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Syzygium australe 'Bush Christmas' (Brush cherry 'Bush Christmas')

Other names: Lilly pilly 'Bush Christmas', Scrub cherry 'Bush Christmas', Creek lilly-pilly 'Bush Christmas', Creek lillipilli 'Bush Christmas', Creek satinash 'Bush Christmas', Watergum 'Bush Christmas', Woolgoola 'Bush Christmas', Creek cherry 'Bush Christmas', Eugenia australis 'Bush Christmas', Myrtus australis 'Bush Christmas', Jambosa australis 'Bush Christmas', Eugenia simmondsiae 'Bush Christmas'

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Variety or Cultivar
'Bush Christmas' is a half-hardy, dense, upright, evergreen shrub with glossy, elliptic, dark green leaves, orange-red to red when young, and red buds opening to clusters of fluffy, white flowers in late spring or early summer. Flowers are followed by edible, fleshy, red fruit.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
3 m 1.5 m 5-10 years
9 ft 4 ft 5-10 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

In frost-free areas, grow in deep, fertile, acid to neutral, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates light shade and light frosts. Drought tolerant once established but better with regular water during prolonged dry periods. Feed with a slow-release fertilizer in spring. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full or bright indirect light. Water moderately & feed monthly in spring & summer; water sparingly in winter.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, City, Wallside and trellises, Mediterranean, Containers/Patio, Low Maintenance, Hedging/Screens, Topiary, Wildlife, Bees (attract & feed bees)

UK hardiness

H3

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11

Sunset zone

16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Upright

Native to

Garden origin

Drought tolerant

Yes

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

If grown as a hedge, prune annually, every 2-3 years if grown as a screen. Tolerates hard pruning.

Propagation methods

Layering, Semi-ripe cuttings, Softwood cuttings

Pests

Susceptible to pimple psyllid.

Diseases

Prune initially when winter planting

Summer trim laterals in first year of planting

Clip hedge to desired shape (optional)

Selective pruning only (only if needed)

Take softwood cuttings

Plant container grown plants in a sunny sheltered spot

Protect from cold drying winds (in cold areas)

Bring tender indoors if container grown (in cold areas)

Apply a fertiliser container grown plants regularly

Take semi-ripe cuttings

Sow seeds in containers with heat (spring)

Plant in moist, lime free, well-drained soil

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (15)

Syzygium

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Syzygium nervosum
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Syzygium nervosum Water banyan
Syzygium 'Cascade'
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Syzygium 'Cascade' Lilly pilly 'Cascade'
Syzygium smithii 'Fire Screen'
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Syzygium smithii 'Fire Screen' Lilly pilly 'Fire Screen'
Syzygium australe 'Pinnacle'
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Syzygium australe 'Pinnacle' Brush cherry 'Pinnacle'
Syzygium paniculatum
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Syzygium paniculatum Brush cherry
Syzygium australe 'Bush Christmas'
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Syzygium australe 'Bush Christmas' Brush cherry 'Bush Christmas'
Syzygium australe 'Aussie Boomer'
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Syzygium australe 'Aussie Boomer' Brush cherry 'Aussie Boomer'
Syzygium australe 'Tiny Trev'
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Syzygium australe 'Tiny Trev' Brush cherry 'Tiny Trev'
Syzygium australe 'Aussie Southern'
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Syzygium australe 'Aussie Southern' Brush cherry 'Aussie Southern'
Syzygium paniculatum 'Lillyput'
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Syzygium paniculatum 'Lillyput' Brush cherry 'Lillyput'
Syzygium smithii 'Minipilly™'
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Syzygium smithii 'Minipilly™' Lilly pilly 'Minipilly™'
Syzygium oleosum
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Syzygium oleosum Blue lilly pilly
Syzygium hemilamprum
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Syzygium hemilamprum Broad-leaved lilly pilly
Syzygium floribundum
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Syzygium floribundum Weeping lilly pilly
Syzygium buxifolium
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Syzygium buxifolium Boxleaf eugenia
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Companion plants (0)

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