Best Hedging Plants
Choosing the right hedging plant is one of the most important decisions in garden design. A well-chosen hedge creates privacy, defines boundaries, blocks wind, and adds structure to your outdoor space. A poor choice results in thin coverage, high maintenance, and a garden that never quite feels finished.
The challenge is that not all hedging plants perform the same. Some grow fast but lack density. Others look great but require constant pruning. Some work well in the ground but fail completely in pots.
This guide ranks the best hedging plants
Large Established Lilly Pilly Resilience 25L
Syzygium ‘Up and Away’ (Lilly Pilly)
Large Established Lilly Pilly Select 25L
Large Established Lilly Pilly Plum Magic Syzygium Australe 25L
Syzygium Select (Lilly Pilly)
Acmena ‘Sublime’ (Lilly Pilly)
Acmena ‘Allyn Magic’ (Lilly Pilly)
What Makes a Hedging Plant “The Best”?
Before ranking plants, it’s important to understand what actually makes a hedge effective.
The best hedging plants share these traits:
• Dense foliage for privacy
A plant that lacks density will never form a proper screen, no matter how fast it grows.
#1 Best Overall Hedging Plant: Lilly Pilly
Lilly pilly is widely considered the best all-round hedging plant, especially in Australian conditions.
It consistently outperforms other plants because it offers the ideal combination of density, growth, and versatility.
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Why Lilly Pilly Is the Top Choice
Lilly pillies naturally produce dense foliage, and when pruned correctly, they become even thicker. This makes them one of the most reliable plants for creating privacy.
Key benefits:
• Extremely dense growth
Unlike many other plants, lilly pillies actually improve with regular trimming. Each cut encourages more branching, which leads to a thicker hedge over time.
Best Uses for Lilly Pilly
• Privacy screens
Lilly pilly is also the best choice if you are creating a hedge using large outdoor pots or fiberglass pots , as it tolerates root restriction better than most plants.
#2 Viburnum: Best Fast-Growing Hedge
If speed is your priority, viburnum is one of the fastest-growing hedging plants available.
It quickly establishes and fills space, making it ideal for new gardens.
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Why Choose Viburnum
• Fast growth rate
Limitations
Viburnum can become loose and less structured if not pruned regularly. It does not always produce the same tight, dense finish as lilly pilly.
Best Use
• Large gardens
Cordyline rubra (Red Cordyline / Palm Lily)
Ligularia ‘Tractor Seat’ (Farfugium japonicum)
Strelitzia reginae - Bird Of Paradise
Evergreen Frangipani - Plumeria pudica
Alpinia zerumbet 'Red Back' (Red Back Ginger)
Codiaeum variegatum 'Little Mia' (Little Mia Croton)
Codiaeum variegatum 'Gold Dust' (Gold Dust Croton)
Dietes robinsoniana (Lord Howe Wedding Lily)
Philodendron 'Red Sun' (Red Sun Philodendron)
Monstera deliciosa 'Tauerii' (Tauerii Monstera)
Philodendron hederaceum (Heart Leaf Philodendron)
Epipremnum aureum (Devil's Ivy)
Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura (Red Vein Prayer Plant)
#3 Murraya: Best for Fragrance and Soft Hedges
Murraya, also known as mock orange, is popular for its scented white flowers and soft foliage.
Features
• Dense growth
Best Use
• Courtyards
Murraya works well where scent and atmosphere are important.
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#4 Photinia: Best for Colour Contrast
Photinia is known for its vibrant red new growth, which creates strong visual contrast.
Benefits
• Fast growth
Best Use
• Feature hedges
#5 Westringia: Best Low-Maintenance Native Hedge
Westringia is a hardy Australian native that thrives in difficult conditions.
Features
• Drought tolerant
Best Use
• Coastal gardens
#6 Callistemon (Bottlebrush): Best Flowering Native Hedge
Callistemon provides a hedge with visual interest through bright flowers.
Features
• Hardy and drought resistant
Best Use
• Native gardens
Best Hedging Plants for Pots
Growing hedges in pots is becoming increasingly popular, especially in courtyards, balconies, and modern outdoor spaces.
However, most hedging plants do not perform well in containers.
#1 Best Hedge for Pots: Lilly Pilly
Lilly pilly is the clear winner for container hedging.
Why:
• Handles root restriction
Pot Setup for Success
To grow a thick hedge in pots:
• Use large garden pots (critical)
Small pots will limit growth and prevent proper density.
Comparison Table (Quick Overview)
Plant
Density
Growth Speed
Maintenance
Pots
Lilly Pilly
Excellent
Fast
Medium
Excellent
Viburnum
Good
Very Fast
Low
Poor
Murraya
Good
Medium
Medium
Moderate
Photinia
Medium
Fast
Medium
Poor
Westringia
Medium
Medium
Low
Moderate
Callistemon
Medium
Medium
Low
Moderate
Best Hedging Plants for Privacy
If your goal is privacy, density matters more than speed.
Top picks:
• Lilly pilly – best overall
Fastest Growing Hedges
If speed is your priority:
• Viburnum
Fast growth must be managed with pruning to maintain density.
Low Maintenance Hedging Plants
For minimal upkeep:
• Westringia
These require less frequent trimming but may not be as dense.
Planting Guide for Thick Hedges
To achieve a dense hedge:
• Plant at correct spacing
Spacing too wide delays density. Too close causes competition.
Maintenance Schedule
Spring
• Fertilise
Summer
• Maintain watering
Autumn
• Light pruning
Winter
• Minimal pruning
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Choosing the wrong plant
These mistakes lead to thin, uneven hedges.
How to Make Any Hedge Thicker
Regardless of plant type:
• Prune regularly
These principles apply to all hedging plants.
Using Hedges in Garden Design
Hedges are not just functional — they are structural elements.
They can:
• Frame outdoor spaces
Combining hedges with large garden pots creates a layered and professional look.
Final Ranking
Best Overall
Lilly pilly
Best for Speed
Viburnum
Best for Pots
Lilly pilly
Best for Fragrance
Murraya
Best for Colour
Photinia
Best Low Maintenance
Westringia
Final Thoughts
While many plants can be used for hedging, lilly pilly stands out as the best overall choice .
It offers the ideal balance of:
• density
Whether you are building a privacy screen, designing a courtyard, or creating structure in a modern landscape, choosing the right hedging plant will determine how successful your garden looks and performs.
