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Acmena smithii 'Minor'

About Your New Acmena smithii 'Minor'

Acmena smithii 'Minor', also listed as Syzygium smithii 'Minor', is a compact evergreen shrub with small glossy leaves and dense branching to ground level. New growth opens bronze red and matures to deep green. Small white flowers appear sporadically through the warmer months, followed by white to pale mauve berries.

It suits full sun or part shade and accepts most soils, from sandy loam to improved clay, as long as drainage is adequate. Growth is 40 to 70 centimetres a year, moderate to fast. It handles light to moderate frost once established, becomes drought tolerant with age and resists psyllid attack.

The small leaf and modest size make it a good low hedge, at 80 centimetres apart for a clipped face or 1 to 1.5 metres for a looser screen. It works in narrow beds, along fence lines and in large pots. Councils use it where a native screen must stay under 4 metres.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Minor Lilly Pilly

What is Acmena smithii 'Minor'?

Minor is a compact form of the Australian native lilly pilly, also listed as Syzygium smithii Minor. It has small glossy leaves, dense branching to ground level and bronze red new growth that matures to deep green. Small white flowers appear sporadically in the warmer months, followed by white to pale mauve berries.

How big does Acmena smithii 'Minor' grow?

Left unclipped it reaches 3 to 4 metres in height and 2 to 2.5 metres across. Trimmed, it is easily maintained as a hedge between 1 and 2.5 metres. The small leaf size means it takes a clipped face neatly, which larger leaved lilly pillies struggle to do without looking chopped.

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Plant 80 centimetres apart for a tight formal hedge, or 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen. In an avenue or as spaced specimens, allow 3 metres. Closer spacing closes the gaps within a season or two, but the row needs consistent watering and feeding to keep every plant even.

Is Acmena smithii 'Minor' frost tolerant?

It handles light to moderate frost once established, which covers most temperate districts. Young plants are more vulnerable, so protect them through the first winter in frost prone areas and avoid planting into open hollows where cold air settles. Frost burnt tips can be trimmed off in spring and regrow quickly.

Can it be grown in pots?

Yes, it is one of the more reliable native shrubs for large containers and works either as a clipped ball or as a screening plant on a balcony or terrace. Use a pot at least 500 millimetres wide with a premium potting mix, water regularly and feed each spring. Refresh the mix every few years.

Does it attract birds?

Yes. The white flowers bring in native bees and other insects, and the berries that follow are taken by small birds. The dense low branching also provides shelter and nesting cover, which is why it is specified in council and rural biodiversity plantings as well as in straight screening work.

How do I prune and care for Acmena smithii 'Minor'?

Trim lightly two or three times a year through the warmer months to keep the face dense and to encourage coloured new growth. Feed in spring with a low phosphorus native fertiliser. Water regularly through the first summer and mulch well. Avoid cutting hard into old bare wood, which is slow to reshoot.

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Uses in my Garden

  • Screening or Privacy
  • Shrubs
  • Rural Property Planting
  • Council or Civic Landscapes

Acmena smithii 'Minor' works in an:

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

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