Dwarf Escallonia

Dwarf Escallonia 'Pink Pixie' (Escallonia macrantha 'Pink Pixie') is a compact evergreen with small glossy leaves and clusters of pink tubular flowers held above the foliage. It settles at about 1m tall and 1m wide, so it makes a flowering low hedge that never has to be fought back to size. Frost hardy, wind firm and salt tolerant, it holds up on exposed blocks where softer shrubs burn.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers in repeat flushes. Pink blooms come in waves through the warmer months rather than one short display.
• It stops at hedge height. The dwarf habit holds around a metre on its own, so trimming is for tidiness, not control.
• Coastal and windy sites. Salt spray and constant wind are handled, and the small leathery leaves resist burn.
• Birds and pollinators. The tubular flowers suit nectar feeding birds, and bees and butterflies work them steadily.

Where it works best

Low hedging. Plant 60cm apart in a single row for a dense low hedge. At that spacing the plants knit within two seasons and stay furnished right to the ground.

Coastal gardens and exposed boundaries. Use it as the front line on a windy block, or under taller screening where salt laden wind gets through.

Borders, mass planting and pots. The same 60cm spacing works for a drift. In a pot of 400mm or wider it makes a neat flowering ball for an entry.

Growing dwarf escallonia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering, though it accepts part shade with a looser habit. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical gardens, and it is frost hardy once established.

Soil. Any well drained soil, improved with compost through the planting area. It dislikes waterlogging, so on clay raise the bed and mulch to 75mm, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off as it becomes drought tolerant. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring and after the main flush keeps colour coming.

Pruning. Shear lightly after each flowering flush to keep it dense, and avoid cutting while it is in bud. An older plant that has thinned can be reduced harder in early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock, as 140mm plants in packs of ten, and as 180mm and 200mm plants in packs of six. Tubes are the value option for a long hedge and take about two seasons to close their spacing, while the potted sizes arrive branched and close in faster.

Some flower drop in transit is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Water in well and expect new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather, backed by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read how to plant and maintain a hedge.
• Compare the best hedging plants for your height.
• Browse more plants for coastal gardens.
• See other bird attracting plants to pair with it.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Sixty centimetres apart in a single row. That lets each plant reach its full width and meet its neighbours without crowding the base.

Does it need trimming to stay small?

Not for size. It holds around a metre on its own, so trimming is about keeping the face even and the growth dense rather than controlling height.

Will it handle salt wind on a coastal block?

Yes. It is both salt and wind tolerant, which is why it works as the low front hedge on beachside gardens where flowering shrubs struggle.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. Use a pot 400mm or wider with free draining mix, water more often than in the ground, and feed twice a year.