Hedging plants play a vital role in garden design, providing structure, privacy and a touch of greenery. For Australian gardens, small hedging plants are a popular choice due to their compact size, low maintenance and versatility. Whether you’re designing borders, edging pathways,or creating privacy screens, small hedging plants from online plants nursery Melbourne can transform your outdoor space into a lush haven.
Best small hedging plants for Australian gardens:
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Boxwood is a classic choice for formal hedges and garden borders. Its dense, evergreen foliage is easy to shape, making it ideal for small, neatly trimmed hedges. Thriving in full sun to partial shade, boxwood requires well-drained soil and occasional pruning to maintain its shape. This low-maintenance plant adds timeless elegance to any garden.
Lilly Pilly (Syzygium spp.)
Lilly Pilly is a native Australian favourite known for its glossy green leaves and vibrant berries. This hardy plant is perfect for small hedges, offering year-round greenery and added interest with its edible fruit. It grows well in sunny or shaded spots and tolerates a variety of soil types.
Westringia (Native Rosemary)
Westringia, or Native Rosemary, is a tough, drought-tolerant shrub that thrives in Australia’s dry conditions. With its fine grey-green foliage and soft, white flowers, it makes an attractive low-maintenance hedge. Regular light pruning keeps its compact shape, and it’s a great choice for coastal gardens due to its salt tolerance.
Murraya paniculata (Orange Jasmine)
Orange Jasmine is loved for its fragrant white flowers and lush green foliage. This fast-growing shrub creates dense, small hedges that bring both privacy and beauty to your garden. Murraya thrives in full sun to partial shade and benefits from occasional pruning to encourage fresh growth. Its delightful citrus-like fragrance adds charm to outdoor spaces.
Correa alba (White Correa)
Correa alba, or White Correa, is a hardy Australian native that grows well in coastal areas and shaded spots. Its compact growth habit and small, silvery-green leaves make it an excellent choice for low hedges. With minimal care requirements, it’s ideal for gardeners looking for a native option that thrives in tough conditions.
Callistemon Little John (Dwarf Bottlebrush)
Dwarf Bottlebrush offers striking red flowers and dense, compact foliage, making it perfect for small hedges. This hardy Australian native thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, requiring minimal water once established. Its vibrant flowers attract birds and pollinators, adding life to your garden while creating a functional and beautiful hedge.
Leptospermum (Tea Tree)
Leptospermum, or Tea Tree, is a versatile shrub known for its delicate foliage and small white or pink flowers. This drought-tolerant plant works beautifully as a low hedge, offering both privacy and ornamental value. It thrives in sunny locations and requires occasional pruning to maintain its neat appearance.
Dwarf Pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’)
Dwarf Pittosporum is a compact variety of the popular Pittosporum shrub. Its rounded growth habit and glossy green leaves make it perfect for small hedges and borders. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates light frosts, making it suitable for Australian gardens. Minimal pruning is required to keep its natural, rounded shape.
Grevillea ‘Sea Spray’
Grevillea ‘Sea Spray’ is a low-growing native plant that offers soft, needle-like foliage and delicate cream or pink flowers. It’s perfect for low hedges or borders, thriving in well-drained soil and full sun. This drought-tolerant plant attracts birds and insects, making it a great choice for wildlife-friendly gardens.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Lavender is a classic choice for low hedges, offering fragrant purple flowers and silvery-green foliage. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, making it perfect for Australia’s dry climate. Lavender requires occasional pruning after flowering to maintain its compact shape and encourage fresh growth, adding a touch of Mediterranean charm to your garden.
Dwarf Camellia (Camellia sasanqua)
Dwarf Camellias are prized for their glossy leaves and showy flowers, which bloom in a variety of colours. These shrubs are perfect for shaded or semi-shaded spots, adding elegance and colour to hedges. Regular pruning helps maintain their compact form, and they thrive in slightly acidic, well-drained soil.
Lomandra (Mat Rush)
Lomandra is a hardy native grass that works well as a low-maintenance border or hedge. Its fine, strappy foliage adds texture to gardens, and it thrives in both full sun and partial shade. Lomandra tolerates drought and frost, making it an excellent choice for Australian gardens that need resilience and beauty in tough conditions.
Hebes (Hebe spp.)
Hebes are compact, evergreen shrubs with vibrant purple, pink, or white flowers that bloom throughout the year. They make excellent small hedges or borders, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil. Hebes require minimal care beyond occasional pruning to maintain their shape and are perfect for adding pops of colour to your garden.
Dwarf Nandina (Nandina domestica ‘Nana’)
Dwarf Nandina, also known as Sacred Bamboo, offers striking red and green foliage throughout the year. This compact plant is perfect for low hedges, adding colour and texture to gardens. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires minimal maintenance, making it a popular choice for Australian gardeners.
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ (Dwarf Variety)
Photinia Red Robin is known for its vibrant red new growth and glossy green foliage. This hardy shrub makes a stunning small hedge, thriving in full sun to partial shade. It requires occasional pruning to encourage fresh growth and maintain its neat shape, adding year-round interest to your garden.
Small hedging plants offer endless possibilities for enhancing your garden’s design, whether you are creating borders, privacy screens, or adding texture and colour. With so many options, you can easily find a variety that suits your garden’s style and conditions.
For a wide selection of hedging plants, expert garden consultation services and reliable delivery across Melbourne and Australia, shop at Online Plants. Transform your garden today with the perfect hedge for your outdoor space!