- Mature height
- 4m to 8m
- Mature width
- 2m to 4m
Acmena smithii 'Select' is a cutting grown form of the Australian native lilly pilly, chosen for uniformity. Every plant shares the same upright habit, glossy mid green leaves and bronze new growth, which matters when a hedge has to look even along its whole length. Small white flowers open in spring and summer.
It adds roughly 40 to 80 centimetres a year once settled. Full sun produces the densest growth, though part shade is fine. It wants well drained soil with some organic matter in it, copes with coastal exposure and humidity, tolerates light to moderate frost, and becomes reasonably drought hardy after two seasons in the ground.
Mature size is 3 to 5 metres tall and 2 to 3 metres wide, held lower with two clips a year. Landscapers use it for privacy hedges, green walls around courtyards and mass screening on housing developments. Consistency from plant to plant is the reason it gets specified ahead of seedling raised alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Select Lilly Pilly
What is Select Lilly Pilly?
Select is a cutting grown form of Acmena smithii, the Australian native lilly pilly. It was chosen for even growth, so every plant in a hedge behaves the same way, which seedling raised plants cannot promise. Leaves are glossy mid green with bronze new growth, and small white flowers appear in spring and summer.
How big does Select Lilly Pilly grow?
It reaches 3 to 5 metres tall and 2 to 3 metres wide if left alone. Clipped twice a year it sits comfortably at 2 to 3 metres, the usual height for a boundary hedge. Growth is upright, so the width stays manageable in narrow beds running along a fence line.
Is it evergreen or deciduous?
Evergreen. It carries foliage right through the year, winter included, which is why it is used for privacy rather than a deciduous alternative. Old leaves are shed gradually instead of all at once, so there is no bare period and no seasonal leaf drop to clean up in any quantity.
Where does it grow best in Australia?
It performs best in temperate, subtropical and coastal areas, so Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, coastal New South Wales, Perth and much of Victoria all suit it. It also grows well inland where frosts stay light and water is available. Arid districts and cold tablelands with heavy repeated frost are not for it.
Is it frost tolerant?
Established plants take light to moderate frost without lasting damage, though new growth can burn at the tips and then recover in spring. Young plants need shelter for their first two winters. In frost prone gardens plant in spring, avoid low lying frost hollows, and stop feeding in autumn so growth hardens before winter.
Can it be grown in pots?
Yes, provided the pot is large. Use a container at least 50 centimetres wide and deep with free draining potting mix. Pots restrict size, so expect 1.5 to 2 metres rather than full height. Water often, feed each spring with a controlled release native fertiliser, and refresh the mix every second year.
How do I care for Select Lilly Pilly?
Establishment watering matters most, so give it deep soakings twice weekly through the first summer. Mulch well, keeping it off the trunk. Feed in early spring, then trim after the main flush to encourage branching. Two light trims a year beat one hard cut. Treat any scale in shaded positions with horticultural oil.