Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly - Evergreen Trees Direct

Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly

$150.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 30cm/33m

30cm/33m 40cm/45L 160L

Current Stock Height Guides

40cm/45L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4m to 5m

Mature Width: 2m to 3m

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

Root Ball Dimensions

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)

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About Your New Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly

Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame', now also classified as Syzygium smithii, is a dense, upright evergreen lilly pilly grown for its new growth. Each flush opens bright red to pink before hardening to glossy dark green. Clusters of small white flowers follow in summer, then pale berries that native birds take.

It grows in full sun to part shade in most soils with reasonable drainage, and responds well to feeding and steady water. Growth is moderate to fast and it clips readily from a young age. Naturally psyllid resistant, drought tolerant once established, and suited to subtropical, warm temperate and temperate coastal districts.

Most often used as a hedge or screen, planted 1 to 1.5 metres apart for an informal barrier or 80 centimetres apart for a tight formal hedge. It also stands alone as a feature or lines a driveway at 3 metres. The repeated colour flush makes an ordinary boundary worth looking at.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Forest Flame Lilly Pilly

What is Forest Flame Lilly Pilly?

Acmena smithii Forest Flame, now also classified as Syzygium smithii, is an Australian native evergreen shrub grown for its new growth. Each flush opens bright red to pink before hardening to glossy dark green, and the plant flushes several times through the warmer months. Small white flowers appear in summer, followed by pale berries.

How big does Forest Flame grow?

It reaches 4 to 5 metres in height and 2 to 3 metres across if left untrimmed, with a naturally upright, dense habit. As a clipped hedge it is easily held anywhere between 1.5 and 3 metres. The narrow width relative to height is what makes it useful along fence lines and boundaries.

How far apart should I plant Forest Flame for a hedge?

Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge that fills in faster. For an avenue or a row of individual specimens, allow 3 metres. Closer spacing brings the screen together sooner but calls for more water and feeding early on.

Is Forest Flame psyllid resistant?

Yes. Acmena smithii selections are naturally resistant to the psyllid that causes pimpled, distorted leaves on older Syzygium hedges, and Forest Flame holds clean foliage without spraying. This is the main reason it is chosen over older lilly pilly hedging in coastal and humid districts where psyllid pressure is high.

Does Forest Flame need sun or shade?

Full sun to part shade both work. Full sun gives the densest growth and the strongest red on new flushes. Part shade produces a looser plant with softer colour but still a serviceable screen. Deep shade is not suitable and leads to thin growth with bare lower stems over time.

Is Forest Flame suitable for coastal positions?

Yes, it handles coastal exposure well and is widely used in beachside gardens along the eastern seaboard. It tolerates salt laden wind, though in front line positions with direct salt spray it benefits from shelter behind an outer planting. Sandy coastal soils should be improved with compost before planting.

How do I prune and care for Forest Flame?

Trim two or three times through the growing season, taking the tips lightly rather than cutting hard, since each trim triggers a fresh coloured flush. Feed in spring and again in late summer with a native safe fertiliser low in phosphorus. Water regularly through the first year and mulch to keep the roots cool.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

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

Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - 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.

Is Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly Evergreen or Deciduous?

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

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4m to 5m

Mature Width: 2m to 3m

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

Growth Rate of Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly

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

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate
Fast Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly

Is Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly frost tolerant?

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

Does Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly Flower?

Acmena smithii ‘Forest Flame’ produces clusters of small white, fluffy flowers from late spring into summer. These soft blooms sit lightly along the new growth and provide a subtle seasonal highlight before forming colourful berries.

Does Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Sporadic

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

White

Is Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly an Australian Native Tree?

Yes

Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly is Native to Eastern Australia, from Queensland to Victoria, where Acmena smithii naturally grows in subtropical and temperate rainforests.

What is the Wildlife Value of Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly ?

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 offer an important food source for fruit-eating birds, boosting local biodiversity and ecological resilience.

How much Sunlight does Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly need?

Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Acmena smithii ‘Forest Flame’ performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. It can struggle in heavy clay or poorly drained soil unless improved with organic matter to enhance structure and drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as it matures and develops solid drought resilience.

Is Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly Drought Tolerant?

Is Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly Drought tolerant?

As a young tree it benefits from regular watering, but once established Acmena smithii ‘Forest Flame’ develops good drought tolerance. It performs reliably through dry periods and maintains its dense screening habit with minimal supplementary watering.

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How To Plant Your Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

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

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

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

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly

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.

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

Medium Growth Rate
Fast Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly

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 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

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.

Planting Your Acmena smithii 'Forest Flame' - Lilly Pilly in Different Soil

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What distinguishes 'Forest Flame' from other Lilly Pilly types? Its distinctive reddish-pink new growth, resilience to psyllids, and compact stature sets it apart.
For a dense hedge, how often should I prune? Trimming 2-3 times during the growing seasons is ideal.
Can 'Forest Flame' thrive in pots? Owing to its compact nature, it suits container cultivation beautifully.