Acmena Sublime

Acmena 'Sublime' (Acmena smithii 'Sublime') is a lilly pilly bred for people who want a tall screen without a spraying routine. Left untrimmed it reaches about 5m tall and 2.5m wide, holding dense evergreen foliage from the base up, and the new growth flushes bright lime. It resists psyllid, the insect that pimples the leaves of older lilly pillies.

Why you'll love it

• Psyllid resistance you can see. The soft new growth stays flat and unmarked instead of blistering. Not immune, but no routine spraying schedule.
• Height where you need it. About 5m left alone, or an easy 2m to 3m hedge with two trims a year. The choice stays yours.
• Narrow for its height. At roughly 2.5m wide it screens a two storey window without taking half the garden bed.
• Handles difficult ground. Humidity tolerant, salt tolerant and unusually forgiving of wet feet, so coastal blocks and damp corners both work.
• Native, edible and bird friendly. White flowers give way to edible berries, and the birds get to most of them first.

Where it works best

Screening and hedging. Plant 1m apart in a single row. Closer spacing does not close the gap faster, it only makes watering and access harder.

Coastal boundaries and damp sites. Salt tolerance and wet feet tolerance are a rare pairing. An exposed fence line, or ground that stays soggy after rain, suits it.

Topiary and feature planting. It clips well and reshoots from old wood, so larger plants can be worked into a ball, a cone or a matched pair at an entry.

Growing Acmena 'Sublime' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest screen; part shade works but growth stays looser. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate plant that tolerates light frost only. Hard frosting inland districts and cold southern gardens want a hardier screening plant.

Soil. Not fussy, and more forgiving of heavy ground than most lilly pillies, though it grows fastest in soil improved with compost. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper back as the roots go down. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the colour strong.

Pruning. Tip prune from the day you plant, which builds density low down. After that, trim once the spring flush hardens and again in late summer. It shoots from old wood, so a neglected hedge can be cut back hard.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it from tube stock through 200mm and 300mm pots, on to 400mm, and up to 45L, 75L and 100L. Tube stock is a young single stemmed plant and the value choice for a long boundary, roughly a season slower to close. The 200mm and 300mm sizes are the usual middle ground, and from 45L upwards you are buying a branched plant with real presence.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect visible new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. 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 that reach 4m to 8m
• Browse hedging and screening plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. At that spacing the canopies knit together within two to three seasons and the base stays furnished, so there is no thin strip along the bottom.

How is it different from other lilly pillies?

Psyllid resistance, and the bright lime new growth rather than the bronze flush of other selections. It is also more tolerant of wet ground, which matters on heavy blocks.

Will it grow in a cold climate?

Only where frosts are light. It is rated for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and repeated hard frost will burn the new growth back each winter.