Written by Susan – Plant Lover, Adelaide
Looking to create a little privacy, reduce road noise, or add lush green structure to your garden?
A good hedge or screen is one of the hardest-working features you can plant — and in Adelaide’s climate, choosing the right varieties makes all the difference.
Whether you want a soft, coastal look, a flowering statement, or a dense evergreen barrier, these hedging heroes will help you design a garden that’s private, peaceful, and low-maintenance.
🌳 Why Hedging Plants Are Worth It
A well-chosen hedge gives you:
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Instant structure and definition
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Year-round greenery and natural boundaries
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Noise and wind protection
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A way to frame pathways, driveways, or garden zones
Plus, hedges provide valuable habitat for birds and pollinators — a win for both style and sustainability.
🌿 Our Top Hedging & Screening Picks for South Australian Gardens
Here are Adelaide Plant Co’s favourites — all hardy, water-wise, and grown to thrive in local conditions.
🌱 Westringia Fruticosa ‘Grey Box’
(Coastal Rosemary)
A compact native shrub that’s incredibly tough and beautifully neat.
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Silver-green foliage and small white flowers
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Perfect for low or medium hedges
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Handles salt, wind, and drought like a champ
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Minimal trimming needed to stay tidy
💚 Ideal for coastal suburbs and low-maintenance landscapes.
🌸 Rhaphiolepis Indica ‘Oriental Pearl’
(Indian Hawthorn)
If you love a hedge with seasonal colour, this one’s for you.
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Glossy green leaves with clusters of soft white-pink flowers
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Dense growth habit perfect for privacy
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Excellent for sunny front gardens and driveways
🌼 Adds an elegant, flowering edge to any Adelaide home.
🌿 Prostanthera Ovalifolia Compacta
(Compact Mint Bush)
A fragrant, fast-growing native that brings both beauty and aroma.
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Purple flowers in late winter to spring
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Soft, aromatic foliage
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Attracts bees and pollinators
🌿 Perfect for sensory gardens and mixed native hedges.
🌾 Poa Poiformis
(Coastal Tussock Grass)
A softer, natural-looking alternative to a traditional hedge.
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Tussock grass with fine, arching leaves
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Great for modern, coastal, or native gardens
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Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant
💨 Use in mass plantings for a relaxed, flowing screen.
🌞 Adelaide Hedging Tips from Susan
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Space plants correctly: Crowding slows growth and causes poor airflow.
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Water deeply when establishing: Even hardy natives need a good start.
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Mulch generously: Keeps roots cool and conserves water.
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Trim lightly and often: Encourages bushy, dense growth.
💚 Final Thoughts
“Good hedges do more than block out the world — they frame it beautifully.
The right plants give you privacy, shade, and structure while bringing softness and life to your space.” – Susan
Ready to grow your own living screen?
👉 Browse our Hedging & Screening Collection — hand-delivered across Adelaide and South Australia.
