Fast growing and low maintenance lilly pilly, Acmena Smithii Minor is a popular choice for compact screening and hedging. This native evergreen features lush green foliage with bronze-red toned new tips, providing a lovely contract in your garden. Delicate creamy spring flowers are ideal for bird attracting.
Product Specifications
- Common Name: Acmena Smithii Minor
- Mature Height: 3-4 meters
- Mature Width: 2-3 meters
- Spacing: Plant 1 meter apart for screening hedge
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Foliage: Compact, upright
- Flowers: Creamy coloured flowers during spring, followed by red toned berries
- Native: Yes
- Bird attracting: Yes
- Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen
- Maintenance: Low – medium, light pruning to encourage a neat hedge
- Soil Type: Loam, Sandy, prefers well-drained soil
- Water Requirements: Low – mediuim
Commonly Asked Questions
How far apart should I plant Acmena Smithii Minor for a screening hedge?
How fast do Acmena Smithii Minor grow?
Acmena smithii ‘Minor’, a variety of Lilly Pilly, is known for its moderate growth rate. In optimal conditions (good soil, proper watering, sunlight, and care), they tend to grow at a moderate pace. On average, these plants can grow anywhere from 30 to 60 centimeters per year when they are establishing themselves. Growth rates can be influenced by factors such as soil quality, climate, water availability, and local conditions. After their initial establishment phase, their growth rate might slow down slightly, but they will continue to develop and mature. Regular watering, occasional fertilization, and proper pruning can help optimize growth and ensure a healthy, dense hedge.
Should I prune my plants?
Light trimming or shaping can be performed after the plant’s flowering period in late spring or early summer. This timing allows you to tidy up the plant and encourage bushier growth. If you need to rejuvenate the plant or significantly reshape it, it’s best to do this in late winter or early spring before the growing season begins. However, avoid heavy pruning into old wood as it might reduce flowering potential.
Always use sharp, clean pruning tools to make precise cuts and avoid injuring the plant. Regular maintenance pruning will help keep your Acmena smithii ‘Minor’ healthy, bushy, and in the desired shape for your hedge or screening purposes.