Most loved for its brilliant red new foliage that contrasts beautifully with mature green leaves, combined with a dense upright habit ideal for hedging.
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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Photinia glabra 'Super Red' flushes brilliant scarlet new growth repeatedly through the growing season against glossy dark green mature foliage, and does it on a frame far more compact than the common Photinia robusta. Every trim triggers another flush, so a maintained hedge carries red for most of the year.
'Super Red' grows to 2 to 4 metres tall and only 1.5 to 2 metres wide at 40 to 80 centimetres per year, holding a dense upright habit. That narrow footprint makes it a better fit than robusta for suburban boundaries, side passages and any bed where a tall screen is needed but width is limited.
'Super Red' grows in full sun to part shade and tolerates light to moderate frost once established. It clips cleanly, holds density under regular trimming, and adapts to most soils, which is why it is one of the most widely planted formal hedging shrubs in Australia.
About Photinia glabra 'Super Red'
'Super Red' grows to 2 to 4 metres tall and only 1.5 to 2 metres wide. It is considerably more compact than Photinia robusta, which suits it to smaller gardens.
'Super Red' is a Photinia glabra selection and stays much smaller, reaching 2 to 4 metres rather than the 10 metres robusta can achieve. Choose 'Super Red' for suburban hedges and robusta where real height is needed.
It grows at 40 to 80 centimetres per year once established, forming a usable hedge within two to three years.
New foliage emerges brilliant scarlet before hardening to glossy dark green. Trimming stimulates fresh growth, so regular clipping produces more red colour rather than less.
Plant 80 centimetres to 1 metre apart for a dense formal hedge, or 1.5 metres apart for a looser informal screen.
Yes. It performs in full sun through to part shade, though the red new growth colours most intensely in full sun.
Trim two to three times through the growing season from spring to early autumn. Each cut drives a new red flush, so frequent light trimming gives both a tighter hedge and more colour.
| 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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Enter the length of your boundary, then choose how closely you want to plant.
Enter your boundary length to see how many trees you need.
Measure only the boundary you intend to plant—exclude gates and gaps. Spacing is centre to centre. Quantities are rounded up for one row, allowing roughly half the spacing at each end. Site conditions and pruning affect the final hedge.
Photinia glabra 'Super Red' flushes brilliant scarlet new growth repeatedly through the growing season against glossy dark green mature foliage, and does it on a frame far more compact than the common Photinia robusta. Every trim triggers another flush, so a maintained hedge carries red for most of the year.
'Super Red' grows to 2 to 4 metres tall and only 1.5 to 2 metres wide at 40 to 80 centimetres per year, holding a dense upright habit. That narrow footprint makes it a better fit than robusta for suburban boundaries, side passages and any bed where a tall screen is needed but width is limited.
'Super Red' grows in full sun to part shade and tolerates light to moderate frost once established. It clips cleanly, holds density under regular trimming, and adapts to most soils, which is why it is one of the most widely planted formal hedging shrubs in Australia.
About Photinia glabra 'Super Red'
'Super Red' grows to 2 to 4 metres tall and only 1.5 to 2 metres wide. It is considerably more compact than Photinia robusta, which suits it to smaller gardens.
'Super Red' is a Photinia glabra selection and stays much smaller, reaching 2 to 4 metres rather than the 10 metres robusta can achieve. Choose 'Super Red' for suburban hedges and robusta where real height is needed.
It grows at 40 to 80 centimetres per year once established, forming a usable hedge within two to three years.
New foliage emerges brilliant scarlet before hardening to glossy dark green. Trimming stimulates fresh growth, so regular clipping produces more red colour rather than less.
Plant 80 centimetres to 1 metre apart for a dense formal hedge, or 1.5 metres apart for a looser informal screen.
Yes. It performs in full sun through to part shade, though the red new growth colours most intensely in full sun.
Trim two to three times through the growing season from spring to early autumn. Each cut drives a new red flush, so frequent light trimming gives both a tighter hedge and more colour.
Evergreen (foliage year round)
Photinia glabra 'Super Red' is expected to grow 40cm to 80cm per year (approx.).
Photinia glabra 'Super Red' works in an:
Photinia glabra 'Super Red' is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree
Mature Height: 2m to 4m (approx.)
Mature Width: 1.5m to 2m (dense, upright habit)
Photinia glabra 'Super Red' is expected to grow 40cm to 80cm per year (approx.).
Photinia glabra 'Super Red' is expected to grow 40cm to 80cm per year (approx.).
They are considered to have a:
Is Photinia glabra 'Super Red' frost tolerant?
Photinia glabra 'Super Red' is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.
Photinia glabra ‘Super Red’ produces clusters of small, creamy-white flowers in mid- to late spring. These subtle blooms sit above the vivid red new foliage, adding a light seasonal accent before developing into small red berries later in the year.
Does Photinia glabra 'Super Red' flower?
Flowering Period:
Flower Type:
Flower Colour:
White
No
Photinia glabra 'Super Red' is Native to East Asia, particularly Japan and China, where Photinia glabra grows naturally in forests and woodland edges.
Its flowers attract bees and small pollinating insects, while the red berries that follow provide food for birds. The dense evergreen canopy offers excellent shelter, nesting cover and protective structure for small birds, enhancing biodiversity in hedging and screening plantings.
Photinia glabra 'Super Red' will thrive best in:
Photinia glabra ‘Super Red’ performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. It may struggle in heavy clay or poorly drained sites unless improved with organic matter and coarse material to boost drainage and soil structure. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as the plant matures to support drought resilience, strong evergreen growth and consistently vibrant red flushes.
Is Photinia glabra 'Super Red' Drought tolerant?
As a young plant it requires regular watering, but once established ‘Super Red’ develops good drought tolerance. Hardy and adaptable, it performs strongly in warm, dry and urban conditions, maintaining its vibrant foliage colour with only occasional deep watering during extended dry spells.
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.
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.
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.
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Snow Maiden' is a compact evergreen shrub that delivers a fresh burst of fragrant pure white flowers from late winter into spring. The dense mounding habit and glossy dark green foliage give it a lush, polished year-round appearance.
Snow Maiden grows to just 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, holding a naturally tidy rounded form with minimal pruning. The compact size makes it an excellent choice for low clipped hedges, borders, mass plantings, and containers, and it works well as a standout specimen in mixed plantings. Small dark berries follow the flowers.
Snow Maiden performs well in full sun to part shade and is drought hardy once established, thriving in coastal gardens and a wide range of well-drained soils. It is salt tolerant, low maintenance, and needs only moderate water while establishing.
About Rhaphiolepis indica 'Snow Maiden'
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Snow Maiden' grows to 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, forming a naturally compact dense mound.
Snow Maiden has a moderate growth rate of 20-40cm per year once established.
Snow Maiden produces masses of pure white flowers from late winter into spring, followed by small dark berries.
Yes. Snow Maiden is one of the best compact evergreen shrubs for low hedges, borders, and mass plantings, holding a tidy rounded form with minimal pruning.
Yes. Snow Maiden 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.
Snow Maiden thrives across most Australian climates in full sun to part shade, tolerating heat, coastal exposure, and a wide range of well-drained soils.
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.
Casuarina glauca 'Cousin It' forms a dense mat of fine weeping needle-like foliage just 20 to 30 centimetres high, cascading beautifully over walls, edges and rock work. It reads as flowing texture rather than as a conventional groundcover, which is why designers use it so heavily.
'Cousin It' spreads 2 to 4 metres wide at 30 to 50 centimetres per year, filling in steadily without becoming invasive or needing to be cut back. It suppresses weeds once established, holds soil on banks and batters, and works equally well spilling from a raised planter or a large pot.
This Australian native tolerates light to moderate frost once established, along with salt, wind, poor soils and extended dry. It grows in full sun to part shade and needs essentially no maintenance beyond the occasional tidy of a wayward runner.
About Casuarina glauca 'Cousin It'
'Cousin It' stays just 20 to 30 centimetres tall and spreads 2 to 4 metres wide. It is a genuinely prostrate form and will not build up in height over time.
It spreads at 30 to 50 centimetres per year, filling in steadily. Expect two to three seasons to close a mass planting depending on spacing.
Yes. Casuarina glauca is naturally a coastal and estuarine species, and 'Cousin It' inherits strong salt and wind tolerance, which makes it excellent for seaside gardens.
Yes. Once the mat closes over it forms dense cover that suppresses most weed germination, which is a large part of its value in commercial and civic landscapes.
Yes. It is particularly effective spilling over the edge of a large pot, raised planter or retaining wall, where the cascading habit can be seen.
Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a continuous mass. Closer spacing closes the gaps faster but the plants will eventually merge regardless.
It handles light to moderate frost once established. Protect young plants through their first winter in colder inland districts.
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.
Photinia robusta flushes brilliant scarlet-red new growth repeatedly through the growing season against dense glossy dark green mature foliage, giving one of the boldest colour contrasts available in a hedging plant. Every trim triggers another flush, so a maintained hedge carries red for most of the year.
Photinia robusta is a genuinely tall grower, reaching around 10 metres if left alone, but it is almost always held between 2 and 4 metres as a hedge. It stays narrow at 2 to 3 metres wide and grows quickly at 40 to 80 centimetres per year, which makes it a common choice where a tall screen is needed fast.
Photinia robusta grows in full sun to part shade and tolerates light to moderate frost once established. It is adaptable to most soils, tolerates urban conditions, and holds density under hard clipping, so it suits both formal hedges and loose boundary screening.
About Photinia robusta
Left unpruned Photinia robusta can reach around 10 metres, which makes it one of the taller screening plants available. In practice it is kept between 2 and 4 metres as a clipped hedge.
It grows quickly at 40 to 80 centimetres per year once established, forming a usable screen within two to three years. It is one of the faster evergreen hedging options.
New growth emerges bright scarlet-red before hardening to glossy dark green. Trimming stimulates fresh growth, so regular clipping produces more red colour rather than less.
Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tight formal hedge. Closer spacing fills in faster but needs more frequent trimming.
Yes. It performs in full sun through to part shade, though red new growth colours most intensely in full sun. In shade the plant stays healthy but growth is more open.
It handles light to moderate frost once established. Young plants benefit from protection through their first winter in colder inland districts.
Trim two to three times through the growing season, from spring to early autumn. Each cut drives a new red flush, so frequent light trimming gives both a tighter hedge and more colour.
Syzygium australe, the brush cherry or lilly pilly, is a fast growing evergreen Australian native, seen as a large shrub or a small tree depending on how it is trained. The glossy foliage is dense to the ground and coppery red when new, and creamy white flowers give way to pink to dark red edible berries.
It reaches 6 to 10 metres pruned and up to 12 metres unpruned, spreading 3 to 5 metres, and puts on 50 to 80 centimetres a year. Full sun to part shade both suit it. Enriched, well drained soil is ideal, and established plants take coastal exposure, light frost and moderate drought.
Most buyers use it as a tall hedge or privacy screen, though it makes a fine shade tree if allowed to run. It clips hard into formal shapes and recovers quickly, which suits urban gardens and commercial landscapes where a screen must stay in bounds. Flowers and berries add wildlife value at no extra work.
About Brush Cherry
Syzygium australe is a rainforest species from the east coast of Australia, ranging from southern Queensland through to eastern Victoria. In the wild it grows as a tree along creek lines and rainforest margins. In gardens it is most often kept as a hedge, since it responds to clipping better than almost any other native.
Left unpruned it can reach 12 metres, and it typically sits between 6 and 10 metres when pruned, with a spread of 3 to 5 metres. As a clipped hedge it will hold at any height between about 1.5 and 5 metres. Judge the site on width as much as height, because the canopy is broad.
It grows 50 to 80 centimetres a year, which is moderate to fast, and it is one of the quicker ways to get a tall screen. Growth is strongest in warm humid conditions with regular water. A hedge planted from advanced stock will usually close up within two seasons if kept watered and trimmed.
Yes. The pink to dark red fruit is edible, with a crisp texture and a tart, faintly spicy flavour. It is more commonly used for jams, jellies and cordials than eaten in quantity fresh. Fruit forms in summer and autumn after flowering, and birds usually take most of it before anyone gets around to picking.
It tolerates light frost once established and copes with moderate dry periods, though it is not a plant for hot arid inland gardens without irrigation. Young plants are more sensitive on both counts and need protection through their first winter in cold districts. Consistent moisture produces the dense foliage that makes a good screen.
For a dense informal screen, 1 to 1.5 metres apart works well. For a tighter formal hedge, plant 80 centimetres apart. As a feature or shade tree, allow 3 to 4 metres between trees, or 3 metres for avenue planting where a uniform line is wanted. Spacing tighter than 80 centimetres brings no benefit.
Trim two or three times a year through the warmer months, cutting lightly and often rather than hard and rarely. Water deeply in the first two summers and mulch well. Feed in spring and again in late summer with a native fertiliser. Older plantings can be cut back hard into bare wood and will reshoot readily.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Alta' is the narrowest of the evergreen magnolias, holding a tight columnar form that delivers the large fragrant creamy-white flowers and glossy bronze-backed foliage of the species in roughly half the width. It solves the problem of wanting a magnolia in a space that cannot take one.
'Alta' grows to 6 to 10 metres tall at 30 to 50 centimetres per year, with dense branching that holds low to the ground rather than lifting into a canopy. Flowers appear through summer and into autumn, and the deep green leaves with rich bronze undersides give strong contrast in any light.
'Alta' grows in full sun and tolerates light to moderate frost once established. Because it holds density from the base and stays narrow, it is one of the few evergreen feature trees that also works as a formal screen along a boundary or driveway without regular trimming.
About Magnolia grandiflora 'Alta'
'Alta' grows to 6 to 10 metres tall with a distinctly narrow columnar habit. It is the most upright and space-efficient of the commonly grown evergreen magnolias.
'Alta' is taller and considerably narrower. 'Little Gem' and 'Teddy Bear' are compact and rounded, while 'Alta' grows as a tall column, which makes it the right choice for screening and tight spaces.
Large fragrant creamy-white flowers appear through summer and into autumn. Flowering is sporadic rather than all at once, which extends the display over several months.
Yes. It holds dense foliage from ground level and stays narrow, so a row of 'Alta' forms an evergreen screen with far less width and trimming than most alternatives.
'Alta' grows at a moderate 30 to 50 centimetres per year. It is not a fast screen, but it is dense and requires little correction once established.
Plant 2 to 2.5 metres apart for a continuous evergreen screen, or 3 to 4 metres apart where each tree should read as an individual feature.
'Alta' handles light to moderate frost once established. Protect young plants through their first winter in colder inland districts.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Greenback' is an evergreen cultivar of the Southern Magnolia with thick, glossy leaves that stay green on the underside rather than the rusty brown of most cultivars, which is where the name comes from. Growth is dense and upright. Large, fragrant, creamy white flowers open through late spring and summer.
Grow it in full sun to partial shade in most reasonable soils, ideally slightly acidic and well drained. It suits temperate, warm temperate and subtropical gardens, tolerates urban conditions and is moderately drought hardy once established. Growth is moderate at 20 to 40 centimetres a year. Water regularly through the first two summers and in long dry spells.
The dense habit makes it a strong privacy screen or windbreak, planted 2.5 to 3 metres apart for an informal screen or 1.5 to 2 metres apart for a tighter clipped hedge. It also stands alone as a formal upright specimen. Evergreen cover at 10 to 15 metres is hard to beat on a boundary.
About Greenback Magnolia
It is an evergreen selection of the Southern Magnolia with thick, glossy leaves that stay green on the underside instead of the rusty brown found on most cultivars, which is where the name comes from. It has a dense, upright habit and produces large, fragrant, creamy white flowers through the warmer months.
It reaches 10 to 15 metres tall and 8 to 10 metres wide in most gardens, and can push to 18 or 20 metres in deep soil with good moisture. That is a broad crown at maturity, so give it clear room away from buildings and boundaries. Trimming will hold it at any height above about 2 metres.
Yes, it holds foliage all year and does not go bare in winter. Older leaves are shed gradually through the year rather than all at once, so there is a light ongoing leaf drop rather than a seasonal one. The leaves are thick and slow to break down, which is worth knowing near pools.
Space plants 2.5 to 3 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 1.5 to 2 metres apart for a tighter formal hedge that you keep clipped. For a row of individual trees rather than a solid screen, 6 metres apart lets each crown show its shape. Closer planting fills faster but the plants compete for water.
Full sun to partial shade both work. Full sun gives the densest growth and the heaviest flowering, which matters if you are relying on it as a screen. In partial shade it grows a little more openly. It will take half a day of shade from a building or neighbouring trees without thinning badly.
Once established it is moderately drought tolerant and copes with normal dry summers in temperate and subtropical gardens. The thick waxy leaves reduce water loss. It is not a plant for unirrigated arid sites, and a young plant needs regular water through its first two summers before you can leave it to fend for itself.
Trim in late summer or early autumn after flowering, taking the tips back to shape rather than cutting into bare wood. Feed in early spring with a fertiliser suited to acid loving plants, and mulch the root zone. Water regularly through the establishment period and during long dry spells. Little else is required.
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Photinia glabra 'Super Red' flushes brilliant scarlet new growth repeatedly through the growing season against glossy dark green mature foliage, and does it on a frame far more compact than the common Photinia robusta. Every trim triggers another flush, so a maintained hedge carries red for most of the year.
'Super Red' grows to 2 to 4 metres tall and only 1.5 to 2 metres wide at 40 to 80 centimetres per year, holding a dense upright habit. That narrow footprint makes it a better fit than robusta for suburban boundaries, side passages and any bed where a tall screen is needed but width is limited.
'Super Red' grows in full sun to part shade and tolerates light to moderate frost once established. It clips cleanly, holds density under regular trimming, and adapts to most soils, which is why it is one of the most widely planted formal hedging shrubs in Australia.
About Photinia glabra 'Super Red'
'Super Red' grows to 2 to 4 metres tall and only 1.5 to 2 metres wide. It is considerably more compact than Photinia robusta, which suits it to smaller gardens.
'Super Red' is a Photinia glabra selection and stays much smaller, reaching 2 to 4 metres rather than the 10 metres robusta can achieve. Choose 'Super Red' for suburban hedges and robusta where real height is needed.
It grows at 40 to 80 centimetres per year once established, forming a usable hedge within two to three years.
New foliage emerges brilliant scarlet before hardening to glossy dark green. Trimming stimulates fresh growth, so regular clipping produces more red colour rather than less.
Plant 80 centimetres to 1 metre apart for a dense formal hedge, or 1.5 metres apart for a looser informal screen.
Yes. It performs in full sun through to part shade, though the red new growth colours most intensely in full sun.
Trim two to three times through the growing season from spring to early autumn. Each cut drives a new red flush, so frequent light trimming gives both a tighter hedge and more colour.
