Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly

Size: 40cm/45L
Sale price$250.00

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.

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About This Tree

Botanical Profile

Explore the essential characteristics and growth habits of this plant, curated to assist you in making an inspired and confident choice for your landscape.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height

5 m – 6 m

Mature Width:

2 m – 3 m

Expected Growth Pear Year

40 – 70 cm/year

  • Medium Growth Rate
  • Fast Growth Rate
Evergreen/ Deciduous

Evergreen (foliage year round)

Frost Tolerance

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

Sunlight Tolerance
  • Full Sun
  • Part Shade
Form & Shape

Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly is considered:

  • Columnar
  • Upright
  • Dense
  • Narrow
Australian Native?

Yes

Flowering Information

Flower Colour: White

Flower Type:

  • Clustered

Flowering Period

  • Sporadic
Foliage Type / Shape
  • Glossy

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Here Is What Customers Like You Frequently Ask

FAQ

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.

About

Planting Guide

Plant Spacing

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.

How to Plant Acmena smithii - Lilly Pilly

Planting Lilly Pilly is easy:

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

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)

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