Dodonaea Viscosa

Sticky Hop Bush / Native Hop Bush

Botanical Name: Dodonaea viscosa
Family: Sapindaceae
Origin: Australia (widespread, including South Australia)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub to small bushy screen

Overview

A tough, heat-loving Australian native, Dodonaea viscosa thrives in Adelaide’s dry, windy, and coastal conditions. It forms a dense, upright shrub with fresh green foliage that can develop bronze or reddish tones in cold or dry weather. Highly drought-tolerant and excellent for screening, low hedging, or wind protection, it performs reliably across the Adelaide plains, coastal suburbs, and semi-arid regions. Fast-growing and low-maintenance, it’s ideal for gardeners wanting a resilient, evergreen native that copes with poor soil, reflected heat, and exposed sites.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 2–4 m H × 1.5–3 m W (upright, bushy habit; prune to keep compact)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Narrow, glossy green leaves; can flush bronze or reddish-purple in winter or dry heat
• Flowers: Small, inconspicuous green-yellow clusters followed by decorative papery seed capsules (pink to reddish tones), spring–summer
  
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure year-round with colourful seed capsules in warm months
• Wildlife Value: Provides shelter for small birds; seed capsules support insects and ecological diversity
• Tolerance: Extremely drought-tolerant once established; excellent heat, wind, and coastal tolerance; handles light frost; thrives in poor or stony soils common in SA
• Planting Density: Screening: 1–1.2 m apart; hedging: 0.7–1 m apart; feature spacing: 1.5–2 m
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats and dogs (as with all plants, avoid intentional ingestion)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun for strongest growth; tolerates light shade but becomes looser in habit
• Soil: Free-draining sandy, rocky, or loamy soils; copes with limestone and mild alkalinity typical of coastal SA
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 3-4 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); rarely needed in winter
• Maintenance: Very low maintenance — prune lightly after seed capsules fade to maintain density; can be shaped as a hedge. Mulch in spring and avoid heavy fertilisers.
• Lifespan: 10–20+ years in well-drained, low-water sites
• Climate Zones: Suited to Adelaide plains, northern suburbs, coastal areas, Yorke/Eyre Peninsula, Mallee regions, and low-rainfall SA
• Soil pH: Tolerates slightly acidic to strongly alkaline soils

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Fast, evergreen screen or windbreak for exposed gardens
• Coastal and waterwise landscapes needing tough, reliable structure
• Native and low-maintenance borders
• A resilient backdrop for flowering natives such as Eremophila, Grevillea, and Westringia

Why You Will Love It

Dodonaea viscosa is one of South Australia’s toughest native shrubs — fast-growing, evergreen, and incredibly tolerant of heat, drought, salt, and wind. Its dense habit makes it ideal for screening, while its colourful seed capsules add subtle seasonal interest. A perfect “plant-and-forget” choice for Adelaide gardens needing durable, attractive structure with minimal care.