Hedging Plants for Privacy in Australian Gardens

Six reliable evergreen hedges that deliver fast, dense privacy.

EvergreenHedging and ScreeningPrivacy

A privacy hedge has one job: block a view, fast, then stay dense. These six plants consistently do that across Australian climates.

1. Ficus Hillii

The standard fast dense privacy hedge. Glossy dark green and reliably evergreen.

2. Waterhousea floribunda

The soft weeping native option. Fast and visually softer than Ficus.

3. Magnolia 'Teddy Bear'

Privacy with presence. Compact form, dense from the ground up, summer flowers.

4. Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice' Bay

Formal narrow privacy lines. Aromatic edible foliage and frost tolerance.

5. Murraya paniculata

Fragrant warm-climate privacy. Repeated bursts of jasmine-scented white flowers.

6. Syzygium 'Resilience'

The reliable all-rounder. Fast, frost-tolerant and psyllid-resistant.

How to choose

For fastest dense privacy pick Ficus Hillii. For native habit pick Waterhousea. For formal lines pick Bay. For fragrance pick Murraya. For lowest maintenance pick Resilience.

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

Ficus Hillii is the standard fast dense privacy hedge for warm and temperate Australian gardens.

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, can be pruned to desired height
Best for: Fast dense privacy in suburbs across NSW, QLD and VIC.

Why choose it

It builds a full privacy screen in 2 to 3 years.

Perfect pair

Ficus Hillii hedge with a Magnolia Teddy Bear feature.

Tips for planting

Keep 3 m clear of pipes and footings.

The privacy industry standard.

Shop Ficus microcarpa var. hillii

2. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Waterhousea is the soft weeping native option for privacy hedging.

Type: Evergreen native hedging tree
Height: 6 to 10 m
Width: 3 to 4 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Weeping glossy mid-green with pink new growth
Form: Weeping
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Tall native privacy screens.

Why choose it

Native, fast and visually softer than Ficus.

Perfect pair

Waterhousea hedge with a Magnolia Teddy Bear feature.

Tips for planting

Plant 80 cm to 1 m apart.

The soft native privacy option.

Shop Waterhousea floribunda

3. Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear' (Teddy Bear Magnolia)

Teddy Bear delivers compact privacy with Magnolia presence.

Type: Evergreen feature and hedging tree
Height: 4 to 5 m
Width: 2 to 3 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Dark green with cinnamon felted undersides
Form: Densely upright
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Front of house privacy hedge with flower interest.

Why choose it

Dense from the ground up with summer fragrance.

Perfect pair

Teddy Bear hedge with a Magnolia Little Gem feature.

Tips for planting

Plant 1.5 to 2 m apart for screen continuity.

Privacy with presence.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear'

4. Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice' (Miles Choice Bay)

Miles Choice is the upright formal Bay, ideal for tighter privacy lines.

Type: Evergreen hedging tree
Height: 3 to 5 m
Width: 1.5 to 2.5 m
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Foliage: Aromatic dark green
Form: Upright dense
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low, can be pruned to desired height
Best for: Formal narrow privacy hedges.

Why choose it

Edible foliage, formal habit and frost tolerance.

Perfect pair

Bay hedge with a Magnolia Kay Parris feature.

Tips for planting

Plant 60 to 80 cm apart. Trim regularly.

Formal, aromatic, evergreen.

Shop Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice'

5. Murraya paniculata (Orange Jasmine)

Murraya is the fragrant warm-climate privacy hedge.

Type: Evergreen hedging shrub
Height: 2 to 4 m
Width: 1.5 to 2 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Glossy dark green aromatic
Flowers: Fragrant white
Form: Dense rounded
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, warm climates
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Fragrant private warm-climate boundaries.

Why choose it

Privacy plus repeated bursts of fragrant flowers.

Perfect pair

Murraya hedge with a Magnolia Teddy Bear feature.

Tips for planting

Trim after each flower flush.

Fragrance and privacy in one.

Shop Murraya paniculata

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

Resilience is the all-rounder privacy Lilly Pilly: fast, frost-tolerant, psyllid-resistant.

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
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Low-maintenance privacy hedges across most climates.

Why choose it

Performs across most Australian climates with minimal care.

Perfect pair

Resilience hedge with a Magnolia Little Gem feature.

Tips for planting

Trim 2 to 3 times a year.

The reliable privacy Lilly Pilly.

Shop Syzygium australe 'Resilience'

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Ficus microcarpa var. hillii Hill's Weeping Fig	5 to 10 m	2 to 3 m	Dense upright	Glossy dark green	Fast dense privacy in suburbs across NSW, QLD and VIC.
Waterhousea floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly	6 to 10 m	3 to 4 m	Weeping	Weeping glossy mid-green with pink new growth	Tall native privacy screens.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear' Teddy Bear Magnolia	4 to 5 m	2 to 3 m	Densely upright	Dark green with cinnamon felted undersides	Front of house privacy hedge with flower interest.
Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice' Miles Choice Bay	3 to 5 m	1.5 to 2.5 m	Upright dense	Aromatic dark green	Formal narrow privacy hedges.
Murraya paniculata Orange Jasmine	2 to 4 m	1.5 to 2 m	Dense rounded	Glossy dark green aromatic	Fragrant private warm-climate boundaries.
Syzygium australe 'Resilience' Resilience Lilly Pilly	4 to 6 m	2 to 3 m	Dense upright	Glossy green with bronze new growth	Low-maintenance privacy hedges across most climates.