Our Top Hedging and Screening Plants for Australian Landscapes: Discover These Fresh Hedging Choices!
Are you looking for fresh options for tall hedging plants? Look no further! Plantmark is here to help you transform your next landscape project with our hand-picked selection of popular alternatives to hedging and screening.
Whether you're aiming to create a privacy screen, define boundaries, help with noice reduction or add structure to outdoor spaces, our collection of hedging and screening plants offer an array of versatile choices suited for any project. In this blog, we'll showcase our top tall hedging and screening plants for Australian landscapes.
The Power of Choosing the Right Hedging Plants
Selecting the right hedging and screening plants is vital for achieving a harmonious outdoor environment that fits the aesthetic preferences of your client.
At Plantmark we understand the significance of having options specifically curated for Australian climates and soil conditions. When choosing the right hedge or screen for your project also consider the desired height, maintenance requirements, position as well as well as other characteristics such as drought-resistance, flower colours, fruit and berries and foliage colour.
Explore Our Fresh Hedging Choices
In this blog post, we will unveil our TOP hedging and screening plants that excel in Australian landscapes.
Our Plantmark team of experts has carefully chosen these plants for their durability, aesthetic appeal, and suitability for various landscape designs. From traditional favourites to native choices and modern introductions, our selection offers a wide range of options to cater to your specific needs and preferences.
Unlock the Potential of Your Outdoor Spaces
With the right hedging and screening plants, your landscape can truly reach its full potential. Not only will these plants enhance the visual appeal of your outdoor areas, but they will also provide a sense of privacy, encourage biodiversity, and create a microclimate where plants and animals can thrive. Moreover, these plants offer opportunities for creative design and can be shaped into formal hedges, informal screens, or even sculptural or flowering focal points.
Are you ready to find the right hedging plant for the garden? Read our blog to discover native options, fast-growing wonders, and low-maintenance champions that thrive Australian landscapes. From lush green screens to flowering and edible alternatives, there's plenty to choose from to make your next landscape project stand out from the rest!
LILLY PILLIES (SYZYGIUM, ACMENA & WATERHOUSEA)
Lilly Pillies have become extremely popular choices for native hedges with our landscape customers. Their robust nature, lush, vibrant foliage and ability to withstand drought and harsh climates make them a preferred choice for native and modern landscape designs. Coastal and frost tolerant, it's not hard to see why Lilly Pillies are winning hearts and transforming outdoor spaces across Australia.
Here's our top dense and fast-growing Lilly Pilly varieties (Syzygium and Acmena), perfect for hedging.
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Syzygium australe Resilience is a fast-growing, pest-resistant shrub with glossy green leaves and dense growth, making it an ideal choice for hedges. It boasts stunning orange and red new growth, while its white fluffy flowers give way to edible red berries, attracting birds and adding natural charm to your garden. The berries that can be used for jams and preserves.
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During the summer months, it graces the garden with cream-white flowers, creating a beautiful contrast against its vibrant green leaves. Come autumn, bright pink berries appear, not only adding visual interest but also attracting a variety of bird species. Additionally, Backyard Bliss is known for its psyllid resistance, ensuring its continued health and vitality.
Grows to approximately 2-4 metres high and 1-2 metres wide.
Syzygium australe Baby Boomer is a charming dwarf Lilly Pilly that reaches a compact height of approximately 1.5 metres, making it an excellent choice for smaller spaces. This delightful plant is known for its attractive glossy foliage, with new growth displaying a vibrant reddish-bronze hue that adds a burst of colour to the landscape. As an added bonus, it produces small white flowers that are followed by edible purple berries, attracting both the eye and the birds.
Whether you're looking to create a low hedge or screen, Syzygium Baby Boomer fits the bill perfectly. Its versatility extends to topiary use as well. With its compact size and visual appeal, Baby Boomer is a standout choice for those seeking beauty and functionality in limited garden spaces.
A striking native choice for a vibrant hedge, Syzygium Big Red is known for its glossy, deep red new growth, adding a pop of colour to your landscape. Edible berries attract birds to the garden. Syzygium Big Red is hardy and drought tolerant and it responds well to pruning and shaping, allowing you to craft it into the hedge or topiary of your dreams. Syzygium Big Red is the perfect combination of beauty, utility, and adaptability for your landscape.
Grows to approximately 2 to 4 metres high and wide.
Acmena smithii Cherry Surprise, previously known as Syzygium smithii Cherry Surprise, is a fantastic choice for those seeking a compact and native hedging option that adds a touch of natural beauty to their surroundings.
This plant stands out with its lush cherry-red new growth, which creates a stunning contrast against its rich green foliage. Not only does it offer visual appeal, but it is also hardy and remarkably low-maintenance, thriving in a range of soil types. Acmena Cherry Surprise is perfect for creating stunning hedges that provide both privacy and charm.
Acmena smithii Firescreen, formerly known as Syzygium smithii Firescreen, is a native gem that brings a burst of vibrant colour to the landscape. Its striking crimson new growth that gradually transitions to a rich bronze hue is a visual delight.
WEEPING LILLY PILLY
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BOTTLEBRUSHES
Callistemon, or Bottlebrushes, can be used as striking, flowering hedges adding vibrant colour to the landscape. As a native hedging choice, they are great for withstanding heat and have low-water requirements. Coastal, heat and frost tolerant and suitable for a variety of conditions including sandy and clay soil, a Callistemon hedge is a great choice for a tricky spot. With the added bonus of the bottlebrush flowers attracting native birds and wildlife to the garden too!
Below are two of our popular choices for hedging and screening.
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One of its most enchanting features is the profusion of classic, large Bottlebrush flowers that adorn it for most of the year. Not only does this make it a stunning focal point, but it also serves as a magnet for native wildlife, adding a touch of biodiversity to your garden.
Whether you intend to use it as a hedge, windbreak, screen, or simply as a captivating feature in a tight space, Callistemon viminalis Slim fits the bill perfectly. It's drought and frost tolerant, remarkably hardy, and requires minimal maintenance, making it an excellent choice for both commercial and domestic landscape designs. With its striking appearance and resilience, this Slim variety of Callistemon is sure to be a standout in any garden design.
Callistemon salignus Perth Pink is a versatile and adaptable plant, producing bright pink bottlebrush flowers in spring and autumn. Responds well to pruning and makes an eye-catching, bright, flowering hedge when pruned regularly to keep the shape compact. Grows to approximately 2 to 4 metres high and wide.
PORTUGUESE LAUREL
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The emergence of lighter lime green new growth adds a delightful contrast to its rich green foliage. In the spring, this plant showcases fragrant white flowers, followed by black berries. Prunus lusitanica is renowned for its hardiness, making it a top choice among our landscape customers seeking a resilient and visually appealing hedge option.
FICUS HILLII FLASH
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With its striking, dense, and evergreen leaves, it stands as a reliable choice for hedging and screening purposes. Furthermore, Ficus hillii Flash's rapid growth and adaptability to various environmental conditions make it a standout choice for creating natural privacy barriers or using as a striking standalone feature. Whether you're seeking a functional hedge or a focal point, this plant is sure to impress with its enduring beauty and resilience.
Grows to approximately 4-10 metres high and 2-4 metres wide.
NEW ZEALAND BROADLEAF / KAPUKA
Griselinia littoralis is a popular alternative to Ficus hillii Flash, boasting similar striking features such as glossy, wavy leaves and a dense growth habit. However, what sets it apart is its exceptional frost tolerance. This tough and hardy plant not only withstands frost but also thrives in windy and coastal conditions, making it an excellent choice for hedges in a variety of settings.
Growing to approximately 2 to 4 metres high and 1-2 metres wide, Griselinia littoralis offers a reliable solution for those seeking a resilient and visually appealing hedge option, providing both beauty and durability for your outdoor space.
VIBURNUM
Viburnum is a classic choice for hedging in Australian landscapes. Loved for its lush foliage and adaptability to different climates, these versatile plants are elegant and enduring solutions for hedging, that have withstood the test of time.
Viburnum tinus, a perennial favourite among landscapers, stands as a top choice for a flowering hedge that offers year-round interest.
This versatile plant showcases lush green foliage that remains vibrant even when other plants lose their leaves. In the winter and spring, it bursts into clusters of fragrant white flowers, a delightful sight and a treat for the senses. As the seasons progress, these blooms gracefully change colour to a soft pink hue, eventually maturing into berries during the summer months.
Growing to approximately 2-3 metres, Viburnum tinus is loved for its hardiness and reliability, making it a trusted choice for those seeking an enduring and visually appealing hedge option. Whether you're drawn to its lovely flowers or its evergreen foliage, this plant adds a touch of charm and beauty to your outdoor space throughout the year.
Viburnum odoratissimum Emerald Lustre is a garden gem that delights the senses with its fragrant white flowers in late spring. As the seasons progress, these blooms give way to dark red berries, adding a splash of rich colour to the garden. The plant's glossy green foliage not only provides a striking visual contrast but also infuses a touch of the tropics into outdoor spaces, making it feel like a lush paradise.
Viburnum odoratissimum Dense Fence™ is a compact, evergreen shrub that has been thoughtfully developed to exhibit a denser growth habit and finer leaves compared to the common form of Viburnum. These qualities make Dense Fence™ an exceptional choice for screening purposes, offering a lush and effective natural barrier. This versatile plant can also be used as a hedge, a small feature tree, or even grown in pots, providing flexibility in your landscape projects.
Adding to its appeal is the attractive, subtle reddish hue of its new growth, which adds a touch of visual interest throughout the year. Furthermore, Dense Fence™ is a low-maintenance plant, making it an excellent choice for those seeking beauty without the hassle. With its refined growth habit, striking foliage, and ease of care, Viburnum odoratissimum Dense Fence™ proves to be an outstanding addition to any garden or landscape.
Grows to approximately 2 to 4 metres in height and width.
PHOTINIA
Photinia is a popular and tough hedging choices. Renowned for their stunning red foliage, compact growth, and ability to tolerate diverse environments, these hardy shrubs have gained a reputation as an excellent choice for creating striking hedges that effortlessly blend beauty and functionality. Tough, functional and consistent performers, Photinia is hard to beat.
Photinia fraseri Robusta is an eye-catching landscaping choice that can transform outdoor spaces. With its glossy, bright red foliage and clusters of white flowers in the spring, this plant brings a vibrant pop of colour to gardens.
Photinia Robusta has a dense growth habit that ensures privacy. This makes it an excellent option for those seeking fast-growing hedges that offer both functionality and visual impact. Additionally, its versatility extends to being planted as a small tree, providing you with various landscaping possibilities. Photinia fraseri Robusta typically reaches a height and width of about 3 to 4 metres.
Whether you're looking for a striking fencing alternative, a privacy screen, or an ornamental feature, Photinia fraseri Robusta stands as a top choice. Its striking appearance, rapid growth, and adaptability make it a valuable addition to any garden or landscape design.
Photinia fraseri Red Robin
Photinia fraseri Red Robin is a versatile evergreen shrub that stands out with its glossy and resilient foliage, which begins as a vivid crimson colour upon unfurling and then transitions into a deep, lustrous green as it matures. This beautiful plant also features striking red stems that contribute to its year-round visual appeal. Photinia fraseri Red Robin typically reaches a height and width of about 2.5 to 4 metres.
TOLLEYS UPRIGHT OLIVE
Olea europaea Tolleys Upright is a unique olive tree distinguished by its upright growth habit and minimal fruit production, making it an excellent choice for those wanting a hardy hedge or screen in compact spaces. The silvery-grey leaves of this plant evoke a sense of Mediterranean charm.
What makes Tolleys Upright Olive particularly appealing is its drought tolerance, thriving even in arid conditions and full sun exposure. This resilient hedging choice not only enhances the visual appeal of your outdoor space but also provides a low-maintenance solution for those looking to incorporate a touch of the Mediterranean into their gardens. With its upright growth, striking foliage, and adaptability to challenging conditions, Olea europea Tolleys Upright proves to be a valuable addition to any landscape design.
Olea Tolleys Upright typically reaches a height of 3 to 4 metres with a width or spread of approximately 2 to 3 metres.
BAY TREE
Laurus nobilis, commonly known as Bay Tree or Bay Laurel, is a multifunctional plant that not only serves as an aromatic hedging choice but also doubles up as a versatile cooking ingredient. Its dense green leaves exude a delightful fragrance.
The Bay Tree is a tough and slow-growing hedging plant, making it a great choice for those seeking a long-lasting and visually appealing hedge or topiary. Its adaptability extends to various garden styles, including coastal and formal gardens, where it adds a touch of sophistication and charm. Moreover, it thrives equally well in pots, perfect for confined spaces, on patios or in courtyards.
Laurus nobilis typically grows to a height of about 7 to 15 metres when it's allowed to mature as a tree. However, when grown as a shrub or in a container, it can be maintained at a more modest height, usually ranging from 1.5 to 3 metres.
EVERGREEN SPINDLE
Euonymus japonicus Green Rocket is a garden gem that brings a touch of vibrancy and elegance to the landscape. With its lush, glossy green foliage, this plant creates a visually appealing boundary that enhances the beauty of any garden. What sets Euonymus Green Rocket apart is its columnar, upright form and dense growth habit, making it particularly useful for narrow spaces where space efficiency is essential. It grows to approximately 2-2.5 metres high.
The hardiness and adaptability of Euonymus Green Rocket make it a reliable choice for a variety of garden conditions. It thrives in well-drained soil, ensuring its continued health and vitality.
LEYLAND CYPRESS
Leighton's Green is an exceptional conifer that combines a fast growth rate with a narrow, upright habit, making it an ideal choice for creating dense privacy screens and elegant hedges in narrow spaces.
WOOLLY BUSH
Adenanthos sericeus, often referred to as the native Australian Christmas tree, is a true native gem with dense soft foliage, making it an ideal choice for creating an eye-catching and highly textural soft fence or windbreak. Its lush and vibrant greenery provides not only a striking visual barrier but also a valuable habitat for local wildlife. It grows to approximately 1.5 to 3 metres high and wide.
Thriving in well-drained soil and full sun, Adenanthos sericeus is a beautiful choice for coastal gardens and drought-resistant landscapes, where it adds both charm and resilience to the environment. Moreover, it's not limited to hedging; this versatile plant can also shine as a magnificent stand-alone feature tree in your garden. Whether you're looking for a soft fence, windbreak, or a feature tree, Adenanthos sericeus is a plant that combines aesthetic appeal with ecological value, making it a cherished addition to any garden or landscape design.
Several varieties available at Plantmark, including Adenanthos Silver Sensation with a soft, grey-green foliagePITTOSPORUM
Pittosporum is a popular choice among our landscape customers for its small, oval-shaped green leaves, dense growth, and suitability for pruning and shaping. This versatile plant is a go-to option for low-maintenance screens and hedges, providing an attractive solution for those seeking both privacy and visual appeal in their outdoor spaces. Whether you're looking to create a sleek and functional boundary or add an elegant touch to your garden, Pittosporum's ease of care and adaptability make it a reliable and popular addition to any landscape design.
Here's two of Plantmark's favourite Pittosporum varieties:
Pittosporum tenuifolium Silver Sheen typically reaches a height of around 2 to 4 metres and has a similar spread or width.
Pittosporum tenuifolium Screen Between, known for its particularly dense habit and silvery-grey foliage, is an ideal choice for creating screens or hedges in landscapes.
This variety typically reaches a height of 2 to 2.5 metres with a similar spread, forming a lush and effective privacy barrier. Its low-maintenance nature and minimal trimming requirements make it a top pick among our landscape customers, providing both functionality and beauty to outdoor spaces. If you're seeking an easy-to-care-for screen or hedge, Pittosporum tenuifolium Screen Between offers a reliable and visually appealing solution for your next landscape design.
What do you think of our list of TOP hedging and screening plants? Do you have any questions? We'd love to hear from you so please message us in the comments section below.
If our list has sparked your interest, why not take the next step and visit the nearest Plantmark Wholesale Nursery? You can personally handpick the ideal plants for your upcoming landscaping project. At Plantmark, we're committed to offering the perfect options for your needs!
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