Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun with good air movement and room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and a light dressing of aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth, avoiding any low spot where water might pool.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

Mulching: Apply a 5 centimetre layer of organic mulch or pine bark over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk to avoid waterlogging at the base.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release native blend in early spring and again in autumn. Avoid high-phosphorus formulations as a precaution.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection for psyllids or scale in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Acmena smithii performs best in well-drained sandy loam or loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

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.