Acmena Smithii 'Allyn Magic'
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Lilly Pilly 'Allyn Magic' / Dwarf Lilly Pilly 'Allyn Magic'
Botanical Name: Acmena smithii ‘Allyn Magic’ (syn. Syzygium smithii ‘Allyn Magic’)
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Eastern Australia
Plant Type: Evergreen compact shrub
Overview
A naturally dwarf, mounding lilly pilly with tight, glossy foliage. New growth flushes copper/bronze before maturing rich green, giving year-round colour. Small cream, fluffy flowers in late spring–summer are followed by pink-mauve berries that attract birds. Ideal for low hedges, borders, clipped balls, mass planting and containers.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 0.6-1 m H x 0.8-1.2 m W
- Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Glossy green; copper/bronze new growth; fine, dense habit (psyllid-resistant type)
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Flowers: Small, cream, fluffy (late spring–summer); berries pink-mauve; lightly fragrant
- Seasonal Interest: Bronze new growth flushes; berries after flowering
- Wildlife Value: Flowers for pollinators; berries for birds
- Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established, heat and wind tolerant, light–moderate frost; coastal (second-line); copes with clay loam if well-drained
- Planting Density: Low hedge/edging: 3–4 per metre (25–35 cm centres); Borders/mass: 60–100 cm apart; Containers/clipped balls: 1 per pot (20–40 cm+ diameter)
- Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats & dogs (ingestion of any plant may cause mild tummy upset)
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
- Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or clay loam (avoid waterlogging)
- Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); seldom in winter unless dry
- Maintenance: Trim lightly after flowering or any time to maintain shape; mulch in spring; balanced fertiliser in early spring
- Lifespan: 15–25+ years in good conditions
- Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, including second-line coastal sites
- Soil pH: Neutral (adaptable: Acidic–Alkaline)
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Low privacy edge for paths/patios (not full privacy hedge)
- Formal clipped balls/mini hedges
- Mass plant for tidy, low-maintenance ground-level structure
- Containers at entries and outdoor living spaces
Why You Will Love It
A truly low, tidy lilly pilly with colourful new growth and almost no fuss—perfect for neat borders, pots and formal accents.