Magenta Lilly Pilly

Rainforest colour with edible rewards

Magenta Lilly Pilly brings glossy foliage, fluffy flowers and jewel-coloured fruit to the garden. Its edible fruits can become homemade jam or preserves, giving this attractive native a practical place in the kitchen.

Botanically known as Syzygium paniculatum, it grows naturally in coastal New South Wales rainforests, including sandy soils and stabilised dunes. Remarkably, each fruit usually contains a polyembryonic seed, which can produce multiple seedlings. This colourful harvest interest’s curious growers and cooks alike.

Common names include magenta cherry, magenta brush cherry, brush cherry and Australian brush cherry. NSW Flora also records the Cadigal name Daguba.

Magenta Lilly Pilly flowers, foliage and fruit

Creamy-white flowers create a soft, fluffy display, typically appearing from December to March within its native range. Rounded to oval fruits follow, reaching approximately 15–25 mm across and developing their distinctive magenta colouring.

Glossy green leaves provide year-round structure, while reddish new growth adds another layer of colour. Birds also find the fruit attractive, bringing movement and life into the garden.

Grow it as a feature tree or prune it to develop a denser screen. Give an unpruned specimen generous space: established garden trees can exceed 10 metres tall and 5 metres wide. Consider its size when choosing a permanent position.

Growing your own colourful harvest

Choose full sun or partial shade with enriched, well-drained soil. Water regularly while roots establish, and mulch around the plant while keeping the trunk clear. Established trees tolerate some dry conditions, although young plants need more consistent attention.

Prune to encourage branching and maintain your preferred shape. Watch new growth for psyllid damage, which can cause raised bumps and distorted leaves.

For an edible native garden, consider adding our Riberry or Lemon Aspen Plant. Together, they offer a rewarding way to explore Australian fruits while creating a garden with lasting interest.