Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Syzygium smithii (Poir.) Nied.

Synonyms

Acmena smithii (Poir.) Merr. & L.M. Perry
Eugenia smithii Poir.

Family

Myrtaceae

Common Names

common lilly pilly, common lillypilly, creek lilly pilly, lilly pilly, lillipilli, lilly-pilly, lillypilly, monkey apple, narrow leaved lilly pilly, narrow-leafed lilly pilly, narrow-leaved lilly pilly

Origin

Native to eastern Australia (i.e. eastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria).

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised beyond its native range in southern and western Victoria. Possibly also becoming naturalised in south-eastern South Australia, according to a couple of unconfirmed reports.

Also naturalised in New Zealand.

Notes

Narrow-leaved lilly pilly (Acmena smithii) is regarded as an environmental weed in those parts of Victoria that are beyond its native range. This species grows naturally in rainforests, often along watercourses, from the coast to the ranges in Queensland, New South Wales and eastern Victoria.

Narrow-leaved lilly pilly (Acmena smithii ) is widely cultivated in Australia and numerous cultivars are available (e.g. 'Mallee Hedge', 'Hedgemaster', 'Allyn Magic', 'Minipilly' and 'Hot Flush'). It is naturalising in the some areas of the Yarra Ranges and is listed as an environmental weed in Sherbrooke Forest. This species is seen as a potential threat to one or more vegetation formations in Victoria, however it is not yet a significant weed species.