Choosing the right hedge for the right landscaping use is not that difficult. You need to look at what is best suited to your climate, soil and height width requirements. Once you have determined these, you can then choose the hedging plant that best suits your needs.
You may also be looking for a flowering hedge, and here again the choice is varied.
For example, Magnolia Starbright, (pictured right) has a few great qualities that will endear it to landscapers and gardeners alike.
- Fast growing.
- Easy to prune to height and width.
- Masses of flowers in spring.
- Hardy and drought tolerant once established.
Many plants are used as screens and informal barriers and some are better than others. As for the best, it will depend on what you are after in a hedge and where you are in Australia.
Hedging plants may be short, such as buxus or box hedges trimmed to size or taller growing plants such as Conifers, Lilly Pillies and others. The best hedging plants will depend a little on your requirements, climate, soil, required height, flowering, evergreen and just plain personal taste.
So what are the qualities of a good hedge ?
- Dense growing
- Suited to the climate
- The maximum growing height is what you are after. We list low growing hedges separately
- As little pruning as possible, unless you are after that ‘formal look’
- Flowering, this is always a bonus
- Great foliage
- Non Invasive
We list some of the very best plants to select for hedging
Lilly Pilly or Acmena smithii.
The Lilly Pilly is an Australian Native plant used widely as a hedging plant. It comes in many forms and will reach anywhere between 2m and 5m depending on cultivar and growing conditions. Generally easy to prune and a good dense hedging plant.
Camellias
We know they are a little slow to get going, however camellias do make a great hedge in a larger garden. Dense foliage, will reach 3m plus, require little pruning unless you want a more formal look and really tough in the right climate. They also flower in winter and spring. If you have room, worth considering.
Pittosporum tenuifolium.
Originally from New Zealand Pittosporum tenuifolium is a fast-growing hedge. Lots of cultivars here with different characteristics. Silver Sheen, James Stirling and Green Pillar are all popular.
Magnolia Grandiflora.
Evergreen Magnolias, Magnolia Grandiflora cultivars, make great screening plants. Look for ‘Magnolia Little Gem’, ‘Magnolia Kay Parris’ and ‘Magnolia Teddy Bear’ for a medium sized flowering scented hedge.
Orange Jessamine – Murraya paniculata
If you are looking for a fragrant flowering hedging plant then Murraya paniculata could be it. It will reach 4m, but can be contained to 1-2m fairly easily. Murraya paniculata does not like frosts. Flowers in spring.
Syzygium Leumanhii (Weeping Lilly Pilly)
Syzygium is another Lilly Pilly that makes a dense fast growing hedge. Its weeping habit tends to make it more suitable for use as an informal hedge, although it can be pruned to shape. Flowers in spring. Sygygium Hinterland Gold in another to consider
Cupressus leylandii ‘Leighton Green’
Cupressus is a well known hedging plant that will grow to 7-8m. Grow as a domed plant, or cut the tops out to make a more formal hedge. If you are after a dense fast growing screen plant 1m apart
Cape Plumbago – Plumbago auriculata
Plumbago is a fast growing flowering hedging plant that will reach 2 – 3m. Flowers appear from spring to autumn. Plumbago auriculata ‘Imperial Blue’ is popular as is the white flowering Plumbago auriculata ‘Alba’
Fast Growing Hedging Plants
If you are looking for a fast growing screen or hedge consider Plumbago Capensis for a lower hedge(2-3m), Lilly Pilly( Acmena smithii, Sygygium Leumanhii or Weeping Lilly Pilly, and Sygygium Hinterland Gold) to 5m depending on cultivar, Pittosporum tenuifolium (will grow at 1m a year) also cultivars such as Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Sheen’ and the popular Cupressus Leightons Green.
Australian Native Hedges
Again the Lilly Pillies are great and Acacia cognata species make great evergreen hedges, especially the low growing cultivars. Others include Hakea salicifolia or ‘Willow leafed Hake’ and Dodonaea viscosa or ‘Hop Bush’.
Where To Buy Hedging Plants
55 McDougal Rd Neerim South Victoria 3831 PH: (03) 56281507
Advanced ornamental trees and garden designs and concept plans. Direct to your property combined with specialist knowledge and outstanding service.
www.blericktreefarm.com.au
Phone: 0411 435 314
Online Retailer of Landscaping Plants, large quantities of small pot sizes up to advanced sizes & plant Sourcing.
SYDNEY | NORTHERN NSW | GOLD COAST | BRISBANE | MELBOURNE | ADELAIDE
www.egardens.com.au
357 Monbulk Road SILVAN VIC 3795
Guaranteed "garden worthy" bulbs, plants and perennials. Visit the website to browse our large range of daffodils or request the latest free catalogue.
www.tesselaar.net.au
Wholesale Suppliers Include
WINTER HILL TREE FARM Ph: 02 4878 9193 Fax: 02 4878 9109
NSW Southern Highlands
Retail & Wholesale. Advanced trees & hedging. Grown in pots for year-round planting. 45 litre - 1000 litre available. Great range. Great Quality. Delivery available.
www.winterhill.com.au
email ask@plantmark.com.au
One of Australia's largest wholesale trade nurseries. Over 30,000 species available, tubestock to advanced trees, an almost unlimited choice of plants.
www.plantmark.com.au
111 Stanhope Road Theresa Park NSW 2570
Offering a variety of sun hardy Australian natives and exotic trees, shrubs, groundcover's and perennials from semi advanced through to super advanced and semi-mature stock.
www.downesnursery.com.au