Three top plants for a native hedge

Story by Judy Horton

Planning a new hedge? Australia has a great range of beautiful and tough native plants that make great hedges. Here are some favourites.

Planning a new hedge? Australia has a great range of beautiful and tough native plants that make great hedges. Whether you’re looking for eye-catching foliage or a native hedge that flowers, there is bound to be something to suit your style. Here are some favourites.

Lillypilly

This popular native (pictured above) comes in a wide range of varieties and sizes. These can range from the low-growing Acmena ‘Tiny Trev’ or A. ‘Allyn Magic’, to the tall A. ‘Minor’ and riberry (Syzygium luehmannii). Medium-sized S. ‘Cascade’ has pretty, pink fluffball flowers and bright, cherry-red new foliage. Lillypilly grows best in warmer climates, and can be clipped regularly through the growing season. Avoid future pest problems by checking labels for varieties that are resistant to the disfiguring pimple psyllid.

Bottlebrush

Callistemon spp. comes in a range of varieties, and will grow just about anywhere, tolerating cold, heat and even the occasional wet feet. ‘Little John’ and ‘Matthew Flinders’ can be kept to less than one metre high with regular clipping. ‘Captain Cook’ is a good choice for a 2–3m tall native hedge. ‘Slim’ works well in narrow spaces, such as along a fence line. Bottlebrush flowers come in many shades of white, cream, red, pink and mauve, and new variations are being released all the time.

Westringia

This is a great choice for a formal clipped hedge. Popular Westringia fruticosa grows happily from inland to coastal gardens. It needs good drainage and prefers full sun, but can handle light shade, too. Some varieties have attractive variegated leaves, and all are great for enticing birds and bees into the garden.