{"title":"Saltbush","description":"\u003cp\u003eSaltbush is the native that grows where nothing else will: salt wind, heavy clay, drought, frost and poor soil. The grey green foliage of \u003cem\u003eRhagodia spinescens\u003c\/em\u003e clips into a low hedge, mats across a bank as a ground cover, or sits in a row along a windy coastal boundary, and the selected forms here keep a neat habit without the rangy growth of the wild plant. Choose by height, from a 40cm carpet to a 1.5m hedge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to choose a saltbush\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor ground cover and banks, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/aussie-flat-bush-saltbush-rhagodia-spinescens-aussie-flat-bush\"\u003eAussie Flat Bush\u003c\/a\u003e stays around 40cm tall and spreads to 1.5m, a dense silver grey mat that smothers weeds. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/saltbush-silver-border-rhagodia-spinescens-silver-border\"\u003eSilver Border\u003c\/a\u003e is the mid height form, about 80cm, for a low clipped hedge along a path or a driveway. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/aussie-hedge-bush-saltbush-rhagodia-spinescens-aussie-hedge-bush\"\u003eAussie Hedge Bush\u003c\/a\u003e grows to 1.5m for a boundary hedge or windbreak, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/saltbush-rhagodia-grey-edge\"\u003eGrey Edge\u003c\/a\u003e is a compact 1m form with a slightly bluer leaf. All four have the same small grey leaves, tiny flowers and red berries that birds take.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe trade-off is only height against purpose: the lower forms cover ground, the taller forms screen, and all of them clip into shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere saltbush works\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSaltbush grows across Australia in full sun, in sand, clay or gravel, on the coast in direct salt spray and inland in frost to minus 7 degrees. It is the plant for a bank that erodes, a nature strip that never gets watered, a coastal fence line or the gaps in a windbreak. It copes with reflected heat from paving and walls. The one thing it will not take is permanently wet ground. Pair it with the other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003ecoastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e on a beach block, or with the drought tolerant plants in a dry inland garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and spacing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant Aussie Flat Bush 1m apart for a carpet that closes in a year. For a hedge, space Silver Border 60cm apart and Aussie Hedge Bush or Grey Edge 80cm apart. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot, plant level with the soil, water in and mulch with gravel or coarse mulch. No compost or fertiliser is needed in most soils; saltbush prefers it lean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCare basics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWater weekly for the first two months, then fortnightly through the first summer; after that rain is enough in most districts. Clip hedges and ground covers once or twice a year, in late winter and late summer, to keep them dense; saltbush takes hard pruning and regrows from old wood. There are no pests of note. If a plant gets woody and open after several years, cut it back by half in spring. Saltbush is one of the easiest plants in the Australian native shrubs range, and our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/best-coastal-plants-in-australia-for-beachside-gardens\"\u003ecoastal plants guide\u003c\/a\u003e shows how to use it with grasses and groundcovers on a windy site.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs saltbush frost tolerant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Rhagodia spinescens takes frost to about minus 7 degrees, as well as salt, drought and heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow fast does saltbush grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFast. Aussie Flat Bush covers 1m in its first year, and the hedging forms reach their height in two years from 140mm pots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan saltbush be clipped as a hedge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Silver Border and Aussie Hedge Bush are grown for exactly that and take a tight formal clip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs saltbush good for erosion control?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery. Its spreading roots and dense foliage hold banks and cuttings together, which is why councils and road crews use it.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"saltbush-rhagodia-grey-edge","title":"Saltbush - Rhagodia ‘Grey Edge’","description":"\u003cp\u003eSaltbush 'Grey Edge' (\u003cem\u003eRhagodia spinescens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Grey Edge') is a silver grey Australian native shrub, about 1m tall and 1.5m wide, that clips into the kind of neat low hedge normally reserved for box, then keeps performing through drought, frost, salt spray, heat and poor soil. For hard sites that defeat fussier hedging, it is one of the most dependable plants in the country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSilver foliage every day of the year.\u003c\/strong\u003e The dense evergreen cover of small grey leaves lifts the greens and flower colours around it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSurvives nearly anything.\u003c\/strong\u003e Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant and content in poor soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClips like a formal hedge.\u003c\/strong\u003e It responds to trimming the way box does, holding crisp low shapes through the year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA native that earns its keep.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense cover shelters small birds, and the tiny flowers are followed by small red berries they feed on.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow maintenance.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once established, a trim or two a year is the entire job list.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLow hedging and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1m apart for a dense low hedge along paths, driveways and garden bays. It sits naturally at knee to waist height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e On banks, verges and broad beds, the same 1m spacing closes over bare ground into a continuous silver carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e It takes frontline salt wind, which is why it appears so often in beachside streetscapes and exposed home gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Saltbush 'Grey Edge' in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun keeps the growth tight and the colour bright. Few plants match its range: subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid zones all suit it, with hard frosts taken in stride.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Any soil with reasonable drainage, including sands, gravels and tired urban fill. No soil improvement is required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Fertiliser is rarely needed; a light native feed in spring is the most it will ever want.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Clip whenever it looks shaggy, from a light tidy to a hard cut back, and it regrows densely. Regular light trims through the growing season hold a formal line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrey Edge is sold as tube stock and in 140mm packs of 10, which reflects how it is used: in runs and drifts rather than singly. Both sizes establish rapidly, and tube stock planted in spring is usually a joined up hedge line by its second summer. Small plants like these travel well and rarely miss a beat after unpacking. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-natives\"\u003eBrowse all Australian native plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/best-hedging-plants\"\u003eCompare the best hedging plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eCoastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/mass-planting-plants\"\u003ePlants suited to mass planting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it for a hedge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne metre apart in a single row. At that spacing plants merge into a continuous silver hedge, usually within two growing seasons from 140mm stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow often does it need trimming?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a formal edge, light trims two or three times through the growing season. For an informal mound, once a year is enough. It tolerates a hard cut back if a hedge gets away from you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it cope right on the coast?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It handles direct salt spray and sea wind, and pairs that with drought and heat tolerance, so exposed sites hold no fear for it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it flower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTechnically yes, but the flowers are tiny and easy to miss. Small red berries follow and bring the birds in; the silver foliage is the real display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":51647811486015,"sku":"RHA-GRE-EDG-tube","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54140081176895,"sku":"RHA-GRE-EDG-140MM-P10","price":254.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Saltbush-Rhagodia-Grey-Edge.png?v=1766224039"},{"product_id":"aussie-flat-bush-saltbush-rhagodia-spinescens-aussie-flat-bush","title":"Aussie Flat Bush™ Saltbush - Rhagodia spinescens 'SAB01' PBR","description":"\u003cp\u003eAussie Flat Bush saltbush (\u003cem\u003eRhagodia spinescens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Aussie Flat Bush') is a prostrate selection of a hardy Australian native, grown for silver grey foliage and its willingness to cover ground nobody else wants. It spreads fast to about 1.5m wide while staying under 40cm tall: the groundcover for difficult corners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSilver grey against everything else.\u003c\/strong\u003e The pale foliage lifts a bed of green natives and holds colour through summer unwatered.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground quickly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Spreading to 1.5m, a small number of plants close a large area in a season or two.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlmost indestructible.\u003c\/strong\u003e Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant and untroubled by poor or rocky soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTakes a hard trim.\u003c\/strong\u003e Unlike most silver foliage plants it reshoots after cutting, so it can be renewed rather than replaced.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1m apart, roughly one plant per square metre. The plants meet within a season or two and hold the soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEmbankments and retaining walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e The spreading habit binds soil on a slope and the branches drape over a wall face.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance and a taste for lean sandy ground make it reliable on an exposed coastal block.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e A low silver band along a driveway or path is a low water alternative to lawn. Trim once or twice a year to stop it creeping over paving.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing saltbush in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun gives the densest growth and best silver colour; partial shade is accepted but growth is more open. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens, and it is frost hardy, so cold inland winters are no obstacle. It is not for wet tropical gardens, where humidity and rainfall keep it too damp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Almost any soil that drains, including sandy, rocky, alkaline and saline ground. Avoid heavy clay that holds water, or plant on a raised mound. No soil improvement needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly through the first summer, then leave it alone. Established plants live on rainfall. Fertiliser is unnecessary, and rich feeding produces soft floppy growth that loses the silver tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim once a year in late winter to keep it dense and inside its bounds. It tolerates a hard cut back, the fix for a plant gone woody or leggy in the centre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree sizes are grown: tube stock, 140mm pots in packs of ten, and 200mm pots in packs of six. Tube stock is the economical choice for a large embankment; the 140mm packs suit a home garden bed. Tube stock and the 200mm packs are on backorder, so confirm availability before planning a large planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaltbush travels well. The foliage may look dusty or flattened after transport and recovers within a fortnight. Plant within a few days, water in well, and expect visible spread by the end of the first season, full cover in the second.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDelivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/plants-that-thrive-in-poor-soil\"\u003ePlants that thrive in poor soil\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/the-best-plants-to-soften-fences-and-retaining-walls\"\u003eSoftening a retaining wall with planting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eBrowse coastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ground-covers-for-low-maintenance-gardens\"\u003eMore low maintenance groundcovers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne metre apart, roughly one plant per square metre. On a steep embankment you can tighten that to 800mm to bind the soil faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow high does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnder 40cm, and it stays there. This is a prostrate selection: it spreads sideways rather than building into the taller shrub the species forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I cut it back if it gets away from me?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It responds well to a hard trim and reshoots from old wood. Late winter is best, before spring growth starts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":54737638162751,"sku":"RHA-SPI-SAB-tube","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54737638195519,"sku":"RHA-SPI-SAB-140MM-P10","price":198.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6)","offer_id":54737638228287,"sku":"RHA-SPI-SAB-200MM-P6","price":217.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/aussie-flat-bush-saltbush-rhagodia-spinescens-aussie-flat-bush-741b48.jpg?v=1785940596"},{"product_id":"aussie-hedge-bush-saltbush-rhagodia-spinescens-aussie-hedge-bush","title":"Aussie Hedge Bush Saltbush - Rhagodia spinescens 'Aussie Hedge Bush'","description":"\u003cp\u003eAussie Hedge Bush (\u003cem\u003eRhagodia spinescens\u003c\/em\u003e '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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSilver foliage all year.\u003c\/strong\u003e The colour comes from the leaves rather than flowers, so the hedge looks the same in August as it does in January.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt survives hard sites.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, heat, coastal salt, frost and poor soil are all handled, which suits nature strips, exposed corners and unirrigated beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast to close.\u003c\/strong\u003e Growth is quick for a native shrub, so a hedge planted at 80cm reads as solid in about two seasons.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative and bird friendly.\u003c\/strong\u003e The flowers are tiny and easily missed, but the small red berries that follow bring small birds into the garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHedging and screening.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance and wind resistance make it a genuine front line plant on exposed blocks, where the silver foliage also suits the setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting and borders.\u003c\/strong\u003e At 80cm spacing across a bed it forms a continuous silver block, useful for softening a driveway edge or filling a dry slope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Aussie Hedge Bush in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTube 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. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/how-to-create-a-great-hedge-and-keep-it-looking-sharp\"\u003eHow to plant and maintain a hedge\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-native-shrubs\"\u003eBrowse Australian native shrubs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eCompare salt tolerant coastal plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003eDrought tolerant plants for dry gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart do I plant it for a hedge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEighty 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I keep it lower than 1.5m?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it have thorns?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMature 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":54739829752127,"sku":"RHA-SPI-AUSHED-tube","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/aussie-hedge-bush-saltbush-rhagodia-spinescens-aussie-hedge-bush-2389a3.jpg?v=1785940599"},{"product_id":"saltbush-silver-border-rhagodia-spinescens-silver-border","title":"Saltbush Silver Border - Rhagodia spinescens 'Silver Border'","description":"\u003cp\u003eSaltbush 'Silver Border' (\u003cem\u003eRhagodia spinescens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Silver Border') is the Australian native groundcover for the spot nothing else will hold. It spreads to about 1.2m wide and only 80cm tall, laying down a dense silver grey carpet that copes with salt, drought, poor soil, heat and frost. This is a compact selection: the straight species is taller and considerably more open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSilver foliage that works year round.\u003c\/strong\u003e The small grey leaves hold their colour through summer heat and winter cold, so a bed edged with it never looks tired.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt grows fast and covers.\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense carpet closes over bare soil within a season or two, which keeps weeds down without herbicide or ongoing work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenuinely tough.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, salt spray, poor soil, heat and frost are all handled once the roots are established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative and bird friendly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Small red berries follow the insignificant flowers, and the dense low cover gives small birds somewhere to shelter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting and groundcover.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 80cm apart for a continuous silver carpet. At that spacing the plants meet within two seasons without crowding each other into a mound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSlopes and retaining walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e The spreading habit binds loose soil on a bank, and it will tumble over the top of a low wall to soften the edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens and borders.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance makes it one of the reliable choices for a beachside front garden, and the silver reads well against dark foliage or rendered walls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Saltbush 'Silver Border' in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun brings out the silver; in shade the growth stretches and the colour dulls. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens, and it is frost hardy in cold southern districts. It is less at home in humid subtropical summers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Almost anything that drains, including sand, gravel and thin poor soil. It is one of the few plants that genuinely prefers being left alone in lean ground. Avoid heavy clay that stays wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water fortnightly through the first summer to establish, then rely on rainfall in most seasons. Feeding is optional and often counterproductive: a rich soil produces soft open growth rather than tight silver cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim lightly once or twice a year to keep it dense and hold the shape you want. It responds well to a light shear after the main growth flush, and can be cut back harder if it opens up with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is sold as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of ten, which suits its main use: buying in numbers for a run of groundcover. Tubes are small and inexpensive, and fast enough to catch larger stock, so they are the sensible choice for a big area. The 140mm plants cover sooner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect a quiet few weeks after planting while roots go down, then rapid spread through the first warm season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse the full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/australian-native-shrubs\"\u003eAustralian native shrubs\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003esalt tolerant plants for coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee what else suits \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-retaining-walls\"\u003eretaining walls and slopes\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/waterwise-garden-guide-sustainable-tips-and-plant-selections\"\u003ewaterwise garden guide\u003c\/a\u003e for planting in dry conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 80cm spacing, roughly 1.5 plants per square metre. A 10 square metre bed takes about 15, which is where the pack of ten in 140mm makes sense.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow high will it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 80cm if left alone, spreading to 1.2m across. A light trim once or twice a year holds it lower and keeps the cover tight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it handle frost and dry heat?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth. It is frost hardy enough for cool temperate and inland gardens, and drought, heat and poor soil are all within its range once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":54742693544255,"sku":"RHA-SPI-SILBOR-tube","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54742693577023,"sku":"RHA-SPI-SILBOR-140MM-P10","price":188.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/saltbush-silver-border-rhagodia-spinescens-silver-border-f504c6.jpg?v=1785941221"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/collections\/aussie-flat-bush-saltbush-rhagodia-spinescens-aussie-flat-bush-741b48.jpg?v=1791809899","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/collections\/saltbush.oembed","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}