Lilly Pilly ‘Resilience’ vs ‘Straight and Narrow’: Which is Best for Hedging and Screening?

Lilly Pilly ‘Resilience’ vs ‘Straight and Narrow’: Which is Best for Hedging and Screening?Lilly Pillys are incredibly popular for hedging and screening in Australian gardens, thanks to their dense foliage, rapid growth, and ability to create privacy with a lush, natural look. Two of the most popular varieties for hedging are Syzygium australe ‘Resilience’ and Syzygium australe ‘Straight and Narrow’. While both are excellent choices, there are key differences between the two that can help you decide which is best for your garden.

Lilly Pilly ‘Resilience’ (Syzygium australe)

Resilience is a versatile variety of Lilly Pilly, ideal for hedging and screening in both small and large gardens. Growing between 3m to 5m tall, it’s the perfect height for medium-sized hedges, and its dense, oval-shaped foliage creates an excellent visual barrier. It’s well-known for its pest resistance, which reduces the likelihood of unsightly pests like psyllids. With its moderate to fast growth, ‘Resilience’ fills out quickly, giving you a lush hedge in a relatively short time.

This variety is also easy to maintain, making it a favourite among novice gardeners. Resilience performs well in a variety of conditions, from full sun to partial shade, and thrives in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast climates. It can be pruned to maintain a neat appearance or allowed to grow into a more natural screen.

  • Mature Height

    3m-5m tall

  • Recommended Spacing

    60cm-1m apart (for dense hedging) / 1m-2m apart (for screening)

  • Ideal Growing Conditions

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Growth Rate

    Moderate to fast

Lilly Pilly ‘Straight and Narrow’ (Syzygium australe)

Straight and Narrow is the ultimate choice for creating a tall, narrow hedge in tight spaces. With its upright growth habit, reaching 5m-8m tall but only 1m-1.5m wide, it’s perfect for areas where space is limited but you still want maximum height. This makes it particularly useful for urban gardens, where you need privacy without the hedge taking up too much ground space.

The leaves of Straight and Narrow are similar to those of Resilience, with a glossy, evergreen appearance, but its narrower growth gives it a more formal, upright look. Like Resilience, it grows moderately to quickly in full sun or partial shade and can be pruned to maintain the desired height and shape.

  • Mature Size

    5m-8m tall x 1-1.5m wide

  • Recommended Spacing

    60cm-1m apart (for hedging) / 1m-1.2m apart (for screening)

  • Ideal Growing Conditions

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Growth Rate

    Moderate to fast

Key Differences Between ‘Resilience’ and ‘Straight and Narrow’

Height and Width:

The main difference between these two varieties is in their growth habits. Resilience typically grows 3m-5m tall and has a broader, fuller shape, making it great for medium-height hedges. Straight and Narrow, on the other hand, grows taller at 5m-8m, with a much narrower width of only 1m-1.5m, making it ideal for tight spaces or where you need a tall, slim screen.

You can use this Plant Spacing Calculator, to easily work out how many you need for your garden bed.

Hedging and Screening:

Resilience works well for both dense hedging and screening, depending on the spacing. Its broad shape offers excellent coverage for privacy. Straight and Narrow is best for narrow hedging in confined areas where height is important but space is limited.

Maintenance:

Both plants are easy to maintain with regular pruning, though Straight and Narrow will require a little more attention to keep its narrow, upright shape. Both varieties are relatively pest-resistant and grow well in similar conditions.

Which Should You Choose?

  • If you’re looking for a medium-sized, full hedge that’s easy to maintain and fills out quickly, Lilly Pilly Resilience is a great option.

  • If you need a tall, narrow hedge that won’t take up much space but still provides excellent privacy, Lilly Pilly Straight and Narrow is your go-to.

At Platypus Plants, we offer both of these fantastic Lilly Pilly varieties for hedging and screening, delivered directly to your door. We service areas across Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, and South East Queensland, making it easy to get the plants you need for a stunning and private garden.

Order your Lilly Pilly Resilience or Straight and Narrow plants online today, and let us help you create the perfect green screen for your outdoor space!