Acmena Smithii 'Firescreen'

Lilly Pilly Firescreen

Botanical Name: Acmena smithii ‘Firescreen’ (syn. Syzygium smithii ‘Firescreen’)
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Eastern Australia (cultivar selection)
Plant Type: Evergreen large shrub (hedge/screen)

Overview

‘Firescreen’ is a fast, dense lilly pilly bred for hedging and privacy screens. New growth flushes copper–red then matures to glossy green, and the foliage carries to the ground, giving excellent cover. Small cream, fluffy flowers are followed by pink–purple berries that birds enjoy. Psyllid-resistant and easy to clip.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 4-6 m H x 1.5-3 m W (unclipped; easily maintained lower as a hedge)
• Growth Rate: 40-80 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Glossy green; copper/red new growth; dense to ground level
• Flowers: Cream, fluffy flowers late spring–summer; purple/pink berries thereafter (low fruiting compared with many forms); Lightly fragrant
  
• Seasonal Interest: Repeated red-copper flushes on new growth; summer flowers; decorative berries
• Wildlife Value: Flowers for pollinators; berries for birds
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; heat & wind tolerant; light–moderate frost; second-line coastal;
• Planting Density: Privacy hedge (clipped): 1 plant per metre (quick knit at 60–80 cm if you want faster coverage); Informal screen: 1.5–2 m apart; Specimen/feature: 2–3 m spacing
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats & dogs (as with any plant, ingestion may cause mild tummy upset)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Free-draining loam, sandy loam, or clay loam; avoid boggy sites
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established (in-ground): deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); rarely in winter—only if dry
• Maintenance: Clip after each flush to thicken; responds well to pruning; mulch in spring; slow-release native fertiliser autumn & spring
• Lifespan: 15–25+ years in well-drained sites
• Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA; second-line coastal ok
• Soil pH: Neutral (adaptable; handles slightly acidic–slightly alkaline)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Privacy hedge/screen for boundaries and side fences
• Formal clipped hedge or topiary shapes
• Mass plant for low-maintenance structure
• Evergreen backdrop or fence-line softening

Why You Will Love It

A purpose-bred privacy hedge with fiery new growth, glossy foliage and fast coverage—psyllid-resistant and easy to maintain.