1 Acmena

The genus Acmena is one of several that is commonly referred to as lilly pillies, a group of plants that has become very widely used for hedging, both in Australia and overseas. Various botanic names have been used for the different lilly pillies, namely Eugenia, Acmena and Syzygium  and unfortunately the professional botanists who name these plants are currently unable to agree on what the correct name should be. For instance, my favourite hedging plant Acmena smithii  has been renamed Syzygium smithii by some botanical authorities while those at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney are sticking with the name Acmena smithii. I am sticking with Acmena smithii because most nurseries still sell the plant as that and also you can easily distinguish it by the fact that the fruits have a cup shaped indentation on the side opposite the stalk, and the flowers are relatively inconspicuous compared to the long ‘fluffy’ stamens of the lilly pillies known as Syzygium (examples below).

Here are some of my favourite Acmenas for hedging:

Acmena smithii ‘Allyn Magic’€™

Because of its naturally compact habit and all-round adaptability.

Acmena smithii ‘Cherry Surprise’

The beautiful burgundy new growth of this outstanding cultivar of Acmena smithii is its outstanding feature. It also has a nice compact growth habit as well which makes it ideal for slightly taller hedges than ‘Allyn Magic’.

 

2 Westringia

Westringia fruticosa ‘Smokie’

Because of its tough nature and subtle variegated foliage.

3 Syzygium australe (Scrub Cherry)

Because of its colourful new foliage and attractive flowers and fruits.

4 Syzygium paniculatum  (Magenta Cherry)

Because of its colourful new foliage and bird-attracting edible fruits.

5 Leptospermum ‘€˜Little Lemon Scents’

Because of its wonderful lemon-scented fine foliage and compact growth habit.

6 Leionema ‘Green Screen’

Because of its compact habit, masses of white flowers and ability to look fantastic and flower in sun or shade

7 Westringia fruticosa ‘Seafoam Swell’

Because of its profuse flowering, silvery grey foliage and compact habit.

8 Callistemon ‘€˜All Aglow’€™

Because of its bright new growth, purple-pink flowers and adaptability to heavy clay soils.

9 Callistemon ‘Great Balls of Fire’€™

Because of its bright reddish-pink new growth and very compact habit.

10 Melaleuca linariifolia ‘€˜Claret Tops’€™

Because of its fine grey foliage with bright new growth and very compact habit.