Waterhousea floribunda - Weeping Lilly Pilly trees

Appearance

Weeping Lilly Pilly (Waterhousea floribunda) is a graceful Australian native tree with a cascading, weeping habit. It features glossy, dark green leaves and produces clusters of small, white, fluffy flowers in summer, followed by edible pink to red berries.

Use

Ideal for creating large privacy screens, or as a feature tree, the Weeping Lilly Pilly adds elegance to any garden or landscape.  It is relatively quick growing and is useful as an attractive shade tree. 

Preferred Climate

Waterhousea floribunda thrives in warm, temperate to subtropical climates. It can tolerate light frost once established but prefers areas with mild winters and warm summers.  Responds well to regular watering but can tolerate periods of dry. 

Best Position and Soil Type

Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-draining, fertile soil. It adapts well to a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, but performs best in slightly acidic to neutral soils. 

Mature Height and Width

When mature, Weeping Lilly Pilly can reach heights of up to 10 meters and spread about 5 meters  wide, making it a significant and attractive addition to any landscape.

Care

These young tubestock plants require regular, consistent watering to become well-established. Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods, and mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Weeping Lilly Pillies can be subject to psyllids, sap sucking insects that create bumpy leaves.  These can be treated with neem, white oil or a garden insecticide such as Baythroid. 

Image credits:

Photographs by Tatiana Gerus from Brisbane. Some rights reserved.  

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