Which shrubs for hedging & screens?

We are looking to plant a hedge on the southern side of our yard along the fence. It will get full sun all year and we only want it to grow to about 2.5 metres (although obviously we will hedge it). We just don't want a monster. I was thinking about Murraya or Lillypilly? Any other suggestions or comments? We also want to plant some shrubbery on the southern side as well but right along the side of the house but only want it to about 1.5 metres. It will be in full shade all year. We were thinking camelias, but which variety? We don't want to have to do much to it though. We want the hedge for privacy but the house planting for decoration. Please help. We have frosty winters but hot summers.

Hi,

This is a 'frequently asked question', but I'll give you my two cents worth:

1. Nothing beats local knowledge - look around the houses in your area to see what works, and harass your local nursery folk until you get someone who knows what they are talking about. Test your soil with a Ph kit before you plant anything - particularly if you want Camellias.

2. Conventional wisdom is that C. Japonica wont do well in Qld, but your local nursery folk can tell you if thats true in your area ('frosty Winters' could mean a climate closer to Canberra than Cairns ..). Even Sasanquas can be difficult up here in CQ, and I've been told that creating a decent hedge with them is an expensive proposition. I'm happy to hear otherwise.

3. Murraya - your choice, but I think we have enough of the exotic form of M. Paniculata - unless you want the Jasmine scented flowers, I'd opt for something a little more exciting.

4. Lillipillies - OK, now we're getting to it. If you cant find one that meets all of your requirements, whilst remaining moderately frost-hardy, then you need to start looking at thinks like Japanese Box and other ho-hum alternatives, IMO. I dont know how feasible it is to set up some form of protection to get them through the first couple of years (particularly frosty nights, although my old garden in Ipswich had no problems : the Southern Downs are a different proposition), but I think you'll be very happy with your choice in 3 years time. My faves are:

S. Australe 'Aussie Boomer'
S. Australe 'Aussie Gem'
S. Australe 'Aussie Southern' (very tough from 6 months on)

I'm currently trialling S. 'Cheetah' to see if its growth rate matches the mother-of-'em-all, S. Australe ('Creek Cherry'). I have other varieties of Syzygium, Acmena and Eugenia, but the 3 fastest growing plants in my garden are:

1. Toona Ciliata (>2 metres in 12 months)
2. Hymenosporum Flavum (1.5 metres in 9 months)
3. Syzygium Australe (1.2 metres in 9 months)

These were all 'twigs' in 6-inch pots, and they've had a fairly hard life : the first Summer in my new house saw months of hot and windy 35-deg+ days.

Good luck,

Artie

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