🌿 Hedging & Screening Shrub Reference Database (Australia)

Quick Reference

Compact low borders (under 1 m): Snow Maiden, Cosmic White, Dwarf Murraya

Medium screening hedges (1–2 m): Oriental Pearl, Spring Pearl, Escallonia, young Photinia Robusta

Tall privacy screens (2 m+): Photinia Fraseri Robusta, Lilly Pilly, Pittosporum Silver Sheen, Bay Laurel

Best for coastal/salt-exposed gardens: Rhaphiolepis cultivars (Snow Maiden, Oriental Pearl, Cosmic White), Westringia, Pittosporum Silver Sheen

Fastest growth rate: Photinia Robusta, Pittosporum Silver Sheen, Lilly Pilly

Lowest maintenance / least pruning: Snow Maiden, Westringia, Cosmic White

Most shade-tolerant: Camellia Sasanqua, Lilly Pilly, Viburnum Odoratissimum

🗂️ Database: Hedging & Screening Shrub Comparison

Plant Name	Genus/Species	Mature Height	Mature Width	Growth Rate (per yr)	Flower Colour	Sun Needs	Drought Tolerant	Salt Tolerant	Best Use	Hedge Spacing	Common Problems
Snow Maiden	Rhaphiolepis indica	60–90 cm	60–90 cm	15–30 cm	White	Full sun–part shade	Yes	Yes	Low border, edging	40–60 cm	Leaf spot, yellow leaves
Oriental Pearl	Rhaphiolepis indica	1–1.5 m	1–1.2 m	15–30 cm	White–pale pink	Full sun–part shade	Yes	Yes	Medium hedge, screening	60–80 cm	Leaf spot, yellow leaves
Spring Pearl	Rhaphiolepis indica	~1–1.2 m	~1 m	Moderate	White	Full sun–part shade	Yes	Yes	General landscaping	50–70 cm	Leaf spot
Indian Princess	Rhaphiolepis indica	~1.5 m	~1.2 m	Moderate	Pink	Full sun–part shade	Yes	Yes	Feature planting	60–80 cm	Leaf spot
Cosmic White	Rhaphiolepis indica	~0.8–1 m	~0.8 m	Moderate	White	Full sun–part shade	Yes	Yes	Formal gardens	40–60 cm	Leaf spot
Photinia Fraseri Robusta	Photinia	2–4 m	1.5–2.5 m	Fast (30–60 cm)	White (spring)	Full sun–part shade	Moderate	Moderate	Tall privacy screen	40–60 cm	Leaf spot, entomosporium
Lilly Pilly (Syzygium spp.)	Syzygium	2–8 m (variety-dependent)	1.5–3 m	Fast	White, fluffy	Full sun–part shade	Moderate	Moderate	Screening, feature tree	50–100 cm	Psyllid (pimple gall)
Pittosporum Silver Sheen	Pittosporum	3–5 m	1.5–2.5 m	Fast	Insignificant	Full sun–part shade	High	High	Tall hedge, screening	60–100 cm	Root rot in poor drainage
Westringia (Coastal Rosemary)	Westringia fruticosa	1–2 m	1–1.5 m	Moderate	Pale mauve/white	Full sun	High	Very high	Coastal hedge, low maintenance	40–60 cm	Root rot, minimal pests
Escallonia	Escallonia	1–2 m	1–1.5 m	Moderate–fast	Pink/red/white	Full sun–part shade	Moderate	Moderate	Medium screening hedge	40–60 cm	Leaf spot, mildew
Camellia Sasanqua	Camellia	2–3 m	1.5–2 m	Slow–moderate	Pink/white/red	Part shade	Moderate	Low	Shaded hedge, feature	60–90 cm	Petal blight, scale
Viburnum Odoratissimum	Viburnum	3–4 m	2–3 m	Fast	White	Full sun–part shade	Moderate	Moderate	Tall dense screen	60–100 cm	Aphids, leaf spot
Murraya Paniculata (Dwarf)	Murraya	1–1.5 m	1 m	Fast	White, fragrant	Full sun–part shade	Moderate	Low	Fragrant low-medium hedge	40–60 cm	Frost sensitive, citrus leaf miner
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)	Laurus	3–8 m	2–4 m	Slow	Yellow (insignificant)	Full sun–part shade	High	Moderate	Formal tall hedge, topiary	60–100 cm	Scale, sooty mould
Buxus (English Box)	Buxus sempervirens	1–3 m (clipped lower)	1–2 m	Slow	Insignificant	Full sun–part shade	Moderate	Low	Formal low hedge, topiary	20–40 cm	Box blight, root rot
Duranta Sheena's Gold	Duranta	1.5–2.5 m	1–1.5 m	Fast	Purple/blue	Full sun	Moderate	Low	Colourful screening hedge	50–80 cm	Frost sensitive
Correa (Native Fuchsia)	Correa	0.5–1.5 m	1–1.5 m	Moderate	Red/pink/cream tubular	Full sun–part shade	High	High	Native low hedge/border	40–60 cm	Minimal, occasional scale
Grevillea (hedging cvs)	Grevillea	1–3 m (variety-dependent)	1.5–2.5 m	Fast	Red/orange/pink	Full sun	High	Moderate	Native screening, wildlife hedge	60–100 cm	Root rot in wet soil
Elaeagnus	Elaeagnus	2–4 m	2–3 m	Fast	Small, fragrant	Full sun–part shade	High	High	Fast tall screening	60–100 cm	Reverts to green if variegated
Podocarpus (Icee Blue)	Podocarpus	2–4 m	1–1.5 m	Moderate–fast	N/A (conifer)	Full sun–part shade	High	Moderate	Narrow formal screen	40–60 cm	Generally pest-free

🔍 Filter Guide (how to use this table)

By available space:

Under 1 m width → Snow Maiden, Cosmic White, Buxus, Correa
1–2 m width → Oriental Pearl, Spring Pearl, Escallonia, Westringia, Murraya
2 m+ width → Lilly Pilly, Photinia Robusta, Viburnum, Elaeagnus

By climate exposure:

Coastal/salt-heavy → Westringia, Rhaphiolepis cultivars, Pittosporum Silver Sheen, Elaeagnus, Correa
Frost-prone → Avoid Murraya and Duranta; favour Rhaphiolepis, Pittosporum, Buxus

By maintenance appetite:

Minimal pruning → Snow Maiden, Westringia, Correa, Podocarpus
Tolerates/needs formal clipping → Buxus, Bay Laurel, Pittosporum, Photinia

By speed to establish hedge:

1–2 seasons → Snow Maiden, Murraya, Duranta
2–3 years → Oriental Pearl, Escallonia, Grevillea
3+ years (slow but long-lived) → Buxus, Bay Laurel, Camellia