Lilly Pilly Goodbye Neighbours

Lilly Pilly 'Goodbye Neighbours' (Acmena smithii 'Goodbye Neighbours') is the screen to plant when you need height but have almost no width to give it. It reaches about 5m tall while holding to roughly 2m wide, so a single row a metre off the fence gives a tall green wall without swallowing the side path. As an Acmena it is naturally psyllid resistant, so new growth stays flat and clean instead of pimpling.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by nature. About 5m of height on a 2m footprint, which is what makes it work along a boundary.
• Psyllid resistant without spraying. Acmena foliage does not attract lilly pilly psyllid the way older selections do, so the leaves stay smooth.
• Fast enough to matter. Planted a metre apart it knits into a solid screen in two to three seasons, holding foliage right down to the base.
• Built for exposed sites. Salt tolerant, wind tolerant and comfortable in humidity, so a beachside boundary does not burn it.
• Native, bird friendly and safe around pets. Cream white flowers give way to edible berries, and it is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Boundary screening and privacy. Plant 1m apart in a single row, 1m clear of the fence so you can reach both sides. Tighter spacing does not close the gap faster.

Narrow side passages and small gardens. This is why the plant exists. Where a standard lilly pilly needs 3m of width, this one holds around 2m and still screens a second storey window.

Hedging and windbreaks. Two trims a year keep it crisp between 2m and 4m, and a double staggered row at 1m spacing filters wind rather than stopping it dead.

Growing Lilly Pilly 'Goodbye Neighbours' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest screen, and part shade works with looser growth. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It handles light frost once established, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens want a warm sheltered wall or a frost hardy hedge instead.

Soil. Not fussy about type, but it wants drainage. On heavy clay, plant the row on a raised mound and work compost through the bed first. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the stems.

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

Pruning. Tip prune from the day you plant, which is what builds density at the base. After that, trim after the spring flush and again in late summer.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in a short list of sizes: 140mm in packs of ten, plus 30L and 45L advanced plants. The 140mm packs suit a long boundary, since ten plants cover ten metres of fence and small stock establishes quickly. The 30L and 45L plants arrive already branched with real height on day one. Production runs in batches, so sizes come and go.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a quiet fortnight, then new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Using lilly pilly for screening and privacy
• Lilly pilly care: planting, feeding and pruning
• Compare the full lilly pilly range
• Browse hedging and screening plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

One metre apart in a single row. At that spacing the canopies meet and the screen reads as solid within two to three seasons.

How narrow does it really stay?

Around 2m wide untrimmed, and easily held to 1.2m or 1.5m with two light trims a year. That is roughly half the width of a standard hedging lilly pilly.

Is it safe around dogs and cats?

Yes. It carries no toxicity concerns for cats or dogs, and the small berries that follow flowering are edible for people too.