Evergreen Trees That Thrive in Australia's Varied Climates

Five evergreen trees that handle different climate envelopes. Cool, warm, dry and coastal picks.

BayClimate AdaptiveEvergreen TreesFicusMagnoliaOleaWaterhousea

Australia covers cool temperate, warm subtropical and hot dry inland climates. The right evergreen for each delivers year round structure without the constant intervention. Five evergreens covering most of the country.

Match species to climate

The wider the climate envelope, the more flexible the planting. Some evergreens like Bay and Magnolia work across most of Australia. Others are climate specific. Match the species to the site.

Magnolia Coolwyn Gloss

Magnolia grandiflora Coolwyn Gloss

Cool temperate through warm subtropical. Glossy dark foliage and fragrant white flowers.

Laurus nobilis, Bay Tree

Frost prone inland through coastal humid. Slow steady evergreen with culinary value.

Bay Tree adaptable evergreen

Ficus Hillii

Temperate to warm subtropical. The formal hedge default for warmer Australian gardens.

Olea europaea Manzanillo

Hot dry inland through Mediterranean coastal. Heat, drought, salt and frost tolerated.

Waterhousea evergreen

Waterhousea floribunda

Coastal humid through warm temperate. Soft weeping native screen with broad climate range.

Choosing for your zone

Run the species past your climate zone first. Frost minimum, summer maximum, humidity and rainfall all matter.

FAQ

Which evergreen handles the most climates? Bay Tree and Magnolia Coolwyn Gloss have the widest envelopes.

What about coastal sites? Waterhousea and Magnolia handle coastal exposure well.

1. Magnolia grandiflora Coolwyn Gloss (Coolwyn Gloss Magnolia)

Coolwyn Gloss handles cool temperate through warm subtropical climates. Glossy dark foliage and large fragrant white flowers.

Type: Evergreen broad climate feature tree
Height: 5 to 8 metres
Width: 3 to 4 metres
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Very glossy dark green
Flowers: Large fragrant white
Form: Upright dense
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Year round structure, screens, feature trees

Why choose it

Wide climate adaptability with consistent glossy form.

Perfect pair

Pair with a deciduous Crepe Myrtle for seasonal contrast.

Tips for planting

Mulch well, water deeply in dry spells.

An evergreen that suits most Australian climates.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora Coolwyn Gloss

2. Laurus nobilis (Bay Tree)

Bay Tree thrives from frost prone inland climates through coastal humid zones. Slow steady evergreen with culinary leaf.

Type: Evergreen broad climate hedge or feature
Height: 3 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 1 to 2 metres
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Aromatic dark green leathery
Form: Upright dense
Conditions: Full sun, well drained soils, drought and frost tolerant
Maintenance: Light trim
Best for: Cool to warm climates, hedges, feature trees

Why choose it

One of the widest climate envelopes in evergreen trees.

Perfect pair

Pair with an Olea Manzanillo for a Mediterranean composition.

Tips for planting

Plant in free draining ground. Trim to shape twice a year.

A wide climate evergreen workhorse.

Shop Laurus nobilis

3. Ficus microcarpa var. hillii (Hill's Weeping Fig)

Ficus Hillii suits temperate to warm subtropical climates. Dense glossy foliage, fast growth, the formal hedge default for warmer Australian gardens.

Type: Evergreen temperate to warm hedge or feature
Height: 3 to 10 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 1 to 3 metres
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Dense glossy dark green
Form: Upright takes formal clipping
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, frost sensitive when young
Maintenance: Trim two or three times a year
Best for: Warmer climate hedges and screens

Why choose it

Fast, dense, easy to maintain a tight line.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Magnolia Coolwyn Gloss as a feature within the planting.

Tips for planting

Avoid heavy frost when young. Keep clear of paving.

A temperate to warm climate workhorse.

Shop Ficus microcarpa var. hillii

4. Olea europaea Manzanillo (Manzanillo Olive)

Manzanillo Olive handles hot dry climates, Mediterranean conditions and frost. The widest dry climate envelope in evergreen feature trees.

Type: Evergreen drought hardy feature tree
Height: 4 to 6 metres
Width: 3 to 5 metres
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Silver grey green
Form: Rounded crown
Conditions: Full sun, well drained soils
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Dry climates, Mediterranean gardens, hot inland sites

Why choose it

Heat, drought, salt and frost all tolerated once established.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Bay Tree hedge for a Mediterranean composition.

Tips for planting

Plant in free draining ground. Mulch with coarse stone.

An evergreen for hot dry climates.

Shop Olea europaea Manzanillo

5. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Waterhousea adapts to coastal humid through warm temperate climates. Soft weeping native screen with dense foliage to the ground.

Type: Evergreen Australian native screening tree
Height: 4 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 2 to 4 metres
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Glossy green with pink new growth
Form: Weeping dense to the ground
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, most soils
Maintenance: Light shaping
Best for: Coastal and temperate screens, native gardens

Why choose it

Climate adaptability on a soft natural form.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Banksia integrifolia as a native feature.

Tips for planting

Mulch well, water through dry spells in year one.

A native evergreen with broad climate range.

Shop Waterhousea floribunda

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Magnolia grandiflora Coolwyn Gloss Coolwyn Gloss Magnolia	5 to 8 metres	3 to 4 metres	Upright dense	Very glossy dark green	Year round structure, screens, feature trees
Laurus nobilis Bay Tree	3 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height	1 to 2 metres	Upright dense	Aromatic dark green leathery	Cool to warm climates, hedges, feature trees
Ficus microcarpa var. hillii Hill's Weeping Fig	3 to 10 metres, can be pruned to desired height	1 to 3 metres	Upright takes formal clipping	Dense glossy dark green	Warmer climate hedges and screens
Olea europaea Manzanillo Manzanillo Olive	4 to 6 metres	3 to 5 metres	Rounded crown	Silver grey green	Dry climates, Mediterranean gardens, hot inland sites
Waterhousea floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly	4 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height	2 to 4 metres	Weeping dense to the ground	Glossy green with pink new growth	Coastal and temperate screens, native gardens