River Lilly Pilly Plant Care

River Lilly Pilly (Litsea reticulata) belongs to the Lauraceae family within the Litsea genus. River Lilly Pilly is also known as Blueberry Ash.

River Lilly Pilly displays an upright, dense shrub growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 4 ft. River Lilly Pilly produces small, greenish-yellow flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted River Lilly Pilly every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

River Lilly Pilly thrives in partial to full sun.

Litsea reticulata tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. River Lilly Pilly prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter like compost. Good drainage is essential for River Lilly Pilly to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed River Lilly Pilly every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with partial to full sun and well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter like compost. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

River Lilly Pilly is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

River Lilly Pilly can spread to about 4 ft (1.2 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 4 ft (1.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune River Lilly Pilly while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

River Lilly Pilly is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

River Lilly Pilly can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to chinese privet plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

River Lilly Pilly is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

River Lilly Pilly grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. In cooler regions, grow River Lilly Pilly as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.