Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly

Name: Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly
Brand: Evergreen Trees Direct
SKU: ACMSMI40cm/45L
Price: 250.00 AUD
Availability: InStock

$250.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 40cm/45L

40cm/45L 30cm/33cm

Current Stock Height Guides

30cm/33cm: 1m – 1.3m Approx.
40cm/45L: 1.6m – 2.2m 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 - Lilly Pilly

Acmena smithii – Lilly Pilly is a dense, evergreen native tree with glossy green leaves and vibrant red new growth that creates striking contrast. It forms a rounded, compact shape and grows to 5–6m tall, making it a versatile option for screening, hedging, or ornamental structure in residential gardens.

They look excellent in formal hedges, natural screens, or clipped into topiary where year-round coverage and colour are desired. Summer brings white fluffy flowers followed by purple berries that attract native birds.

Hardy and adaptable, this variety performs well in most Australian climates and soil types, tolerating coastal conditions, light frost, and extended dry periods once established. A proven choice for structured planting in a wide range of settings.

Key Information to Know

Evergreen / Deciduous

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

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 5 m – 6 m

Mature Width: 2 m – 3 m

Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly is expected to grow 40 – 70 cm/year.

Frost Tolerance

Is Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly frost tolerant?

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

Flowering Information

Acmena smithii produces clusters of small white, fluffy flowers from late spring into summer. These soft blooms sit along the fresh foliage, adding a subtle seasonal highlight before developing into colourful berries.

Native Information

Is Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly an Australian Native? Yes

Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly is Native to Eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria, where it grows naturally in rainforests and along waterways.

Wildlife Value

Its dense foliage provides excellent shelter and nesting habitat 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.

Sunlight Information

Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preffered Soil

Acmena smithii 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 increase aeration and drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then move to deep, occasional watering as it matures and develops reliable drought resilience.

Botanical Information

Common Name: Acmena Lilly Pilly

Genus: Acmena

Botanical Species: smithii

Family: Myrtaceae

Botanical Name: Acmena smithii

Landscape Uses

Screening or Privacy
Shrubs
Rural Property Planting
Council or Civic Landscapes

Acmena smithii - 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.
Wildlife Garden – planting to attract birds, bees, and pollinators.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Planting, Spacing & Care

Planting Lilly Pilly is easy:

Location: Choose a spot with well-drained soil and the desired amount of sunlight.
Dig a Hole: Dig a hole of appropriate depth and twice the width of the root ball.
Position the Plant: Place the Lilly Pilly in the hole at ground level.
Backfill and Water: Fill the hole with soil, tamp it down, and water thoroughly.

Hedging & Screening: Plant 1 m apart for a dense hedge, or slightly wider for a more informal look.

Feature Tree: Plant 1.5 m – 2 m apart to allow the tree to display its natural form.

Avenue Planting Trees: Not typically used for avenue planting.

Caring for the Acmena Smithii Lilly Pilly is simple:

1. Pruning: Minimal pruning is needed, typically in late winter or early spring, to maintain shape and remove dead branches.

2. Pest and Disease Resistance: Lilly Pilly is resistant to psyllids and myrtle rust. Address other pests or diseases promptly if they occur.

3. Watering: While drought-resistant once established, regular watering during dry spells benefits young plants. Water deeply but infrequently.

4. Fertilization: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in late winter or early spring as per recommended dosage.

5. Soil and Mulch: Thrives in well-drained soil but tolerates various types. Add organic matter for improved soil quality. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and control weeds.

6. Monitoring: Regularly inspect for stress signs and clear fallen fruit to prevent hazards.

By following these steps, you'll ensure a healthy and vibrant Acmena Smithii Lilly Pilly in your garden, whether it's used for hedges, topiary, or as an ornamental plant.

Optimizing Soil for Healthy Growth and Resilience

Ideal Drainage: Acmena smithii flourishes in well-drained soil.

Well-Draining Soil: This soil type is excellent, supporting the tree's health and resilience against pests and diseases.

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

Sandy Soil: Good for its natural drainage. To optimize growth, enrich with organic compost to improve moisture and nutrient retention, which supports the lush foliage of Acmena smithii.
Clay Soil: While it retains water and nutrients well, it may be too dense for optimal root health. Amending it with gypsum to break up the clay and adding organic matter like compost will improve its structure and drainage.
Loamy Soil: An ideal choice for Acmena smithii, as it combines good drainage with nutrient retention. Enhance its condition by adding organic mulch to help maintain soil moisture and temperature stability.
Peaty Soil: Rich in organic material, which is great, but ensure that it has adequate drainage. You can improve the conditions by mixing in coarse sand and small gravel to prevent waterlogging, thus promoting healthier root growth.

These soil optimizations cater specifically to Acmena smithii, aiming to ensure that it not only survives but thrives, showcasing its dense foliage and serving effectively as a privacy screen or garden feature.

Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly is expected to grow 40 – 70 cm/year.

Medium Growth Rate
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 requires regular watering, but once established Acmena smithii develops good drought tolerance. It performs reliably during dry periods and maintains its dense evergreen canopy with minimal supplementary watering.

Flowering Information

Does Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Sporadic

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

White

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Acmena smithii good for hedging or screening?
A. Yes — it has a naturally dense growth habit, making it ideal for privacy screens, windbreaks, or garden boundaries.

Q. Can I use it as a feature tree or topiary?
A. Absolutely. It is highly adaptable and can be shaped into topiary or grown naturally as a feature tree. It responds very well to pruning.

Q. How quickly does it grow?
A. It grows at a moderate to fast rate, typically 40 – 70 cm per year with the right conditions.

Q. Is it drought hardy?
A. Yes — once established, Acmena smithii is drought-resistant and handles dry conditions well.

Q. Can it grow in coastal or cold environments?
A. Yes — it is tolerant of a range of environmental conditions, including seaside exposure and cold climates.

Q. What light conditions are best?
A. It thrives in full sun to part shade, making it very flexible for different garden positions.

Q. What kind of maintenance does it need?
A. Very low maintenance. Prune once a year for formal hedges or every 2–3 years to maintain a natural shape.

Q. How much water does it need?
A. Water as needed for 8–13 weeks until established. After that, it performs well in well-drained soils with minimal watering.

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