Most loved for its graceful blue-grey fronds and edible golden-orange fruit often used for jellies and preserves.
Approximate only. Minimum height important? Confirm with us.
Height guide & disclaimer
Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you must confirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.
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Butia capitata, the Jelly Palm or Pindo Palm, is a single trunked palm with arching blue grey feather fronds that curve strongly back towards the ground. The stout trunk keeps a pattern of old leaf bases. Summer brings branched cream to yellow flower spikes, followed by orange fruit used for jelly and preserves.
It grows in full sun, tolerates part shade while juvenile, and needs free draining soil, with sandy ground handled easily. Light to moderate frost is taken without damage once established, and mature palms are strongly drought tolerant. Growth is slow at 10 to 20 centimetres a year, so plant close to the size you want.
Use it as a feature palm in open lawn, in groups of three for a subtropical effect, or in avenue and civic planting at about 3 metres apart. The leaf stems carry short spines along their margins, so set it back from narrow paths. Poolside and resort style gardens suit it, and frond litter is minimal.
About Jelly Palm
Butia capitata is a South American feather palm from the family Arecaceae, known in Australia as the Jelly Palm or Pindo Palm. It has a single stout trunk, a crown of thirty to forty arching blue grey fronds, and edible orange fruit. It is one of the hardier ornamental palms grown in Australian gardens.
Mature specimens usually reach 4 to 6 metres tall with a canopy spread of 3 to 4 metres. Because growth is slow, a palm will spend many years well below that height, which is part of its appeal in smaller gardens. Plan the spread carefully, since the fronds arch well out from the trunk.
Slowly. Trunk height increases by around 10 to 20 centimetres a year in good conditions, and it can take a decade or more for a young palm to develop obvious trunk. This is why advanced stock is usually specified where an immediate effect is wanted. The slow rate does mean very low ongoing maintenance.
Yes, more so than most ornamental palms. Established plants handle light to moderate frost without damage to the fronds, which allows it to be grown well inland and into cooler temperate districts where a Cocos or Kentia would fail. Young palms in their first couple of winters still benefit from a sheltered position.
It is. The palm produces clusters of orange yellow fruit in late summer and autumn with a sweet, slightly tart flesh that tastes something like apricot and pineapple. The common name comes from its traditional use in jams and jellies. Fallen fruit can stain paving, so keep that in mind near entertaining areas.
Yes to both. It tolerates salt laden wind well and grows readily in sandy coastal soils, and the neat crown with limited frond drop makes it a practical choice near pools. Keep it back from the pool edge and from narrow walkways, since the leaf stems carry short spines along their margins.
Water regularly through the first two summers, then only in long dry spells. Remove old brown fronds and spent seed stalks once or twice a year, cutting close to the trunk without cutting into it. A slow release palm fertiliser in spring keeps the frond colour strong. Otherwise it needs very little attention.
| Pot / bag size | Width | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| 30cm Pot | 33cm | 30cm |
| 40cm/45L Pot | 44cm | 41.5cm |
| 50cm Pot / 70L Pot | 55cm | 41.8cm |
| 100L Bag | 50.6cm | 52.8cm |
| 150L Bag | 66cm | 55cm |
| 200L Bag | 71.5cm | 60.5cm |
| 300L Bag | 88cm | 63.8cm |
| 400L Bag | 99cm | 66cm |
| 500L Bag | 122cm | 66cm |
| 750L Bag | 134cm | 69cm |
| 1000L Bag | 146.3cm | 71.5cm |
| 2000L Bag | 176cm | 82.5cm |
General planting reference from our existing size guide. Actual containers can vary by supplier and batch; confirm exact dimensions if required.
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Butia capitata, the Jelly Palm or Pindo Palm, is a single trunked palm with arching blue grey feather fronds that curve strongly back towards the ground. The stout trunk keeps a pattern of old leaf bases. Summer brings branched cream to yellow flower spikes, followed by orange fruit used for jelly and preserves.
It grows in full sun, tolerates part shade while juvenile, and needs free draining soil, with sandy ground handled easily. Light to moderate frost is taken without damage once established, and mature palms are strongly drought tolerant. Growth is slow at 10 to 20 centimetres a year, so plant close to the size you want.
Use it as a feature palm in open lawn, in groups of three for a subtropical effect, or in avenue and civic planting at about 3 metres apart. The leaf stems carry short spines along their margins, so set it back from narrow paths. Poolside and resort style gardens suit it, and frond litter is minimal.
About Jelly Palm
Butia capitata is a South American feather palm from the family Arecaceae, known in Australia as the Jelly Palm or Pindo Palm. It has a single stout trunk, a crown of thirty to forty arching blue grey fronds, and edible orange fruit. It is one of the hardier ornamental palms grown in Australian gardens.
Mature specimens usually reach 4 to 6 metres tall with a canopy spread of 3 to 4 metres. Because growth is slow, a palm will spend many years well below that height, which is part of its appeal in smaller gardens. Plan the spread carefully, since the fronds arch well out from the trunk.
Slowly. Trunk height increases by around 10 to 20 centimetres a year in good conditions, and it can take a decade or more for a young palm to develop obvious trunk. This is why advanced stock is usually specified where an immediate effect is wanted. The slow rate does mean very low ongoing maintenance.
Yes, more so than most ornamental palms. Established plants handle light to moderate frost without damage to the fronds, which allows it to be grown well inland and into cooler temperate districts where a Cocos or Kentia would fail. Young palms in their first couple of winters still benefit from a sheltered position.
It is. The palm produces clusters of orange yellow fruit in late summer and autumn with a sweet, slightly tart flesh that tastes something like apricot and pineapple. The common name comes from its traditional use in jams and jellies. Fallen fruit can stain paving, so keep that in mind near entertaining areas.
Yes to both. It tolerates salt laden wind well and grows readily in sandy coastal soils, and the neat crown with limited frond drop makes it a practical choice near pools. Keep it back from the pool edge and from narrow walkways, since the leaf stems carry short spines along their margins.
Water regularly through the first two summers, then only in long dry spells. Remove old brown fronds and spent seed stalks once or twice a year, cutting close to the trunk without cutting into it. A slow release palm fertiliser in spring keeps the frond colour strong. Otherwise it needs very little attention.
Evergreen (foliage year round)
Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 20cm per year (slow).
Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm works in an:
Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree
Mature Height: 4m to 6m
Mature Width: 3m to 4m
Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 20cm per year (slow).
Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 20cm per year (slow).
They are considered to have a:
Is Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm frost tolerant?
Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.
Butia capitata produces large, arching sprays of fragrant yellow to cream flowers in late spring and summer. These showy inflorescences sit beneath the graceful blue-green fronds and are followed by clusters of edible orange-yellow fruit, adding seasonal interest.
Does Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm flower?
Flowering Period:
Flower Type:
Flower Colour:
Yellow
No
Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is Native to South America, particularly Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, where it grows in open grasslands and dry savannahs.
Its flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects, while the fleshy fruit provides food for birds and wildlife. The arching fronds also offer shelter and roosting space for small birds, contributing to a biodiverse and resilient garden ecosystem.
Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm will thrive best in:
Butia capitata performs best in well-drained sandy or loam soils and prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. It is sensitive to poor drainage and may struggle in heavy clay unless significantly improved with organic matter and coarse material to enhance aeration. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as the palm matures and develops excellent drought resilience.
Is Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm Drought tolerant?
As a young plant it requires regular watering, but once established Butia capitata develops strong drought tolerance. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and coastal environments, maintaining its robust trunk and elegant fronds with minimal supplementary watering.
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Enquire for current heights
Enquire for current heights
Enquire for current heights
Heights are approximate and vary between individual trees.
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Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.
Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.
Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.
About Enriched Planting Mix
It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.
It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.
No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.
Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.
Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.
It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.
Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.
Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.
Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.
Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.
About Enriched Planting Mix
It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.
It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.
No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.
Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.
Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.
It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.
Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl' is one of the best compact evergreen shrubs available for low hedges and borders. The glossy dark green foliage forms a naturally tidy rounded mound, and clusters of soft white to pale pink flowers appear from late winter into spring, followed by small dark berries.
Oriental Pearl grows to just 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, holding a neat uniform shape with minimal pruning. The compact form makes it ideal for low clipped hedges, narrow borders, mass plantings, and container planting, particularly where space is limited and a formal finish is wanted.
Oriental Pearl thrives across most Australian climates in full sun to part shade, tolerating heat, coastal exposure, salt spray, light frost, and a wide range of well-drained soils. It is both drought tolerant and salt tolerant once established, making it a reliable low-maintenance choice for coastal and low-water gardens.
About Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl'
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl' grows to 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, forming a naturally compact dense mound.
Oriental Pearl has a moderate growth rate of 20-40cm per year once established.
Yes. Oriental Pearl is one of the best compact evergreen shrubs for low hedges, borders, and mass plantings, holding a tidy rounded form with minimal pruning.
Oriental Pearl produces clusters of soft white to pale pink flowers from late winter into spring, followed by small dark berries.
Yes. Oriental Pearl is both drought tolerant and salt tolerant once established, making it well suited to coastal gardens and low-water landscapes.
Plant 50-70cm apart for a continuous low hedge, or 80cm-1 metre for a softer informal border.
Oriental Pearl thrives across most Australian climates in full sun to part shade, tolerating heat, coastal exposure, and a wide range of well-drained soils.
Acmena smithii 'Sublime' is a compact evergreen lilly pilly with vivid lime-green new growth that matures to deep glossy green. Its naturally upright columnar habit delivers dense coverage from base to tip, making it one of the cleanest, lowest-maintenance screening plants available.
Sublime grows to around 5 metres tall and just 2-3 metres wide, holding a tight column with minimal pruning. The narrow form suits tight boundary lines, pool surrounds, and structured hedges. A non-invasive root system and strong psyllid resistance make it a reliable, well-behaved alternative to more vigorous screening species.
Sublime tolerates clay soils, light frost, and moderate drought once established. It thrives across temperate to subtropical regions of NSW, QLD, VIC and parts of SA and WA, in full sun to part shade.
About Acmena smithii 'Sublime' Lilly Pilly
Sublime grows to around 5 metres tall and just 2-3 metres wide, with a naturally upright columnar form.
Sublime is fast-growing, adding 50-80cm per year once established.
Yes. Acmena smithii 'Sublime' has strong psyllid resistance, so it holds clean, unblemished foliage where older lilly pilly types can suffer pimple-like leaf damage.
Yes. The dense columnar habit makes Sublime ideal for narrow hedges, screens, and pool surrounds where clean form is needed.
No. Sublime has a non-invasive root system, making it a safer choice near paving, pools, and boundaries than more vigorous screening species.
Plant 60-80cm apart for a dense formal hedge, or 1 metre for a more relaxed screen.
Sublime thrives across temperate to subtropical regions of NSW, QLD, VIC and parts of SA and WA, tolerating clay soils, light frost, and moderate drought once established.
Buxus microphylla var. japonica, sold as Japanese Box, is a dense evergreen shrub clipped here into clean topiary balls. The small, rounded, mid green leaves sit tightly along short stems, so the surface holds a crisp edge after cutting. Growth is naturally compact, which is what allows the ball shape to hold between trims.
It grows in full sun to part shade and accepts most soils that drain, from sandy loam through to improved clay. Cool temperate, temperate and subtropical districts all suit it, and established plants handle light to moderate frost. Growth runs about 15 to 25 centimetres a year, slow enough that the shape stays where you put it.
Balls are used to edge beds and paths, mark an entry, sit either side of a doorway, or repeat down a courtyard to give a planting rhythm. They also underplant feature trees neatly. Because the form arrives already grown, a bed reads finished from the day it goes in rather than years later.
About Japanese Box Topiary Balls
It is Buxus microphylla var. japonica grown on and clipped into a sphere. The plant does the same job as any box shrub, evergreen, small leaved and tolerant of cutting, but it arrives already shaped. Ball diameters run from around 30 centimetres up to large advanced specimens, and the shape is then held with two trims a year.
The ball is held at whatever diameter it is clipped to, commonly 30 to 70 centimetres, with larger specimens available in bigger containers. In the ground, overall height sits close to the ball diameter. Left entirely unclipped the species would slowly reach roughly 1.5 to 2 metres tall and wide over many years.
About 15 to 25 centimetres a year, which is slow to moderate. That pace is an advantage in topiary because the outline drifts gradually rather than running away between cuts. Two trims a year, one in early spring and one in late summer, are usually enough to keep the surface tight and the profile even.
Full sun to part shade both work. Full sun gives the densest, tightest surface, which matters when the appeal of the plant is a clean clipped edge. In hot inland gardens some afternoon shade prevents leaf scorch and bronzing. Deep shade thins the growth out and the ball loses its crisp outline.
Yes. Established plants handle light to moderate frost without damage, which covers most temperate and cool temperate gardens including Canberra, Melbourne and the southern tablelands. Newly planted stock is more exposed, so water it well going into winter and mulch the root zone. Any frost burnt tips can simply be trimmed off in spring.
Yes, they are one of the better plants for a container. A pot 40 to 50 centimetres wide suits a single ball for a courtyard, entry or balcony. Use a quality potting mix, water once the top few centimetres dry out, and feed in spring and again in summer. Repot or refresh the mix every few years.
Trim twice a year with sharp shears, cutting lightly and often rather than hard. Feed in early spring with a slow release fertiliser and keep water up through summer. Mulch to about 50 millimetres, keeping it clear of the stem. Watch for box psyllid on soft new growth and treat early if the tips start to cup.
Buxus sempervirens English Box Topiary Balls are pre-clipped formal evergreen specimens, available in three mature sizes and ready to place. The tight, fine, dark green foliage holds a precise rounded form year-round and gives the classic formal topiary look that no other Buxus replicates. As one of our most consistently strong-selling products, our English Box topiary balls are well-shaped, well-rooted, and arrive in proportion to the pot size.
English Box performs best in cool to temperate climates and is slow growing at around 15 to 25 cm per year in good conditions, which is exactly why it holds sharp formal shapes so well. It thrives in full sun to part shade with well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral loamy soil, and is frost hardy, drought tolerant once established, and excellent in containers. Two light clips per year, in spring and again in late summer, keep the ball form crisp.
Use them flanking entrances, lining formal pathways, anchoring symmetrical garden beds, defining parterre and knot gardens, and in pairs in classic urns and decorative pots at front doors. Buxus sempervirens is the original topiary plant and remains the benchmark for traditional and contemporary formal design, with a level of finesse and density that fast-growing alternatives cannot replicate.
About Buxus sempervirens English Box Topiary Balls
Our English Box topiary balls arrive pre-clipped and ready to place at the size you order. The 30cm/33cm pots have ball diameters of approximately 30 to 45 cm, the 40cm/45L pots have ball diameters of 40 to 55 cm, and the 50cm/75L pots have ball diameters of 50 to 70 cm. They are well-rooted and in proportion to the pot.
English Box is slow-growing, adding approximately 15 to 25 cm per year once established in good conditions. This slow growth rate is one of the reasons it holds sharp formal shapes so well, and why mature pre-clipped specimens command a premium over seedling-grown stock.
English Box (Buxus sempervirens) has the smallest, finest leaves and the tightest formal texture, ideal for traditional parterres and clipped balls. Japanese Box (Buxus microphylla japonica) has slightly larger leaves, grows faster, and handles heat better. Shaggy Box (Buxus bodinieri) has soft, rounded leaves, much better blight resistance, and is the best choice for humid subtropical climates where English Box can struggle.
English Box performs best in cool to temperate regions including Victoria, the ACT, the NSW Southern Highlands and Central Tablelands, Tasmania, and the elevated parts of South Australia and Western Australia. In humid coastal or hot subtropical regions, consider Buxus bodinieri Shaggy Box or Japanese Box instead for better long-term performance.
Lightly clip in spring and again in late summer or early autumn to maintain the ball shape. Avoid pruning in the heat of summer or during frost periods. Use sharp shears for the cleanest formal finish, and step back regularly to check the symmetry of the form.
Yes. English Box is the classic potted topiary plant and pre-clipped balls look particularly striking in pairs at entrances and on terraces. Use a minimum 30L pot for the 30cm/33cm size and scale up from there, with a quality potting mix and a slow-release fertiliser applied twice yearly.
English Box can be affected by box blight, particularly in humid conditions where foliage stays wet. To reduce risk, ensure good air circulation around each plant, avoid overhead watering, and prune to maintain airflow through the canopy. In high-humidity regions, Buxus bodinieri Shaggy Box is a more disease-resistant alternative.
Ligularia reniformis carries enormous glossy kidney-shaped leaves that give a shaded garden the bold tropical texture usually only available in full sun. The Tractor Seat Plant is grown for foliage first, with tall stems of bright yellow daisy flowers through summer as a bonus.
Ligularia reniformis forms a clump 0.6 to 1 metre tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide, spreading slowly at 10 to 20 centimetres per year. That steady habit makes it reliable as a mass underplanting beneath established trees, an edging along a shaded path, or a single specimen in a large pot.
This is a full shade plant. It wants consistent moisture and protection from hot afternoon sun, which scorches the leaves, and it is frost sensitive, so in cold districts it needs a protected position. Given shade and water it is close to maintenance free.
About Ligularia reniformis
It forms a clump 0.6 to 1 metre tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide. The individual leaves can reach 40 centimetres across, which is where the bold texture comes from.
The common name comes from the large round kidney-shaped leaves, which resemble the seat of an old tractor. The botanical name reniformis means kidney-shaped.
Yes. It performs best in full shade and will scorch in hot afternoon sun. It is one of the most useful foliage plants available for genuinely dark positions.
Tall stems of bright yellow daisy-like flowers rise well above the foliage through summer. The foliage remains the main feature for the rest of the year.
No. It is frost sensitive and may be damaged by frost. In cold districts plant it in a protected position, or grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover.
It wants consistently moist soil and does not tolerate drying out. Mulch well and water regularly through summer, particularly in pots and under established trees where roots compete.
Plant 0.8 to 1 metre apart for a continuous shaded groundcover mass. Closer spacing fills in faster but the clumps will crowd within a few seasons.
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen' carries small shimmering silver-green leaves on near-black stems, giving a light airy screen that moves in the wind rather than reading as a solid green wall. It is one of the most widely specified screening plants in Australian landscape design for exactly that reason.
'Silver Sheen' grows to 4 to 6 metres tall but only 1.5 to 2 metres wide at 30 to 60 centimetres per year, which makes it a genuine solution for narrow beds along fence lines and between buildings where height is needed but width is not available. Small cream flowers appear in spring and are lightly fragrant.
'Silver Sheen' grows in full sun to part shade and tolerates light to moderate frost once established, performing from subtropical Queensland through Sydney, Melbourne, Gippsland and Adelaide. It clips well, holds density under regular trimming, and is equally effective as a formal hedge or a loose screen.
About Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen'
'Silver Sheen' grows to 4 to 6 metres tall and only 1.5 to 2 metres wide, which makes it one of the best options for narrow screening where a tall hedge is needed in a shallow bed.
It grows at 30 to 60 centimetres per year once established, reaching a usable screening height within three to four years with regular water and feeding.
It naturally holds to 1.5 to 2 metres wide and can be trimmed to under a metre with regular clipping, which is why it is so often used in tight side-boundary positions.
Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge. Closer spacing fills in faster but needs more trimming.
'Silver Sheen' handles light to moderate frost once established. Young plants benefit from protection through their first winter in colder inland districts.
Yes. It performs in full sun through to part shade. In shadier positions growth is slightly more open, which suits a softer informal screen.
It performs from subtropical Queensland through Northern NSW, Sydney, the South Coast and tablelands, Melbourne and surrounds, the Western District, Gippsland and Adelaide.
Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Balls' is Star Jasmine grown and clipped into a dense evergreen sphere. The small glossy leaves sit tight on a woody framework, holding a clean rounded outline year round. White pinwheel flowers open in spring and carry a strong sweet scent right across a courtyard.
Ball specimens hold at about 1 to 1.5 metres tall and wide with light clipping. Full sun to part shade suits them, in any free draining soil. Growth is slow to moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year. They handle coastal exposure, light frost and dry spells once the roots are down.
Repeat them along a driveway, either side of an entry, or in pots on a terrace where a formal shape is wanted straight away. They read as structure in a planting scheme without the height of a hedge, and because the form is already trained, a new garden looks settled from the day it goes in.
About Star Jasmine Balls
They are Trachelospermum jasminoides, the common Star Jasmine, grown and clipped into a dense evergreen sphere on a woody framework. Instead of climbing, the plant is trained into a self supporting rounded shape. The foliage is small, glossy and dark green, and the plant carries scented white flowers through spring.
They hold at roughly 1 to 1.5 metres tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide. Growth is slow to moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year, so a light clip once or twice a year keeps the ball tight at whatever size within that range suits the setting.
Full sun to part shade both work. Full sun gives the densest foliage and the heaviest flowering, while part shade produces slightly softer, more open growth and fewer flowers. Avoid deep shade, where the ball thins out and loses its outline. Morning sun with afternoon protection suits hot inland gardens.
Yes, and pots are one of the main uses. A container 50 to 60 centimetres wide with a quality free draining mix will hold a ball for years. Water more often than you would in the ground, especially in summer, and feed in spring and again in late summer. Refresh the mix every few years.
Yes, the foliage is held year round. The glossy dark green leaves take on a bronze tinge in cold weather and green up again in spring, but the plant never goes bare. That is what makes it useful as permanent structure in a scheme, particularly in winter once perennials have died back.
Flowering runs through spring, roughly September to November, and often carries into early summer in warmer districts. The white pinwheel flowers are small but produced in quantity, and the scent is strong on still evenings. Flowering is heaviest on plants in full sun that were not clipped hard just before bud set.
Clip lightly with hedging shears once after flowering and again in late summer if needed, taking only the new growth to keep the outline crisp. Water deeply in dry weather, mulch the base, and feed in early spring. The sap is milky and can irritate skin, so wear gloves when trimming.
Phoenix canariensis, the Canary Island Date Palm, is an iconic evergreen palm featuring a thick upright trunk and a broad crown of deep green feathery fronds. It brings a striking, established tropical presence to gardens and landscapes.
Canary Island Date Palm grows slowly to 10-15 metres tall over many years, with a broad crown spreading 6-10 metres. The grand stature makes it a classic choice for specimen planting, avenues, and bold focal points, bringing year-round architectural interest to large gardens, estates, and civic landscapes.
Canary Island Date Palm is highly drought tolerant and salt-spray resistant once established, thriving in full sun with low maintenance. It performs well across coastal and warm temperate regions of Australia, with regular removal of old fronds keeping it looking its best.
About Phoenix canariensis Canary Island Date Palm
Phoenix canariensis grows slowly to 10-15 metres tall over many years, with a broad crown spreading 6-10 metres.
The Canary Island Date Palm is slow-growing, gaining height gradually, which is why advanced specimens are highly valued.
Yes. Once established the Canary Island Date Palm is highly drought tolerant and also salt-spray resistant, making it well suited to coastal gardens.
It suits larger gardens, estates, and civic landscapes due to its broad mature crown. Allow plenty of room for the fronds to spread.
It is low maintenance overall, though regular removal of old lower fronds keeps it looking its best. Note the frond bases carry sharp spines.
Yes. Phoenix canariensis is an evergreen palm, holding its crown of feathery green fronds year-round.
The Canary Island Date Palm thrives across coastal and warm temperate regions of Australia in full sun, tolerating heat, drought, and salt exposure.
Beaucarnea recurvata, known everywhere as the Ponytail Palm, is not a palm at all but a succulent-stemmed member of the Asparagaceae family. A swollen grey-barked base tapers into a slim trunk topped with long, narrow leaves that arch and fall in a loose fountain. The form is sculptural and unmistakable.
It wants full sun to part shade and gritty, free-draining soil that never stays wet. Warm temperate, subtropical and dry inland gardens suit it best. It is frost sensitive, so give it a sheltered position in cold districts. Growth is slow, about 5 to 10 centimetres a year, and water needs are minimal once settled.
It works as a courtyard specimen, a potted feature beside a doorway, or repeated through a dry garden for rhythm. Interior atriums and well-lit foyers suit it too, since it tolerates low water and general neglect. For a designer it delivers strong form in a small footprint with very little ongoing input.
About Ponytail Palm
Beaucarnea recurvata is a slow-growing succulent species from Mexico, sold as the Ponytail Palm. Despite the name it is not a palm; it sits in the Asparagaceae family. Water is stored in a swollen woody base called a caudex, above which a slim trunk carries a cascading head of long narrow leaves.
In an Australian garden expect around 2 to 4 metres tall with a canopy spread of about 2 metres, reached over many years. Container-grown plants stay considerably smaller, usually 1 to 1.5 metres, because the root run is limited. Allow 3 to 4 metres between specimens if you want each caudex and head to develop fully.
Slowly. Around 5 to 10 centimetres a year in good conditions, and less in a pot or in cooler districts. That pace is part of the appeal, since a planted specimen holds its proportions for years without outgrowing its position. Advanced stock is the practical way to get immediate size from this species.
Treat it as frost sensitive. Light frost scorches the leaf tips and a hard frost can rot the growing point. Plant it in a warm, sheltered position with good drainage, ideally near a sunny north-facing wall, or grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover through winter in cold districts.
Yes, it is one of the better container subjects. Use a wide, heavy pot with a gritty free-draining mix and let it dry out between waterings. Indoors it needs the brightest position available, ideally beside a large window, and far less water than most houseplants. Overwatering is the usual cause of failure.
Beaucarnea recurvata is not known to be toxic to cats, dogs or people, and it carries no spines or thorns. The leaf tips are fine and can be sharp enough to catch an eye at head height, so keep taller specimens back from paths where small children play. Otherwise it is an easy plant to live with.
Water deeply but infrequently, letting the soil dry well between times, and cut watering right back over winter. Feed once in spring with a slow-release fertiliser. Remove spent lower leaves by hand rather than cutting the trunk. Never prune the growing tip, and make sure the caudex sits above soil level so it cannot rot.
Phoenix rupicola, the Cliff Date Palm, is a slender single-stemmed palm with an elegant crown of arching feather-like fronds. The trunk is clean and relatively smooth compared with other date palms, giving it a refined upright form.
Cliff Date Palm grows to 8-10 metres tall with a spread of 3-5 metres, forming a graceful canopy well suited to tropical and subtropical landscapes. Small cream-yellow flowers are borne on branched inflorescences, followed by ornamental dates. It works beautifully as a focal specimen, in clustered groupings, or in avenue planting.
Cliff Date Palm is moderately fast-growing in warm conditions and performs best in warm frost-free climates, tolerating light coastal exposure. It prefers full sun but also grows in partial shade while young. It is evergreen, low maintenance, and shows moderate drought tolerance once established.
About Phoenix rupicola Cliff Date Palm
Phoenix rupicola grows to 8-10 metres tall with a spread of 3-5 metres, forming a refined upright crown.
The Cliff Date Palm is moderately fast-growing in warm, favourable conditions.
The Cliff Date Palm has a notably clean, smooth trunk and a slender, graceful crown, giving it a more refined look than the heavier Canary Island Date Palm.
Yes. While young the Cliff Date Palm grows well in large pots and suits courtyards, patios, and poolside positions.
It shows moderate drought tolerance once established, though regular watering supports stronger growth.
Yes. Phoenix rupicola is an evergreen palm, holding its crown of arching fronds year-round.
The Cliff Date Palm thrives in warm frost-free climates across NSW, QLD, and frost-free parts of VIC, SA and WA. It is not tolerant of heavy frost.
Chamaerops humilis, the European Fan Palm, is a hardy compact palm native to the western Mediterranean. It forms a clump of multiple stems topped with striking fan-shaped blue-green fronds, adding a strong architectural element to gardens.
European Fan Palm grows slowly to 2-4 metres tall and 1.5-3 metres wide, with a naturally multi-stemmed clumping habit. The compact size and bold form suit Mediterranean and dry-themed landscapes, courtyards, container planting, and grouped feature plantings where texture is wanted.
European Fan Palm is exceptionally tough, thriving in full sun and tolerating drought, salt spray, frost, and poor soils once established. It is one of the most cold-hardy palms available, making it a reliable low-maintenance choice for coastal and water-wise gardens across most of Australia.
About Chamaerops humilis European Fan Palm
Chamaerops humilis grows slowly to 2-4 metres tall and 1.5-3 metres wide, with a multi-stemmed clumping habit.
The European Fan Palm is slow-growing, which makes it easy to keep in scale and well suited to pots and courtyards.
Yes. Chamaerops humilis is one of the most cold-hardy palms available, tolerating frost as well as heat, drought, and coastal exposure.
Yes. Its slow growth and compact clumping form make the European Fan Palm an excellent container plant for courtyards, balconies, and entrances.
Yes. Once established the European Fan Palm is highly drought tolerant and also handles salt spray and poor soils, making it ideal for water-wise and coastal gardens.
Yes. The European Fan Palm has sharp spines along the frond stems, so position it away from high-traffic areas and take care when handling.
The European Fan Palm thrives across most Australian climates in full sun, tolerating coastal exposure, drought, heat, and frost once established.
