yates).
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How to Grow Lilly Pilly in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, free draining soil with plenty of organic matter (Yates, Love The Garden).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade, protected from strong winds (Yates).
- Keep away from
- Bushland edges (S. smithii is a weed in Victoria), Waterlogged soil
Subtropical Growing Tips for Lilly Pilly
Recommended Varieties
- Brush cherry (S. australe)
- Riberry (S. luehmannii)
- Creek lilly pilly (S. smithii, frost hardy but weedy in Victoria)
Key Challenges
- Psyllids
- Myrtle rust
Pro Tips
- Resistant types
- Remove growth with rust
Pests and problems for Lilly Pilly in Subtropical
Harvesting Lilly Pilly
When ready: Fruit is ripe when it colours pink to dark red and drops. The berries are tart (Yates).
How to harvest: Pick ripe berries by hand or collect fallen fruit.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Lilly Pilly
When do you plant lilly pilly in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to May, Oct to Nov
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May, Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Sep to Oct
When should I plant Lilly Pilly in Brisbane?
Brush cherry fruits March to May and October or February and March (another Daleys listing). Plant in autumn or spring with mulch kept off the trunk (Yates). Psyllids are common, so choose resistant types (Yates).
How do I know when Lilly Pilly are ready to harvest?
Fruit is ripe when it colours pink to dark red and drops. The berries are tart (Yates).
What are the best Lilly Pilly varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Brush cherry (S. australe), Riberry (S. luehmannii), Creek lilly pilly (S. smithii, frost hardy but weedy in Victoria).
Are lilly pilly salt tolerant?
No. Lilly pilly are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.