Aussie Hedge Bush Saltbush

Aussie Hedge Bush (Rhagodia spinescens 'Aussie Hedge Bush') is a silver grey native shrub that makes a hedge in ground where most hedging plants sulk. It reaches about 1.5m tall and 1.5m wide, grows quickly, and takes drought, salt spray, frost and genuinely poor soil without complaint. Planted 80cm apart it closes into a soft silver wall that clips as neatly as any exotic.

Why you'll love it

• Silver foliage all year. The colour comes from the leaves rather than flowers, so the hedge looks the same in August as it does in January.
• It survives hard sites. Drought, heat, coastal salt, frost and poor soil are all handled, which suits nature strips, exposed corners and unirrigated beds.
• Fast to close. Growth is quick for a native shrub, so a hedge planted at 80cm reads as solid in about two seasons.
• Native and bird friendly. The flowers are tiny and easily missed, but the small red berries that follow bring small birds into the garden.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 80cm apart in a single row for a dense hedge at 1m to 1.5m. It clips well, so it holds a formal face if you want one.

Coastal gardens. Salt tolerance and wind resistance make it a genuine front line plant on exposed blocks, where the silver foliage also suits the setting.

Mass planting and borders. At 80cm spacing across a bed it forms a continuous silver block, useful for softening a driveway edge or filling a dry slope.

Growing Aussie Hedge Bush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings out the silver. It is frost hardy and at home in warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, which covers most of southern and inland Australia. Humid tropical and subtropical gardens are the exception, where constant moisture does not suit it.

Soil. Almost anything that drains, including sand, gravel and poor clay. It does not need improved soil, and rich beds simply push soft growth. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it off the stems.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer to get the roots down, then it needs very little. Feeding is optional. A light application of native fertiliser in early spring is more than enough.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to build density. Trim two or three times a year during the growing season for a formal hedge, or once a year for an informal one. It shoots readily from old wood if it gets away from you.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown as tube stock. Tubes are young plants roughly 10cm to 15cm tall, which is the practical way to buy a hedge of any length. Expect a season of root growth before the top starts moving, then rapid height in the second year.

Tube stock travels well because there is little top growth to bruise. Plant within a few days of arrival and keep the water up through the first summer, even though the mature plant is drought tolerant. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to plant and maintain a hedge
• Browse Australian native shrubs
• Compare salt tolerant coastal plants
• Drought tolerant plants for dry gardens

Common questions

How far apart do I plant it for a hedge?

Eighty centimetres apart in a single row. That spacing closes within about two seasons and still leaves each plant room to build a proper root system.

Can I keep it lower than 1.5m?

Yes. Two or three trims a year hold it comfortably at 1m, and because it reshoots from old wood it stays furnished at the base rather than going woody and bare.

Does it have thorns?

Mature plants carry short spiny tips on some stems, which is where the botanical name comes from. Wear gloves when you trim, and use it as a deterrent hedge along a boundary.