Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly - Evergreen Trees Direct

Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly

Name: Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly
Brand: Evergreen Trees Direct
SKU: ACMSMIFIR100L
Price: 620.00 AUD
Availability: InStock

$620.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

977 in stock

Size: 100L

100L 40cm/45L

Current Stock Height Guides

40cm/45L: 1.3m – 1.7m Approx.
100L: 1.2m – 2.8m Approx.

Trade Customers

We supply advanced trees to landscapers, developers, architects, and councils Australia-wide. Trade clients receive fast quotes, expert advice, and access to premium stock with reliable freight.

About Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly

Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' – Firescreen Lilly Pilly is a dense, evergreen screening plant with vibrant red new growth that matures to glossy green. Its upright, narrow habit and compact structure (4–5m H × 2–3m W) make it highly effective in boundary planting, privacy screens, and structured hedging applications.

They look excellent in formal landscape designs, along fence lines, or as evergreen backdrops where both colour and coverage are essential. Subtle white summer flowers are followed by red berries, adding seasonal variation and supporting native wildlife.

Psyllid-resistant and drought-tolerant once established, this cultivar thrives in a wide range of soil types and requires only occasional pruning to maintain shape. An ideal solution for low-maintenance, high-impact screening.

Key Information to Know

Evergreen / Deciduous

Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4 m – 5 m

Mature Width: 2 m – 3 m

Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly is expected to grow 50 – 90 cm per year(fast-growing once established).

Frost Tolerance

Is Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly frost tolerant?

Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Flowering Information

Acmena smithii ‘Firescreen’ produces clusters of small white, fluffy flowers from late spring into summer. While subtle, these soft blooms sit along the fresh foliage and provide a gentle seasonal highlight before developing into colourful berries.

Native Information

Is Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly an Australian Native? Yes

Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly is Native to Native to eastern Australia, where Acmena smithii (now often reclassified as Syzygium smithii) grows naturally in rainforests. ‘Firescreen’ is a selected cultivar bred for compact growth and vivid new foliage colour.

Wildlife Value

Its dense, evergreen foliage provides excellent shelter and nesting space for small birds, while its flowers support native bees and beneficial insects. The berries that follow are also a valuable food source for fruit-eating birds, helping to strengthen local biodiversity.

Sunlight Information

Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preffered Soil

Acmena smithii ‘Firescreen’ performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. It may struggle in heavy clay or poorly drained areas unless improved with organic matter to boost aeration and drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then reduce watering as the tree matures and develops reliable drought resilience.

Botanical Information

Common Name: Firescreen Lilly Pilly

Genus: Acmena

Botanical Species: smithii

Family: Myrtaceae

Botanical Name: Acmena smithii ‘Firescreen’

Landscape Uses

Screening or Privacy
Revegetation or Regeneration
Rural Property Planting
Council or Civic Landscapes

Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly works in an:

Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Planting, Spacing & Care

How to Plant Acmena smithii 'Firescreen'

Location: Pick a site that gets ample sunlight, although it’s tolerant to partial shade.
Soil Prep: Mix compost into the soil for enhanced fertility.
Hole Size: Excavate a hole about double the volume of the tree's root ball.
Tree Positioning: Place the 'Firescreen' Lilly Pilly in the hole, backfill with soil, and tamp down firmly.
Watering: Give it a generous water right after planting to encourage root settling.

Hedging & Screening: Plant 1.5 m – 2 m apart for dense privacy hedging or windbreaks

Feature Plant: Plant 2.5 m – 3 m apart to showcase its upright habit and coloured foliage

Avenue Planting: Not typically used for avenues, but if formal spacing is desired, allow 2.5 m – 3 m

Caring for Acmena smithii 'Firescreen'

Watering: Consistently water during initial growth; reduce frequency as it matures.
Pruning: Trim to encourage a denser habit or desired shape, especially if hedging.
Mulching: Mulch the base to retain moisture and keep root temperatures consistent.
Pest Inspection: Though psyllid-resistant, regularly check for other pests and treat when necessary.

Optimizing Soil for Dense Growth and Privacy Screening

Ideal Drainage: Prefers well-drained soil.

Well-Draining Soil: This soil type is ideal, requiring little adjustment.

If you have the following soil, here are some tips for you:

Sandy Soil: Very good for drainage. Enhance its water and nutrient holding capacities with organic compost to support dense growth.
Clay Soil: To optimize, amend with coarse sand and organic matter to improve drainage and provide a more suitable environment for root development.
Loamy Soil: Excellent naturally; enrich periodically with compost to maintain its structure and fertility.
Peaty Soil: Ensure it is well-drained by mixing in sand or perlite to avoid root issues.

Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly is expected to grow 50 – 90 cm per year(fast-growing once established).

Fast Growth Rate

Root Ball Dimensions (Width × Depth) For Planting

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

Ideal Conditions

Tropical QLD (Cairns, Townsville)
Subtropical QLD (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast)
Northern NSW (Byron, Coffs, Armidale)
Sydney & Central Coast
South Coast NSW (Illawarra to Bega)
Inland NSW / Tablelands (Orange, Bathurst, Canberra)
Melbourne & Surrounds (Metro, Bayside, Geelong, Bellarine, Mornington)
Western District & Central VIC (Ballarat, Bendigo, Hamilton)
Gippsland (Latrobe Valley, East Gippsland)
Adelaide Metro & Coastal
Adelaide Hills & Barossa

Thrives in

Full Sun
Part Shade

Frost Tolerance

Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Drought Tolerance

As a young tree it benefits from regular watering, but once established Acmena smithii ‘Firescreen’ develops good drought tolerance. It remains reliable through dry periods and holds its dense screening form with only minimal supplementary watering.

Flowering Information

Does Acmena smithii 'Firescreen' - Lilly Pilly flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Sporadic

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

White

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is this plant good for privacy screening?
A. Yes, its dense, upright form and fast growth make it ideal for hedging, screening, and windbreaks.

Q. How fast does Acmena ‘Firescreen’ grow?
A. It grows rapidly — up to 50 – 90 cm per year under ideal conditions.

Q. What’s special about its foliage?
A. New growth emerges bright red and matures to glossy green, offering year-round colour variation.

Q. Is it psyllid-resistant?
A. Yes, it is highly resistant to psyllid damage, unlike some other Lilly Pilly varieties.

Q. Does it require a lot of pruning?
A. No, just occasional trimming to shape. It maintains a tidy, vertical habit naturally.

Q. What light and soil conditions are best?
A. Full sun to part shade with well-drained soil. It tolerates a range of soil types.

Q. Does it attract wildlife?
A. Yes, it produces berries in summer that attract birds and beneficial insects.

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