Pink Pixi Escallonia

Pink Pixi Escallonia (Escallonia rubra 'Pink Pixi') is a dwarf, glossy leaved shrub that holds a neat 80cm ball with almost no work and covers itself in small pink flowers through the warmer months. It is one of the toughest low hedges available for an exposed coastal garden, taking salt, wind and dry spells without complaint. Planted 60cm apart it closes into a tight, continuous low hedge.

Why you'll love it

• It stays small on its own. At 80cm tall and 80cm wide it holds hedge or border height without the constant cutting a full sized escallonia needs.
• Coastal and windy sites suit it. Salt and wind tolerance mean it holds up in front line coastal gardens where softer shrubs burn off.
• Flowers for months. Small pink flowers sit against glossy dark foliage and are worked steadily by bees and butterflies.
• Frost hardy and drought tolerant. It handles cool temperate winters and dry summers, an uncommon combination in a flowering hedge.

Where it works best

Low hedging. Plant 60cm apart in a single row for a continuous hedge around 80cm high. One light trim after flowering keeps the line sharp.

Borders and edging. Along a path or driveway edge, where a low evergreen frames the bed without hiding whatever is planted behind it.

Coastal gardens and mass planting. Set 60cm apart across an exposed slope or front garden for low, wind resistant cover that still flowers.

Growing Pink Pixi Escallonia in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering, and part shade is tolerated with fewer flowers. It is frost hardy, so warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens are its range rather than the humid tropics.

Soil. Free draining soil of almost any type. Improve heavy clay with compost and plant slightly proud of the surrounding level. Mulch 75mm deep, kept off the stems.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer to establish it, then it becomes drought tolerant and only needs help in long dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough.

Pruning. Trim lightly after the main flush to hold the shape. If a hedge thins out, it takes a harder cut back in early spring and reshoots from old wood.

What to expect when it arrives

It is supplied as tube stock, which is the sensible way to buy a low hedge. A tube is a young rooted plant, and at 60cm spacing a 10m run takes about 17 of them. They establish quickly and catch up to larger stock within a season or two.

Tube stock travels well and can go straight into a prepared bed, or into 140mm pots for a few weeks if the site is not ready. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Expect the hedge to close over in two seasons with regular water.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to plant and maintain a sharp hedge.
• Compare other hedging plants for taller or faster screens.
• Browse coastal and salt tolerant plants for the rest of an exposed garden.
• Choosing edging plants for paths and driveways.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Plant 60cm apart in a single row. Tighter spacing does not close the gap any faster, and it makes watering and feeding harder once the plants mature.

How tall will it actually get?

Around 80cm tall and 80cm wide left alone, which is the point of a dwarf selection. A light trim after flowering holds it comfortably under that.

Will it survive salt wind?

Yes. It is both salt and wind tolerant, and it is one of the better small hedges for a front line coastal garden where most flowering shrubs burn.

Does it need much water?

Not once it is established. Water twice a week through the first summer, then only during long dry spells. Good drainage matters more than frequent watering.