Acmena smithii Minor

Dwarf Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii var. minor, still sold as Acmena smithii 'Minor') is the compact form of the classic Australian screening plant. Left alone it reaches about 3.5m tall and 2m wide, and holds at 1.5m as a clipped hedge with two trims a year. Glossy foliage, bronze new growth and edible berries make it a hedge that earns its place.

Why you'll love it

• The right size for a suburban fence line. At 3.5m by 2m it screens a standard fence without the bulk of a full sized lilly pilly.
• It takes clipping well. Dense branching and reliable reshooting mean it responds to shaping, so it works as a formal hedge, a ball or a standard.
• Comfortable in difficult ground. Humidity tolerant, salt tolerant and able to handle wet feet, which suits coastal blocks and beds that drain slowly.
• Native, bird friendly and edible. Cream flowers give way to berries the birds work through, and the fruit is edible for people as well.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1m apart in a single row. At that spacing the canopies knit into a solid screen within two to three seasons and the base stays furnished rather than lifting into bare stems.

Formal hedging. The same 1m spacing suits a clipped hedge held between 1.5m and 3m. Two trims a year, after the spring flush and in late summer, keeps the face crisp.

Pots and topiary. A 500mm pot holds a single plant and naturally restricts it to around 2m. It shapes cleanly into balls and cones.

Growing dwarf lilly pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest growth and the best bronze colour on new foliage, though part shade is tolerated with a looser habit. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts and hard frosting southern gardens need a sheltered position or a hardier hedge.

Soil. It is not fussy, and unusually for a hedging plant it tolerates soil that stays damp. Improve poor ground with compost, then mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off as the roots go down. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and late summer keeps growth even along the row.

Pruning. Tip prune from the day you plant, which builds density low down rather than letting the plant run to height. It reshoots from old wood, so a hedge that has been let go can be cut back hard and rebuilt.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in nine sizes, from tube up to 150L. Tube, 140mm and 200mm plants are young, single stemmed and the sensible choice for a long boundary: a season slower to close, but cheaper by the metre. The 250mm to 400mm pots are the middle ground, and 45L to 150L plants arrive branched with real height on day one.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete lilly pilly care guide
• Compare the full lilly pilly range
• Screening plants in the 2m to 4m range
• Browse hedging and screening plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Closer planting does not close the screen faster and makes watering and feeding harder along the row.

Can I keep it at 1.5m?

Yes, and that is one of the main reasons to choose this form. Because it shoots from old wood it stays dense at the base instead of going leggy.

Is it affected by psyllid?

Lilly pillies as a group are susceptible to psyllid, which pimples the soft new growth. This form is less troubled than older varieties, and clipping affected growth off during a trim usually handles it.