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Best Australian Native Privacy Trees: 10 Picks for Year-Round Native Screening Across Every Climate

Best Australian Native Privacy Trees: 10 Picks for Year-Round Native Screening Across Every Climate

A native privacy screen blocks the view and builds habitat at the same time. Ten Australian native picks across narrow columnar, soft weeping, formal hedge and tall canopy formats, matched to climate zones across the country. Open the accordion for what to look for, or scan the comparison table for the right pick.
Australian GardensHedgingPrivacy TreesScreening

A native privacy screen does more than block the view.

The right native picks feed honeyeaters, host pollinators, build habitat under the canopy and hold form on rainfall once established. A native screen is two things at once: privacy and ecosystem.

Three things matter when choosing native privacy trees: climate zone (dry WA / SA vs humid east coast vs frosty inland), target height and width, and formal vs informal look.

The ten picks

Ordered by category: narrow columns, soft weeping, coloured feature, tall canopy, formal hedge, refined polish.

  1. Banksia integrifolia 'Sentinel': narrow columnar Coast Banksia, year-round honeyeater habitat.
  2. Agonis flexuosa 'Burgundy': burgundy weeping native feature, the coloured native option.
  3. Agonis flexuosa (Willow Myrtle / Peppermint Tree): classic soft weeping WA native.
  4. Waterhousea floribunda: tall soft weeping Lilly Pilly, the east-coast choice.
  5. Eucalyptus cinerea (Silver Dollar Gum): silver foliage shade-tree screen for second-storey privacy.
  6. Syzygium 'Resilience': psyllid-resistant native Lilly Pilly, the formal hedge default.
  7. Syzygium 'Straight & Narrow': 1m wide native column for narrow side-of-house screens.
  8. Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle): aromatic culinary native screen.
  9. Tristaniopsis 'Luscious': polished modern native, the refined formal screen.
  10. Melaleuca quinquenervia (Broad-leaved Paperbark): tall native canopy with feature papery bark, tolerates wet soils.

Compare at a glance

CultivarHeightWidthFormFoliageBest if you…
Banksia integrifolia 'Sentinel'
Sentinel Coast Banksia 		5 to 6m1.5 to 2mNarrow columnarDark green with silver undersides, evergreenNarrow native privacy screens, vertical accent at hedge corners, year-round honeyeater habitat.
Agonis flexuosa 'Burgundy'
Burgundy Willow Myrtle 		5 to 7m3 to 4mSoft weeping rounded canopyBurgundy-red weeping willow-like leaves, evergreenColoured native privacy feature, soft informal screen, refined native garden.
Agonis flexuosa
Willow Myrtle / Peppermint Tree 		6 to 8m4 to 5mSoft weeping rounded canopySoft pendulous green willow-like leaves, peppermint-scented when bruisedTall informal native screen, soft natural privacy, fast native establishment.
Waterhousea floribunda
Weeping Lilly Pilly 		6 to 8m3 to 4mSoft weeping rounded canopySoft pendulous green willow-like, evergreenTaller informal native screens, softer privacy planting, screening tall buildings or two-storey neighbours.
Eucalyptus cinerea
Silver Dollar Gum / Argyle Apple 		10 to 15m6 to 8mUpright rounded canopySilver-grey round juvenile leaves, sclerophyll waxy adult leavesTall native shade-tree screening, silver foliage feature, blocking second-storey views.
Syzygium australe 'Resilience'
Resilience Lilly Pilly 		3 to 5m (clip to size)1.5 to 2mUpright dense, clippableDark green with red new growth, evergreenNative formal hedges where psyllid resistance matters, suburban native screening, low-maintenance Lilly Pilly walls.
Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow'
Straight & Narrow Lilly Pilly 		3 to 4m1 to 1.2mNaturally narrow columnarDark green with red new growth, evergreenNarrow native side-of-house screens, tight planting strips, narrow boundary screens.
Backhousia citriodora
Lemon Myrtle 		4 to 6m2 to 3mUpright dense, can be clippedBright glossy green, lemon-scented, evergreenAromatic native screen, edible bushfood landscape, sensory native garden, outdoor entertaining areas.
Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious'
Luscious Watergum 		6 to 10m3 to 5mUpright tidy habit, multi or single trunkLarge polished dark green leaves, evergreenPolished native privacy screen, refined native garden, formal native palette.
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Broad-leaved Paperbark 		6 to 10m4 to 6mUpright canopy with feature papery trunksLanceolate evergreen leavesTall native screening, feature bark, wet soils where other natives struggle, honeyeater habitat.
Native climate zone fit
The biggest native screening decision is matching the species to your climate zone.

Dry inland / WA / SA: Agonis flexuosa, Agonis 'Burgundy', Banksia 'Sentinel', Eucalyptus cinerea.

Humid east coast: Waterhousea floribunda, Syzygium 'Resilience', Syzygium 'Straight & Narrow', Tristaniopsis 'Luscious', Backhousia citriodora.

Tolerates wet soils: Melaleuca quinquenervia, Tristaniopsis 'Luscious', Waterhousea.

Cold inland frost-hardy: Eucalyptus cinerea, Banksia 'Sentinel', Agonis flexuosa, Melaleuca quinquenervia.
Formal hedge vs soft natural screen
Native screens can read as formal walls or as soft natural plantings.

Formal clipped hedge: Syzygium 'Resilience', Syzygium 'Straight & Narrow', Tristaniopsis 'Luscious', Backhousia citriodora.

Soft natural form: Waterhousea, Agonis flexuosa, Agonis 'Burgundy'.

Tall canopy screen: Eucalyptus cinerea, Melaleuca quinquenervia.

Vertical accent: Banksia 'Sentinel'.

Most gardens combine one main run with matched narrow accents for visual rhythm.
Width matters: narrow vs broad
Match the species' mature width to your bed.

1 to 1.2m wide (narrow side-of-house): Syzygium 'Straight & Narrow', Banksia 'Sentinel'.

1.5 to 2m wide (standard hedge): Syzygium 'Resilience', Backhousia citriodora.

3 to 4m wide (broader feature): Agonis 'Burgundy', Waterhousea, Tristaniopsis.

4m+ (tall canopy): Agonis flexuosa, Eucalyptus cinerea, Melaleuca quinquenervia.
Low or no phosphorus: the native rule
Most Australian natives, especially Banksias and Proteaceae generally, are phosphorus-sensitive. Standard garden fertilisers will burn the foliage or kill mature plants.

Use: low-phosphorus native fertiliser, or nothing once established.

Avoid: standard NPK garden fertilisers, especially on Banksia 'Sentinel'.

This is the single most common native-screen mistake we see.
Layer for habitat
A native screen that's just one species in a line still blocks the view, but it doesn't build habitat. The strongest native privacy plantings layer two or three species.

Combination: One main run (e.g. Resilience or Waterhousea) plus matched narrow accents (Sentinel) at the corners, plus a few specimen feature trees (Burgundy or Lemon Myrtle).

The layered planting attracts honeyeaters, pollinators and pest predators — which means the screen is also a habitat that mostly looks after itself.
Banksia integrifolia 'Sentinel'

1. Banksia integrifolia 'Sentinel' (Sentinel Coast Banksia)

'Sentinel' is the narrow columnar Coast Banksia bred for tight native screening. Silver-backed sclerophyll foliage, year-round yellow brush flowers that fuel honeyeaters, and a strict 1.5 to 2m wide habit that fits where standard Banksias won't. The native vertical screen that's also bird habitat.

Type
Columnar evergreen native screen tree
Height
5 to 6m
Width
1.5 to 2m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Dark green with silver undersides, evergreen
Flowers
Year-round yellow brush flower spikes
Form
Narrow columnar
Conditions
Full sun, well-drained sandy soil, salt and drought tolerant
Maintenance
Almost none. Self-shaping columnar habit.
Best for
Narrow native privacy screens, vertical accent at hedge corners, year-round honeyeater habitat.

Why choose it

Coast Banksias have proteoid roots that pull water and nutrients from poor sandy soils, plus silver-backed sclerophyll foliage that holds form on minimal water once established. 'Sentinel' concentrates this constitution into a narrow column that gives a privacy screen plus genuine native habitat without dominating the bed.

Perfect pair

Plant in rows of three or five for a vertical native screen, or beside Eucalyptus cinerea for layered silver tones.

Tips for planting

Absolutely no phosphorus fertiliser. Banksias evolved on phosphorus-deficient soils and standard fertilisers will kill them. Mulch with eucalyptus chip.

The narrow native Banksia that screens and feeds the birds.

Shop Banksia integrifolia 'Sentinel'
Agonis flexuosa 'Burgundy'

2. Agonis flexuosa 'Burgundy' (Burgundy Willow Myrtle)

'Burgundy' is the WA native with burgundy weeping foliage and soft graceful habit. The weeping form holds itself naturally, the burgundy colour deepens in cool weather, and the species handles dry conditions beautifully. A native privacy tree with coloured-foliage drama.

Type
Small evergreen native feature screen
Height
5 to 7m
Width
3 to 4m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Burgundy-red weeping willow-like leaves, evergreen
Flowers
Small white spring flowers
Form
Soft weeping rounded canopy
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil, drought tolerant
Maintenance
Low. Single annual prune at most.
Best for
Coloured native privacy feature, soft informal screen, refined native garden.

Why choose it

Most native screens are single-colour green. 'Burgundy' adds dramatic burgundy weeping foliage to the privacy job, which means a screen that reads as a feature. WA natives evolved on extremely poor sandy soils so they handle anything richer with ease and grow gracefully without intervention.

Perfect pair

Plant alongside Agonis flexuosa for matched soft weeping habit with colour contrast, or beside Banksia 'Sentinel' for silver-and-burgundy native palette.

Tips for planting

Full sun for strongest burgundy colour. Light tip prune annually for density.

Burgundy weeping privacy on a soft native form.

Shop Agonis flexuosa 'Burgundy'
Agonis flexuosa

3. Agonis flexuosa (Willow Myrtle / Peppermint Tree)

The classic WA Peppermint Tree. Soft weeping willow-like foliage with a peppermint-scented bruise, fast establishment, and a graceful natural form that delivers privacy without looking like a hedge. The native answer to a soft tall screening tree.

Type
Tall evergreen native screen tree
Height
6 to 8m
Width
4 to 5m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Soft pendulous green willow-like leaves, peppermint-scented when bruised
Flowers
Small white spring flowers
Form
Soft weeping rounded canopy
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil, drought and frost tolerant
Maintenance
Very low. Light prune to maintain shape.
Best for
Tall informal native screen, soft natural privacy, fast native establishment.

Why choose it

WA natives like Agonis evolved on extremely poor sandy soils, which means they establish fast in any reasonable soil and hold soft graceful form without intervention. Where Waterhousea handles humid east coast soils, Agonis covers the dry inland and coastal WA/SA conditions beautifully.

Perfect pair

Plant beside Waterhousea floribunda for layered soft native screening across climate zones.

Tips for planting

Position in full sun. Light prune annually to maintain density. Tolerates coastal conditions.

The soft native screen that smells like peppermint.

Shop Agonis flexuosa
Waterhousea floribunda

4. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Waterhousea is the soft tall native screening tree. Pendulous willow-like foliage hangs gracefully, the canopy reaches 6 to 8m for taller screening jobs, and the soft form reads as natural rather than clipped formal. The native choice when privacy doesn't need to look like a hedge.

Type
Tall evergreen native screen tree
Height
6 to 8m
Width
3 to 4m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Soft pendulous green willow-like, evergreen
Flowers
Cream summer flowers
Form
Soft weeping rounded canopy
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, prefers moist soil, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Very low. Natural form holds, light prune only.
Best for
Taller informal native screens, softer privacy planting, screening tall buildings or two-storey neighbours.

Why choose it

Where Banksia and Agonis suit the dry western states, Waterhousea is the soft tall native screen for humid east-coast conditions. The pendulous foliage moves in wind, the form reads as natural rather than clipped, and the species comfortably handles tall screening (6m+) without aggressive growth.

Perfect pair

Plant beside Syzygium 'Resilience' for layered formal-and-informal native Lilly Pilly screening.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1.5m spacing. Prefers consistent soil moisture. Mulch heavily. Light prune only.

The soft native screen for east-coast gardens.

Shop Waterhousea floribunda
Eucalyptus cinerea

5. Eucalyptus cinerea (Silver Dollar Gum / Argyle Apple)

The Silver Dollar Gum is the easiest native shade-tree screen. Round silvery juvenile leaves on a fast-growing self-shaping habit, frost hardy, drought hardy, and the foliage works as cut greenery for the house. A native screen tree that earns its place visually from year one.

Type
Tall evergreen native shade-tree screen
Height
10 to 15m
Width
6 to 8m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Silver-grey round juvenile leaves, sclerophyll waxy adult leaves
Flowers
Small cream spring flowers
Form
Upright rounded canopy
Conditions
Full sun, well-drained soil, frost and drought hardy
Maintenance
Almost none. Self-shaping habit.
Best for
Tall native shade-tree screening, silver foliage feature, blocking second-storey views.

Why choose it

Eucalyptus cinerea combines fast establishment with full sclerophyll drought adaptation. The waxy silver foliage reduces water loss while reflecting light. The lignotuber stores water and nutrients underground. Deep roots reach subsoil moisture. The tree self-shapes into a rounded canopy without intervention.

Perfect pair

Plant with Banksia 'Sentinel' as a narrower vertical contrast for layered silver-toned native screen.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun on free-draining soil. Coppice if you want to keep it shrubbier for cut foliage.

The easiest native shade-tree privacy screen.

Shop Eucalyptus cinerea
Syzygium australe 'Resilience'

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

Resilience is the psyllid-resistant native Lilly Pilly bred specifically to solve the psyllid problem that plagues older Lilly Pilly cultivars. Same dense formal native hedge with the red new growth that makes Lilly Pillies beautiful, without the constant pest management of older varieties.

Type
Native evergreen formal hedge
Height
3 to 5m (clip to size)
Width
1.5 to 2m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Dark green with red new growth, evergreen
Flowers
White fluffy summer flowers, pink-purple berries
Form
Upright dense, clippable
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Two clips per year, no pest management needed
Best for
Native formal hedges where psyllid resistance matters, suburban native screening, low-maintenance Lilly Pilly walls.

Why choose it

Older Lilly Pilly cultivars get hit hard by psyllid (an insect that disfigures the foliage). 'Resilience' was bred specifically to be psyllid-resistant, which means a clean dense formal native hedge without constant pest pressure. Plus the same red new growth that makes Lilly Pillies beautiful in the first place.

Perfect pair

Plant beside Waterhousea floribunda for layered formal-and-soft native screen.

Tips for planting

Plant at 1m spacing. Clip after each major growth flush to maintain density and encourage new red growth. Full sun for densest form.

The psyllid-resistant native Lilly Pilly that just works.

Shop Syzygium australe 'Resilience'
Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow'

7. Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow' (Straight & Narrow Lilly Pilly)

'Straight & Narrow' is the genuinely narrow Lilly Pilly bred for tight side-of-house native privacy. Naturally columnar form holds at 1 to 1.2m wide, dense glossy dark green foliage with red new growth, fully native. The native screen for spots where a normal hedge won't fit.

Type
Compact columnar native screen
Height
3 to 4m
Width
1 to 1.2m
Growth rate
Moderate to fast
Foliage
Dark green with red new growth, evergreen
Flowers
White fluffy summer flowers
Form
Naturally narrow columnar
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Light clip annually to maintain form
Best for
Narrow native side-of-house screens, tight planting strips, narrow boundary screens.

Why choose it

Standard Lilly Pillies need 1.5 to 2m of width. 'Straight & Narrow' holds 1 to 1.2m naturally, which means a dense native privacy screen in spots where a normal hedge would never fit. The narrow side-of-house gap between two buildings is the obvious use case.

Perfect pair

Plant alongside Syzygium 'Resilience' on broader runs for layered native screening of mixed widths.

Tips for planting

Plant at 0.7m spacing for fastest fill. Light clip annually to maintain the narrow column. Full sun for densest growth.

The narrow native Lilly Pilly for tight spaces.

Shop Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow'
Backhousia citriodora

8. Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle)

The Lemon Myrtle is the aromatic native screening tree with edible culinary leaves. Bright glossy green foliage releases a powerful lemon scent on warm days, the upright habit suits formal native screening, and the leaves work in tea and cooking. A privacy tree that doubles as a kitchen herb.

Type
Aromatic native evergreen screen
Height
4 to 6m
Width
2 to 3m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Bright glossy green, lemon-scented, evergreen
Flowers
Cream fluffy summer flowers
Form
Upright dense, can be clipped
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil, frost tender in cold climates
Maintenance
Low. Light clip to maintain shape.
Best for
Aromatic native screen, edible bushfood landscape, sensory native garden, outdoor entertaining areas.

Why choose it

Most native screens deliver foliage and habitat. Lemon Myrtle delivers foliage plus a powerful lemon fragrance that fills the garden on warm days, plus edible leaves that work in tea, cooking and infusions. The native screen that engages every sense.

Perfect pair

Plant near outdoor entertaining or kitchen access for the fragrance benefit. Pair with Syzygium 'Resilience' for layered native culinary screening.

Tips for planting

Position in full sun for strongest fragrance. Avoid heavy frost-prone climates. Harvest leaves freely for tea and cooking.

A native privacy screen that smells like lemon.

Shop Backhousia citriodora
Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious'

9. Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious' (Luscious Watergum)

Tristaniopsis 'Luscious' is the polished modern native screen. Large glossy dark green leaves, tidy upright habit, almost zero leaf litter and no pest issues. The native answer to a formal evergreen privacy screen with full Australian climate adaptation.

Type
Polished evergreen native screen
Height
6 to 10m
Width
3 to 5m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Large polished dark green leaves, evergreen
Flowers
Small yellow summer clusters
Form
Upright tidy habit, multi or single trunk
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, adaptable soil, frost tender when young
Maintenance
Low. Self-shaping habit.
Best for
Polished native privacy screen, refined native garden, formal native palette.

Why choose it

Most native screens have a slightly rustic look. Tristaniopsis 'Luscious' is the exception. Large polished glossy leaves on a clean upright habit, no leaf litter issue, no pest pressure. The native screen that delivers formal evergreen presence on a fully native tree.

Perfect pair

Plant in matched pairs for a polished native entrance, or alongside Banksia 'Sentinel' for layered native screening.

Tips for planting

Prefers more moisture than dry-climate natives. Plant in part shade in hot inland positions. Mulch heavily.

The polished modern native that handles formal screens.

Shop Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious'
Melaleuca quinquenervia

10. Melaleuca quinquenervia (Broad-leaved Paperbark)

The Broad-leaved Paperbark is the iconic native screen tree with thick cream papery bark. Fast establishment, dense canopy at 6 to 10m for tall screening jobs, fluffy cream bottlebrush flowers attract honeyeaters, and the trunk is a feature in its own right. The dramatic native canopy screen.

Type
Tall native canopy screen with feature bark
Height
6 to 10m
Width
4 to 6m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Lanceolate evergreen leaves
Flowers
Fluffy cream bottlebrush flowers attracting honeyeaters
Form
Upright canopy with feature papery trunks
Conditions
Full sun, tolerates wet feet and dry soils, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Very low. Self-shaping.
Best for
Tall native screening, feature bark, wet soils where other natives struggle, honeyeater habitat.

Why choose it

Where Eucalyptus cinerea wants well-drained soil, Melaleuca quinquenervia tolerates wet feet which makes it the answer for poorly-drained sites. The thick cream papery bark adds visual feature value to a tall screen, and the cream flowers feed honeyeaters year-round. A tall native screen with character.

Perfect pair

Plant with Waterhousea floribunda for layered tall native screening on humid east-coast sites.

Tips for planting

Position in full sun. Tolerates poorly-drained soil. No phosphorus fertiliser.

Tall native screening with feature papery bark.

Shop Melaleuca quinquenervia

How to plant and care for them

Plant at native-appropriate spacing
Each native species has its own spacing for a thick hedge. Resilience and standard Lilly Pillies: 1m. Straight & Narrow and Sentinel: 0.7 to 1m. Waterhousea and Agonis: 1.5m. Eucalyptus cinerea and Melaleuca: 2 to 3m. Tighter than you think for a dense screen.
Mulch with eucalyptus chip
Eucalyptus chip mulch matches the native palette aesthetically, suppresses weeds, and breaks down without adding phosphorus to the soil. 75 to 100mm deep, kept a hand's width clear of each trunk.
Low or no phosphorus fertiliser
If feeding at all, use a fertiliser labelled 'native' or 'low-phosphorus'. Standard NPK fertiliser will damage Banksias and most Proteaceae. Most established native screens need no feeding at all.
Watering through establishment
Watering is essential through establishment. Adjust based on weather, soil type and how the plants are performing. Consistent moisture is the key while the screen is filling in.
Prune by species, not on schedule
Formal hedges (Resilience, Straight & Narrow, Luscious, Lemon Myrtle): two clips per year after flowering flushes. Soft natives (Waterhousea, Agonis x2): light prune annually for shape only. Banksia 'Sentinel' and canopy trees (Eucalyptus cinerea, Melaleuca): minimal pruning, self-shaping habit.

Frequently asked questions

How tall do native privacy trees grow?
It depends on the species. Banksia Sentinel and Syzygium Straight & Narrow hold around 3 to 5m. Resilience and Lemon Myrtle sit at 4 to 6m. Waterhousea, Agonis, Tristaniopsis Luscious and Melaleuca Paperbark reach 6 to 10m. Eucalyptus cinerea reaches 10 to 15m as a full shade tree. Match the species to your target screen height.
Are native privacy screens slower than exotic ones?
Not generally. Agonis flexuosa and Eucalyptus cinerea establish fast in any reasonable soil. Resilience and Straight & Narrow grow at similar rates to Ficus hillii. The Melaleuca Paperbark is one of the fastest tall screen trees we sell. Native screens are competitive on speed and beat exotic options on habitat value and water efficiency once established.
Can I mix natives with non-native plants?
Yes, but keep the natives in their own bed where possible because phosphorus-sensitive natives (Banksia, Grevillea, Proteaceae) react badly to standard fertilisers used on exotic plants. A separate native bed lets you feed correctly on each side without harming either.
What fertiliser is safe for native privacy screens?
Use a low-phosphorus native fertiliser, or no fertiliser at all once established. Banksia Sentinel especially is sensitive to standard garden fertilisers. Eucalyptus chip mulch slowly improves the soil without adding phosphorus, which makes it the safest mulch for the whole bed.
When should I clip native hedges?
Formal native hedges (Resilience, Straight & Narrow, Luscious, Lemon Myrtle) get two clips per year, after each major growth flush. Soft natives (Waterhousea, Agonis x2) get a light annual prune for shape only. Banksia Sentinel and the tall canopy trees (Eucalyptus cinerea, Melaleuca Paperbark) are self-shaping and need almost no pruning.

The wrap up

A native privacy screen does more than block the view. Ten Australian native picks across narrow columnar, soft weeping, coloured feature, tall canopy and formal hedge formats, matched to climate zones across the country.

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