Buy Bushes & Shrubs Online Australia — Premium Garden Shrubs for Every Style & Purpose

Shrubs — the flowering, foliage, and structural bushes that give an Australian garden its seasonal character and year-round backbone — are among the most important plants in any garden design. Get the shrubs right and the garden works: borders have depth and texture, seasonal colour is always present, wildlife moves through the space, and there are always reasons to look out the window whatever the season. Get them wrong — the wrong size, the wrong drainage requirements, the wrong climate zone — and they become a source of frustration rather than pleasure.

At Online Plants, this curated collection of 36 bushes and shrubs has been assembled by our horticultural team from across the best-performing genera in Australian garden design — from the fragrant, romantic world of Bush Roses to the bold native character of Grevillea and Kangaroo Paw, the evergreen reliability of Azaleas and Callistemon, and the distinctive silver foliage of Adenanthos and Convolvulus Silver Bush. Each plant has been selected not because it is simply popular, but because it genuinely performs in Australian conditions and delivers sustained ornamental value across more than one season.

This collection serves two types of gardeners: those who know exactly what genus they want (who should also explore our dedicated genus collections linked below each category) and those who are still deciding — who have a position, a purpose, or a budget in mind but haven't settled on the specific plant. If you are in the second group, this is the place to start. Use the goal guide below, or call our team for a free consultation.

The five categories in this collection — what each delivers

Bush Roses Mr. Lincoln, Double Delight, Just Joey, Blue Moon, Cecile Brunner... Climate: Cool–warm temperate (most of southern Australia) Size: 0.8–1.5m Season: Repeat flowering, spring–autumn From: $46.95

Fifteen classic Bush Rose varieties form the largest category in this collection, and with good reason — no other flowering shrub combines fragrance, formal beauty, and seasonal display quite like a well-grown rose. Our selection concentrates on proven, reliable hybrid tea and floribunda forms: deeply fragrant varieties like Mr. Lincoln (crimson-red, intensely perfumed) and Fragrant Charm, multi-coloured showstoppers like Double Delight (red and cream bicolour), unusual tones in Hot Chocolate and Honey Dijon, and the diminutive but prolific Cecile Brunner. All Bush Roses require full sun, well-drained fertile soil, and regular feeding and pruning — they demand more maintenance than most other shrubs in this collection, but the flowering reward is unmatched. → View full Rose collection

Azaleas Azalea Aline, Hatsu Giri, Advent Bells Climate: Cool–warm temperate, sheltered positions Size: 0.6–1.2m Season: Late winter to spring From: From $19.95

Three outstanding Azalea varieties represent one of the most rewarding spring-flowering shrubs for Australian cool-temperate and warm-temperate gardens. Azaleas flower prolifically in late winter to spring, when the garden is emerging from its quietest period, and their acid-loving nature makes them ideal companions for Camellias and Rhododendrons in sheltered, slightly shaded positions. Aline produces rich pink flowers; the classic Kurume Hatsu Giri delivers masses of deep rosy-purple blooms on a compact shrub; Advent Bells provides an exceptional late-season display. All require acid soil (pH 5.0–6.0), dappled shade, consistent moisture, and protection from hot afternoon sun. → View full Azalea collection

Australian Natives Grevillea Superb, Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw), Callistemon Reeves Pink, Adenanthos, Correa Climate: All Australian temperate + coastal zones Size: 0.5–2m depending on species Season: Year-round (staggered by species) From: From $19.95

The native shrubs in this collection were hand-picked by our horticultural team for their combination of ornamental quality and genuine wildlife value. Grevillea Superb is one of the most spectacular bird-attracting grevilleas available for Australian gardens, with large, vivid orange-red spider flowers almost year-round. Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw) varieties Bush Bonanza and Bush Blitz bring the iconic Western Australian flower form to eastern Australian gardens in compact, reliable dwarf forms. Callistemon Reeves Pink is a beautiful pink-flowering alternative to the standard red bottlebrush. Adenanthos Sericeus Platinum and Silver Streak add extraordinary soft silver foliage. Correa Glabra Yellow and Ivory Lantern provide winter flowers when most natives are resting. All are drought-tolerant once established. → View dedicated native collections

Buxus (Box Hedging) Buxus microphylla Faulkner Climate: Cool–warm temperate (most of Australia) Size: To 1.5m (trim to shape) Season: Evergreen year-round From: From $19.95

Buxus microphylla Faulkner — the most popular box hedging variety in Australian formal gardens — represents the hedging and edging category in this collection. Faulkner is a Japanese Box selected for its compact, dense habit, small glossy leaves, and response to shaping. It creates the cleanest, tightest formal hedge of any commercially available Buxus variety and is particularly effective in parterre gardens, geometric designs, and as a low border defining paved entertainment areas. It tolerates full sun to partial shade, is frost and drought-hardy once established, and responds immediately to regular clipping. → View full Buxus collection

Other Notable Shrubs Convolvulus Silver Bush, Coleonema White Diosma, Agastache, Eucalyptus Cladocalyx, Leptospermum Silver Weeping Climate: Varies — mostly temperate to warm temperate Size: Varies — 0.5–8m depending on variety Season: Varies by species From: From $19.95

Several standout individual performers complete the collection. Convolvulus cneorum Silver Bush is one of the finest silver foliage shrubs for sunny, well-drained positions — its compact, mounded form and masses of white flowers make it exceptional for Mediterranean and drought-tolerant garden designs. Coleonema album White Diosma is a fragrant, fine-leaved evergreen shrub with year-round white flowers, ideal for coastal and sensory gardens. Agastache Raspberry attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with long spikes of raspberry-coloured flowers through summer. Eucalyptus Cladocalyx Bushy Sugar Gum provides an advanced large screening option. Leptospermum brachyandrum Silver Weeping Tea Tree is a spectacular weeping specimen tree for large gardens and parks.

 

How to choose the right bush or shrub for your Australian garden

Our horticultural team's five-question framework for selecting a bush or shrub from this collection:

•    1. What is your climate zone? Bush Roses, Azaleas, and Buxus perform best in cool to warm temperate climates (Melbourne, Adelaide Hills, ACT, Sydney, Southern Highlands). The native shrubs — Grevillea, Callistemon, Adenanthos, Correa, Anigozanthos — are adaptable across a much wider range of Australian conditions including subtropical Queensland and warm inland areas.

•    2. How much sun does the position receive? Bush Roses, Grevillea, Callistemon, Adenanthos, Convolvulus, and Anigozanthos all require full sun. Azaleas prefer dappled shade. Correa and Coleonema tolerate partial shade. Getting this right dramatically affects flowering performance and plant health.

•    3. What is your soil type? Azaleas require acid soil (pH 5.0–6.0). Bush Roses prefer fertile, well-drained soil with neutral to slightly acidic pH. Native shrubs (Grevillea, Callistemon, Adenanthos, Correa, Anigozanthos) prefer free-draining, lower-fertility soils. Buxus tolerates a wide pH range. If in doubt, a $15 soil test kit from a garden centre will tell you your pH and save you significant disappointment.

•    4. What size are you planting for? Bush Roses reach 0.8–1.5m. Azaleas 0.6–1.2m. Anigozanthos dwarf forms stay under 60cm. Grevillea Superb reaches 1.5–2m. Buxus is clipped to whatever size you want. Leptospermum Silver Weeping Tea Tree can reach 8m+ — make sure you have the space before ordering.

•    5. What is the priority purpose? Fragrance → Bush Roses (Mr. Lincoln, Fragrant Charm, Double Delight). Wildlife → Grevillea, Anigozanthos, Callistemon. Year-round foliage structure → Buxus, Adenanthos, Correa. Spring colour display → Azalea. Silver/texture accent → Convolvulus Silver Bush, Adenanthos Platinum.

Why buy from Online Plants?

•        30-day guarantee to grow on every plant — roses, natives, azaleas, all of it

•        Australia's first and largest online nursery — 20+ years of shrub delivery expertise

•        36 plants across 8+ genera, hand-selected for performance in Australian conditions

•        Delivery to VIC, NSW, QLD, SA and ACT — metropolitan and regional areas

•        No minimum order

•        Free garden design consultation — call 0428 110 584 or email store@onlineplants.com.au

 

Frequently Asked Question - FAQs

What is the difference between a bush and a shrub?

In everyday gardening use in Australia, the terms 'bush' and 'shrub' are used interchangeably and mean the same thing: a woody, multi-stemmed plant smaller than a tree that retains most of its framework year-round. Botanically, a shrub is simply defined as a woody plant with multiple stems arising from the base, typically under 6m tall. A bush is an informal synonym. In common Australian usage, 'native bush' often implies specifically native Australian plants, while 'shrub' tends to be used for both native and exotic ornamental plants. For practical purposes in garden design, bush and shrub refer to the same category of plants.

What are the best flowering shrubs for an Australian garden?

The best flowering shrubs for Australian gardens depend heavily on climate, soil, and sun exposure. For cool-temperate gardens (Melbourne, ACT, Adelaide Hills, Southern Highlands NSW): Bush Roses (fragrant spring-autumn flowering), Azaleas (spectacular late winter-spring display), and Callistemon (year-round native flower) are top performers. For warmer and subtropical gardens (Brisbane, coastal NSW, Darwin): Grevillea, Callistemon, Adenanthos, Correa, and Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos) are more reliable native choices. For the widest possible climate range across Australia: Grevillea Superb and Callistemon Reeves Pink are outstanding flowering shrubs that perform from temperate Melbourne to subtropical Brisbane.

How do I choose between a Bush Rose and a native shrub for my Australian garden?

The choice depends on your priorities. Bush Roses deliver unmatched fragrance and classic formal flower beauty — the most intensely perfumed garden flowers available — but they require more care: regular feeding, pruning, watering, and pest management for aphids, blackspot, and thrips. They perform best in cool-temperate climates with fertile soil. Native shrubs (Grevillea, Callistemon, Anigozanthos, Adenanthos, Correa) require significantly less maintenance once established, are genuinely drought-tolerant, and support native wildlife in ways that exotic roses cannot. They suit a wider range of Australian climates including subtropical zones. Many Australian gardens include both — roses in the main garden beds for fragrance and formal display, natives in the more exposed, difficult, or wildlife-focused parts of the garden.

Which bushes grow best in pots and containers in Australia?

Several plants in this collection perform very well in pots. Compact Azaleas (Hatsu Giri, Aline) are outstanding pot plants for sheltered courtyards and balconies with acid potting mix. Dwarf Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw Bush Bonanza, Bush Blitz) perform excellently in large pots in full sun. Coleonema White Diosma is naturally compact and container-friendly. Adenanthos Silver Streak and Baby Woolly Bush are well-suited to large pots where their soft silver foliage can be appreciated. For Bush Roses, choose a container at least 40–50 litres in size with excellent drainage and a quality rose-specific potting mix. Buxus Faulkner can be clipped as formal topiary specimens in pots for decades.

What is the best time to plant bushes and shrubs in Australia?

Autumn (March to May) is the best time to plant most shrubs in Australian temperate and warm temperate zones — mild soil temperatures allow roots to establish before the heat of summer, and plants are generally not in active new growth that requires consistent watering. Early spring (August–September) is the second-best window. For Bush Roses specifically, late autumn to early winter (May–July) when the plant is dormant is the classic planting time — bare-root roses planted in winter flower vigorously in their first spring. For Azaleas and Camellias, autumn or early spring planting is recommended to avoid the combination of heat and establishment stress.