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Ficus Hillii Flash: A Strong Choice for a Green Hedge

Ficus Hillii Flash: A Strong Choice for a Green Hedge

Why Ficus Hillii Flash is one of the most planted privacy hedges in Australia, plus three alternatives.
EvergreenFast GrowingFicusHedging and Screening

Ficus Hillii 'Flash' is one of the most planted privacy hedges in Australia. It is fast, dense and uniform. Lime new growth contrasts the glossy dark mature foliage. Can be pruned to desired height.

What makes Flash strong

Flash holds shape from the ground up. It tolerates regular trimming and pushes back fast. Lime new growth keeps the hedge looking active. It establishes a privacy screen in 2 to 3 years.

Where to use it

Boundary screens, side passages, courtyards needing privacy and any spot where fast dense evergreen privacy is needed. Around 3 m of clearance from pipes and footings gives the vigorous root system ideal room to develop, and a quick annual edge-prune keeps it tidy.

Three alternatives if Flash isn't right

Ficus Hillii (Standard)

The original form. Same plant, slightly larger leaf.

Waterhousea floribunda

Native alternative. Softer weeping habit.

Syzygium 'Resilience'

Lower maintenance with frost tolerance. A finer root system that sits comfortably in tighter spots.

How to choose

For maximum speed and density pick Flash or the standard Ficus Hillii. For native pick Waterhousea. For low maintenance and frost tolerance pick Resilience.

Compare at a glance

CultivarHeightWidthFormFoliageBest if you…
Ficus hillii 'Flash'
Flash Hill's Fig 		5 to 10 m2 to 3 mUpright denseGlossy dark green with lime new growthFast dense privacy hedges.
Ficus microcarpa var. hillii
Hill's Weeping Fig (Standard) 		5 to 10 m2 to 3 mDense uprightGlossy dark greenFast dense privacy where the lime new growth isn't required.
Waterhousea floribunda
Weeping Lilly Pilly 		6 to 10 m3 to 4 mWeepingWeeping glossy mid-greenNative fast privacy alternative.
Syzygium australe 'Resilience'
Resilience Lilly Pilly 		4 to 6 m2 to 3 mDense uprightGlossy green with bronze new growthLower-maintenance privacy hedge alternative.
Ficus hillii 'Flash'

1. Ficus hillii 'Flash' (Flash Hill's Fig)

Flash is the fast dense privacy hedge with lime new growth. Among the most planted screening trees in Australia.

Type
Evergreen hedging tree
Height
5 to 10 m
Width
2 to 3 m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Glossy dark green with lime new growth
Form
Upright dense
Conditions
Full sun to part shade
Maintenance
Moderate, can be pruned to desired height
Best for
Fast dense privacy hedges.

Why choose it

Among the fastest and densest screening plants going.

Perfect pair

Flash hedge with a Magnolia Teddy Bear feature.

Tips for planting

Plant 60 cm to 1 m apart. Trim 2 to 3 times a year.

The privacy industry standard.

Shop Ficus hillii 'Flash'
Ficus microcarpa var. hillii

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

The standard Ficus Hillii is a slightly larger leaf form of the same species. Equally reliable.

Type
Evergreen hedging tree
Height
5 to 10 m
Width
2 to 3 m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Glossy dark green
Form
Dense upright
Conditions
Full sun to part shade
Maintenance
Moderate
Best for
Fast dense privacy where the lime new growth isn't required.

Why choose it

The traditional form before Flash was selected.

Perfect pair

Ficus Hillii hedge with a Magnolia Teddy Bear feature.

Tips for planting

Keep 3 m clear of pipes and footings.

The original.

Shop Ficus microcarpa var. hillii
Waterhousea floribunda

3. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Native alternative to Ficus Hillii for those wanting native-tagged plants.

Type
Evergreen native hedging tree
Height
6 to 10 m
Width
3 to 4 m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Weeping glossy mid-green
Form
Weeping
Conditions
Full sun to part shade
Maintenance
Low
Best for
Native fast privacy alternative.

Why choose it

Native, fast and softer in appearance.

Perfect pair

Waterhousea hedge with a Magnolia feature.

Tips for planting

Plant 80 cm to 1 m apart.

Native fast hedge.

Shop Waterhousea floribunda
Syzygium australe 'Resilience'

4. Syzygium australe 'Resilience' (Resilience Lilly Pilly)

Lower maintenance alternative to Ficus, with frost tolerance.

Type
Evergreen hedging tree
Height
4 to 6 m
Width
2 to 3 m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Glossy green with bronze new growth
Form
Dense upright
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Low
Best for
Lower-maintenance privacy hedge alternative.

Why choose it

Less aggressive root system than Ficus.

Perfect pair

Resilience hedge with a Magnolia feature.

Tips for planting

Trim 2 to 3 times a year.

Smaller-footprint alternative.

Shop Syzygium australe 'Resilience'

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Comments

  • Jade Salanitri February 9, 2025

    Hi,

    How do you encourage taller growth of the ficus hillii flash plants? Are you meant to take any shoots from the bottom off?

  • Jade Salanitri February 9, 2025

    Hi,

    How do you encourage taller growth of the ficus hillii flash plants? Are you meant to take any shoots from the bottom off?

  • Alex Talty February 4, 2024

    Hi all, how wide does the garden bed need to be for these plants? i’m looking for a narrow hedging plant max 250mm wide beds (new estate home)

  • Ben Johnston April 30, 2023

    Hello I’m after 10 pleached Ficus Flash, with 1.2m trunks, are you able to supply. Thank you.

  • Tony December 18, 2022
    Yes good afternoon I am after 30 cm pots ficus hilly flash, quantity 15 . Can you please let me know stock ability how much cost, and we’re are located thanks

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