Top 10 Screening Plant
Below is a list of plants we consider to be the best for screening purposes.
1. Adenanthos Silver Steak (Woolly Bush)
Native to Western Australia and also known as ‘Woolly Bush', Silver Streak is a beautiful native shrub growing 2 metres tall by 1.5 metres wide. Fast growing and compact makes it ideal for screening purposes. The small orange-red pea flowers appear mainly through the warmer months, but have been known to occur most of the year. Very drought tolerant and low maintenance as it requires very little water and pruning is not necessary.
2. Alyogne West Coast Gem (Native Hibiscus)
Native to South Australia and known as ‘Native Hibiscus', Alyogyne huegelii is a showy shrub growing 2 metres high by 2 metres wide, although it can be kept shorter. The lobed leaves are deep green in colour and the large hibiscus-like flowers are vibrant purple. Creates a hardy screen along fences and paths and performs best in full-sun, but will tolerate part-shade. Drought and frost tolerant, West Coast Gem prefers well-drained, rich soil in an open situation.
3. Camellia Sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua is the sun loving Camellia and creates an absolutely beautiful screening specimen. The rich green, glossy foliage and showy display of flowers in the winter make Camellia sasanqua a must-have for those looking for a flowering screening plant. There are numerous varieties with differing heights, but most grow to a height of 2-3 metres high and 1.5 – 2 metres wide. Flowers also range in both colour and shape, some being single flowers while others are full doubles and colour ranges from whites, pinks, reds. Camellia sasanqua requires pruning after flowering to encourage bushy growth.
4. Dodonaea (Native Hop Bush)
Also known as the Native Hop Bush, Dodonaea viscose is a beautiful Australian native plant that performs well in dry, sandy situations in full-sun to part-shade. Ideal as a screen along fence lines, Dodonaea viscose bears purplish flowers and hop-like fruits amongst its narrow, shiny, autumn coloured foliage. A fast growing, small to medium shrub reaching 2-3 metres tall and 1.5 – 2 metres wide.
5. Grevillea Superb
An absolutely beautiful Grevillea with magnificent large flowers which begin in shades of pink and yellow then age to a deep pink. Grevillea Superb forms a dense and showy screen with large, deeply cut foliage and and flowers most of the year providing an important winter food source for native birds. Tolerant of a variety of conditions but preferring well-drained soil in a full-sun situation. Pruning is extremely beneficial as it encourages a dense habit and flowers. Growing 1.5 metres high bu 1.5 metres wide, Grevillea Superb makes an ideal medium sized hedge / screen.
6. Ligustrum undulatum (Box-leaved Privet)
A very popular screening plant providing very dense and lush dark green foliage. The growth rate of Ligustrum undulatum is very fast and will grow up to 1 metre per year giving growers a screen is a short period of time. Best kept pruned at a height of 1 metre although it can reach 1.8 metres tall by 60cm wide. Tolerant of many conditions and soils, but performing best in well-drained soil in a full-sun to part-shade situation. Regular pruning is necessary to ensure a neat, dense habit.
7. Photinia Robusta (Fire Bush – Chinese Hawthorn)
A tough and showy evergreen that forms a spectacular screen due to its fiery red, bronze and purplish-red spring growth, followed by clusters of scented, white flowers. Photinia robusta is relatively fast growing and will reach a height of 2 metres, but can be kept shorter with regular pruning. Tolerant of a variety of situations, including full-sun, part-shade, frost and dry conditions. Prune well after flowering to encourage dense growth.
8. Pittosporum Tenuifolium (Silver Sheen)
This is the most popular screening plant and it is easy to understand why. Pittosporum Tenuifolium grows at a rate of 1 metre per year, making your hedge become effective quickly. The plant itself has a very dense and bushy habit with tightly arranged green leaves with a silver shimmer. It is a tough plant when established, but while young it is best to keep the soil moist during warmer weather. Growing 4-5 metres high by 2-3 metres wide and preferring a well-drained position in full-sun or pat-shade, Pittosporum tenuifolium is sure to meet you screening needs and is best spaced at 1.2 metres apart. Pruning is beneficial as it promotes dense, bushy growth.
9. Syzygium Hinterland Gold (Gold Lilly Pilly)
Also known as the Gold Lilly Pilly, Syzygium Hinterland Gold is an Australian native that forms a dense screen without an invasive root system. A compact and fast growing shrub reaching 2 metres high x 1.5 metres wide with glossy green foliage and gold coloured new growth. Minimal pruning is required as it has a naturally uniform habit. Performing best in well-drained soil in a full-sun to part-shade position.
10. Viburnum Tinus
A tough and attractive evergreen widely used for screening due to its fast growth habit and dense, bushy growth. Growing 3 mteres by 3 metres, Viburnum provides the grower with a fantastic display of masses of white, pink blushed flowers appearing in clusters throughout the warm months. Pruning is beneficial as it encourages very dense growth to form the perfect screen. |
