Graptophyllum 'Holly Fuchsia'

Holly Fuchsia (Graptophyllum ilicifolium) is an Australian native shrub with glossy holly shaped leaves and tubular red to pink flowers that honeyeaters work over. It grows to about 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide, the right size for screening a fence line in a small garden without swallowing the bed. It comes from the dry vine thickets of central Queensland, so heat, humidity and dry spells are all within its range.

Why you'll love it

• A native that screens at the right height. At 2.5m by 1.5m it covers a standard fence and a little above, without the bulk of a lilly pilly.
• Honeyeaters come for it. The tubular red and pink flowers are built for nectar feeding birds, and the flowering season runs long.
• Foliage with real texture. Stiff, glossy, holly shaped leaves catch the light through summer.
• It tolerates shade. Uncommon in a flowering native, it grows and flowers in part shade, which suits a narrow side boundary.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense screen. The plants meet in two to three seasons and hold foliage low enough to cover a fence from the ground up.

Hedging. The same 1m spacing suits an informal hedge kept at around 2m. It takes trimming well, though a lightly shaped hedge flowers far better than a tightly clipped one.

Feature planting and small gardens. A single plant works as the shrub layer under a canopy tree, and the modest 1.5m width means it fits gardens where a native screen usually will not.

Growing Holly Fuchsia in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade through to full sun, with part shade giving the best leaf colour in hot inland gardens. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate zones, and takes light frost only, so cold tableland and southern gardens are outside its range.

Soil. Free draining soil improved with compost at planting. It is native to dry rainforest country on well drained slopes, so avoid low wet spots. Mulch 75mm deep and keep the mulch clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Deep water twice a week through the first summer, then taper to occasional deep soaks. A low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer suits it. It is drought tolerant once established.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to build density low down, and trim after the main flush. It reshoots from older wood, so a leggy plant can be cut back by a third.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in three sizes: tubes, 140mm plants in packs of ten, and 200mm plants in packs of six. Tubes are the value option for a long boundary and add a season. A 140mm pack plants 10m of screen at 1m spacing, and a 200mm pack plants 6m, taller and better branched.

Tube availability moves in and out of backorder, so check the size selector before planning a whole run. Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect new growth within four to six weeks in warm weather. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Native plants that bring birds into the garden
• Compare Australian native shrubs
• Screening plants in the 2m to 4m range
• Native plants with red flowers

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One metre apart in a single row. Closer spacing does not close the screen any faster and makes the plants compete for water. A pack of ten covers 10m of fence line.

Can I keep it lower than 2.5m?

Yes. Two trims a year hold it at around 2m, and because it reshoots from old wood it stays furnished at the base.

Does it handle frost?

Light frost only, and young plants are the most vulnerable. In districts with regular frosts, plant it against a north facing wall and protect it through its first two winters, or choose a hardier native screen.