Acmena smithii Minor Red Tip form

Common Name:
Lilly Pilly ‘Minor Red Tip’

Description:
Acmena smithii ‘Minor Red Tip’ is a compact, dense-growing evergreen shrub highly regarded for its vibrant flushes of bright red new foliage and its suitability for formal hedging and screening. This improved form of the native lilly pilly features small, glossy green leaves that contrast beautifully with the colourful new growth, creating year-round visual interest. In summer, it produces small, fluffy white flowers followed by decorative pink to purple berries that attract birds. Exceptionally well suited to Melbourne conditions, it tolerates pruning, urban pollution, and a range of soil types provided they are well-drained. ‘Minor Red Tip’ is also known for its strong resistance to psyllids, making it a reliable, low-maintenance choice for tight hedging, topiary, and structured garden designs.

Form:
• Shrub - Medium

Mature Size:
• Height: 2–4 m
• Width: 1.5–2.5 m

Aspect:
• Full Sun
• Part Shade

Flowering:
• Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:
• White

Key Attributes:
• Australian native
• Suitable for Pots
• Disease Resistant
• Bird Attracting
• Bee Attracting
• Perennial
• Suitable for Hedging
• Suitable for Topiary
• Suitable for Espalier
• Psyllid resistant
• Dense growth habit ideal for screening
• Responds well to regular pruning
• Evergreen

Toxicity:
Generally considered non-toxic to humans and animals, though berries are not commonly consumed.

Companion Plants:
• Westringia
• Lomandra
• Dianella
• Syzygium australe varieties
• Murraya paniculata
• Buxus
• Lavender