Best Hedging Plants
Whether you're looking to add an element of privacy or simply beautify your garden, there are hedge plant options that can turn your home into something truly magnificent. Many Australian native plants have both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits, such as acting as windbreaks and sound barriers.
But with so many plant species to choose from, selecting the right hedge for your garden can be overwhelming. To help, we've curated a list of the best hedges you can buy in Australia, including low-maintenance hedging plants and privacy plants. Along with tips on how to plant and care for your hedge over their life.
Choosing the Right Privacy Plants
Ready to start picking the perfect hedging plant? Let's break down the most important elements:
- Growth rate: Do you want your hedge to grow quickly for privacy reasons, or are you happy to wait for a slower-growing plant (but ultimately giving you taller hedges) that might need less maintenance over time? Some plants, like Murraya and Photinia, are fast-growing, while something like Buxus (Boxwood) grows slower but has denser foliage. Fast-growing plants can give you privacy quickly but need more regular trimming, while slower-growing plants are lower-maintenance but will take longer to establish.
- Appearance: Hedge plants come in various shapes, sizes and colours. Pick one that matches the style of your garden:
- Evergreen plants like Buxus retain their foliage year-round.
- Flowering hedges (e.g. Bottlebrushes) are seasonal and visually appealing.
- Fruit-bearing varieties like the Lilly Pilly can add a pop of colour and attract wildlife.
- Maintenance: If you're looking for a plant that only needs minimal effort, choose varieties like Pittosporum Tenuifolium or Leighton Green, which despite being fast-growing are actually quite low maintenance to keep tidy.
- Climate: Some plants thrive in cooler climates, while others are better suited to warm, humid conditions like Queensland. Choose plants that can handle the climate in your part of the state.
- Purpose: Are you looking for privacy, screening from neighbours or something purely decorative? Some hedging plants are better suited for building dense, impenetrable barriers, while others are ideal for soft borders or focal points in your garden.
How to Plant a Hedge
Planting a hedge doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need you to give it some attention to detail:
- Plan the layout: Before planting, mark out the area where your hedge will go. Dig a trench that’s wide enough to fit the root balls of your chosen plants.
- Soil prep: Make sure the soil you choose is well-draining and fertile. You can support the soil’s quality by mixing in a bit of compost or organic matter.
- Planting: Space your screening plants according to their maturity size, which is usually about half the width of the plant’s expected height. If the plant will grow to be 2 metres tall, for example, then space them 1 metre apart.
- Watering: Water the plants very well after planting it and keep up a regular watering routine, especially during the first few weeks.
- Mulching: Apply mulch around the base of the hedging plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
14 Best Hedging Plants
Buxus (Boxwood)
- Type: Evergreen
- Growth Rate: Slow-growing
- Climate: Suitable for temperate climates with well-drained soil
Buxus is a classic choice for formal gardens and topiary. Although it grows slowly, it forms a dense, compact hedge that can be shaped quite easily. It’s a low-maintenance plant that’s ideal for creating small to medium-sized hedges.
Murraya
- Type: Evergreen, Flowering
- Growth Rate: Fast-growing
- Climate: Thrives in warm and subtropical climates
Regarded for its fragrant white flowers and glossy green leaves, Murraya is a popular choice for hedges that are private and visually attractive. It’s a plant that grows quickly and will give you year-round greenery.
Viburnums
- Type: Evergreen
- Growth Rate: Moderate to fast-growing
- Climate: Adaptable to a range of climates, from temperate to subtropical
Viburnums are versatile hedging plants that have dense foliage and seasonal flowers. They are great for building an impressive tall hedge and can tolerate a range of soil conditions.
Lilly Pilly
- Type: Evergreen, Fruit-bearing
- Growth Rate: Fast-growing
- Climate: Prefers warmer climates but can stand up in cooler regions with some frost protection
Lilly Pilly is a very popular Australian native hedge with thick foliage and colourful berries. It’s fast-growing, making it an excellent choice for privacy screens, and its fruit attracts birds and other wildlife.
Photinia
- Type: Evergreen
- Growth Rate: Fast-growing
- Climate: Best suited to temperate climates
With its striking red foliage, Photinia is both beautiful and practical as a hedging plant. New growth comes in quickly and even with regular pruning it will give you a dense, colourful barrier that’s perfect as a visually interesting hedge.
Bottlebrush
- Type: Flowering, Evergreen
- Growth Rate: Moderate-growing
- Climate: Prefers warmer climates
A highly versatile plant that’s recognisable by its unique red, brush-like flowers. It’s a great choice as a seasonal hedge that also attracts pollinators like bees and birds.
Mock Orange
- Type: Evergreen, Flowering
- Growth Rate: Moderate-growing
- Climate: Thrives in warm and temperate climates
Another favourite for its fragrant white blooms and lush, green foliage, the Mock Orange is perfect for creating a screening hedge that’s both private and delightful to look at.
Leighton Green
- Type: Evergreen
- Growth Rate: Fast-growing
- Climate: Suited for temperate to cool climates
A tall, dense plant used for windbreaks and privacy screens. Its rapid growth rate makes it an excellent choice if you want to establish a hedge fast.
Bay Tree
- Type: Evergreen
- Growth Rate: Slow-growing
- Climate: Prefers warmer climates but can tolerate cooler regions
The Bay Tree is a low-maintenance option with aromatic leaves that are very commonly used in cooking. It’s a slow-growing plant but does provide a fairly dense hedge that can add a pop of visual interest in your garden.
Pittosporum Tenuifolims
- Type: Evergreen
- Growth Rate: Moderate to fast-growing
- Climate: Prefers temperate climates
Also known as Kohuhu, Pittosporum Tenuifolium is a versatile plant that comes in a number of varieties like Silver Sheen and James Stirling. Great for hedging thanks to its dense foliage and is easy to prune to maintain its shape.
Evergreen Magnolia
- Type: Evergreen, Flowering
- Growth Rate: Moderate-growing
- Climate: Prefers warm to temperate climates
With large, glossy leaves and stunning white flowers, it’s perfect if you want a hedge with both privacy and year-round beauty.
Euonymus Tom Thumb
- Type: Evergreen
- Growth Rate: Slow-growing
- Climate: Prefers temperate climates
Euonymus Tom Thumb is a compact, low-maintenance hedge plant that really works in smaller gardens. With striking foliage, it can add texture and interest to any outdoor space.
Where to Buy Hedge Plants
You can buy privacy screen plants and hedging plants from your local nurseries, garden centres, online retailers or just head down to your local Bunnings for a huge selection of popular options. Whether you need something drought tolerant, frost tolerant or anything in between, you’ll have plenty of options nearby to start planting your backyard bliss.
Planting and Care Tips for Hedging Plants
- Prune regularly to maintain the shape and health of the hedge.
- Water consistently during the first year of growth to establish the plant and guarantee deep root growth.
- Mulch around the base of the plants to retain the moisture and stave off any nasty weeds.
- Fertilise during the growing season to encourage healthy growth and foliage.
Elevate Your Outdoor Space with the Perfect Privacy Plant
Hedging plants will not only give you privacy and boost your home’s visual appeal, they will also act as practical solutions against noise and wind. Whether you're looking for fast-growing privacy screens or low-maintenance borders, the wide variety of hedging plants available in Australia means you’ll always be able to find the perfect fit for your garden.
Looking for more gardening tips? Check out our articles: Landscaping Tips and Ideas for Your New Home and 7 Ideas to Get Your Outdoor Area Summer Ready.