Firescreen Lilly Pilly

Firescreen Lilly Pilly (Acmena smithii 'Firescreen') is the tall, slim privacy plant for boundaries with plenty of height but little width to spare. Left alone it reaches about 4m, and clipped it makes a neat hedge 1m to 2m high and 1m wide, bushy right down to the ground. New growth opens a glowing copper-red, and the foliage resists the psyllid damage that spoils older lilly pillies.

Why you'll love it

• Psyllid resistant. Psyllids are the sap-sucking insects that leave bumps and blisters on lilly pilly leaves. Firescreen is very resistant, so the foliage stays smooth and clean.
• Copper-red new growth. Each flush of new leaves opens deep red and bronze before settling to green, and regular clipping brings on more of that colour.
• Bushy from the ground up. Dense foliage reaches the base of the plant, so it screens at fence height as well as at the top, with no bare legs.
• Slim for its height. A narrow profile fits side passages and tight boundaries where a broad lilly pilly would crowd the path.
• Good for wildlife. An Australian native that gives birds shelter, with flowers that feed butterflies and other pollinators.

Where it works best

Privacy screens. Plant 80cm apart in a single row and leave it unclipped to build height toward 4m. At that spacing the plants knit into a solid screen within two to three seasons.

Clipped hedges. Trim to 1m to 2m high and about 1m wide for a formal, tidy boundary. Clip lightly after each growth flush rather than hard once a year.

Topiary and large containers. It clips cleanly into balls, cones and standards, and suits large pots beside entries. Water container plants regularly through summer.

Growing Firescreen Lilly Pilly in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest growth and the best colour. Once established it tolerates frost and drought, so it suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. Strong wind and salt spray scorch the leaves, so on exposed coastal sites plant it behind a windbreak.

Soil. Free draining soil is the main requirement. On heavy clay, plant on a low mound with compost worked through.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, then ease back. Feed with a slow release native fertiliser in autumn and spring to keep new growth coming.

Pruning. Prune as needed to hold the shape and encourage fresh coloured shoots. Trimming the tips after each flush keeps a hedge dense from the base.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Firescreen Lilly Pilly as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tubes are the economical way to plant a long hedge, and this fast growing variety makes up size quickly once settled. Plants travel upright, and in warm weather new growth follows within a few weeks.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Lilly pilly care guide: choosing, planting and pruning
• Browse the full lilly pilly range
• More hedging and screening plants
• Tall and narrow screening plants for tight boundaries

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Eighty centimetres apart in a single row. That is close enough to knit into a continuous line, and far enough apart that the bases stay leafy instead of competing for light.

Is it really psyllid resistant?

Firescreen is bred to resist psyllid, so the bumpy leaf damage common on older lilly pillies is unlikely. Keep it in sun, clip it regularly and feed in autumn and spring so it keeps pushing healthy new growth.

Can I keep it shorter than 4m?

Yes. Clipping to 1m to 2m is the usual way to grow it as a hedge, and it responds well because it is dense all the way down. A large container also holds it smaller.