Lilly Pilly Cherry Surprise - Acmena smithii 'Cherry Surprise'

Acmena smithii 'Cherry Surprise' stands out in the crowded Lilly Pilly market for two very good reasons: its exceptional foliage display and its high resistance to psyllid, the sap-sucking insect that causes the unsightly pimpling that plagues many other Lilly Pilly varieties. With 'Cherry Surprise', you get all the beauty of a Lilly Pilly the vivid new growth, the dense evergreen habit, the cream flowers, and the attractive fruit without the ongoing battle against pests that frustrates so many gardeners.

The new growth is the star of the show. Each flush of growth emerges in a bright, vivid cherry-red that contrasts dramatically against the existing deep green foliage, creating a two-tone display that is eye-catching and distinctive. As the new leaves mature they deepen to a rich glossy green, and the cycle begins again with the next flush. In Spring and Summer, small cream flowers appear and are followed by attractive fruit that draws birds to the garden.

Fast growing and low maintenance, 'Cherry Surprise' reaches 1 to 3m tall and responds beautifully to clipping, making it an excellent choice for formal hedges, screens, topiary, and feature planting across Melbourne gardens of every size.

Key Features:

• Soil: Adaptable to any well-drained soil including clay, loam, and sandy soils. Good drainage is preferred, particularly through Melbourne's wet winters. In heavy clay soils, improve drainage with gypsum or plant in a raised bed.
• Light: Full sun to semi-shade. Best cherry-red new growth colour and most vigorous growth in full sun. Tolerates semi-shade well, making it suitable for east-facing aspects, under-eave positions, and gardens with morning sun and afternoon shade across Melbourne.
• Watering: Water regularly during the first summer of establishment. Once established, 'Cherry Surprise' is highly drought tolerant and requires only occasional deep watering during Melbourne's extended dry periods. Avoid overwatering in Winter when the plant is less active.
• Fertiliser: Use only a low phosphorus slow-release fertiliser formulated for Australian natives. Apply once in Spring. Never use standard garden fertilisers, blood and bone, or anything high in phosphorus, this is harmful to all Myrtaceae and can cause root damage and decline.
• Maintenance: Low. Trim lightly after each flush of new growth to maintain a compact, tidy shape and encourage the next flush of vivid cherry-red new growth. For a formal clipped hedge, trim two to three times per year. For a natural screen, minimal pruning is required. Remove any dead or damaged stems as needed. Mulch well year-round. Monitor for myrtle rust in humid conditions and treat promptly with a registered fungicide if detected.
• Flowering: Flowers in Spring and Summer, producing small clusters of fluffy cream flowers along the stems. The flowers are attractive to birds and insects and are followed by small, colourful fruit that provides additional wildlife value through Autumn and Winter. Flowering is most prolific on plants in full sun with good nutrition.

The secret to maximising the spectacular cherry-red new growth display on 'Cherry Surprise' is regular light trimming. Each time you trim the plant, you trigger a fresh flush of vivid new growth, so a hedge that is clipped three times a year will produce three dramatic colour displays rather than one. Time your trims for late Winter, late Spring, and late Summer for the best results across Melbourne's growing season. Always use sharp, clean secateurs or hedge shears to avoid bruising the stems and reducing the risk of disease entry.

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