Saltbush Silver Border

Saltbush 'Silver Border' (Rhagodia spinescens '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.

Why you'll love it

• Silver foliage that works year round. The small grey leaves hold their colour through summer heat and winter cold, so a bed edged with it never looks tired.
• It grows fast and covers. A dense carpet closes over bare soil within a season or two, which keeps weeds down without herbicide or ongoing work.
• Genuinely tough. Drought, salt spray, poor soil, heat and frost are all handled once the roots are established.
• Native and bird friendly. Small red berries follow the insignificant flowers, and the dense low cover gives small birds somewhere to shelter.

Where it works best

Mass planting and groundcover. Plant 80cm apart for a continuous silver carpet. At that spacing the plants meet within two seasons without crowding each other into a mound.

Slopes and retaining walls. The spreading habit binds loose soil on a bank, and it will tumble over the top of a low wall to soften the edge.

Coastal gardens and borders. 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.

Growing Saltbush 'Silver Border' in Australia

Position and climate. 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.

Soil. 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.

Water and feed. 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.

Pruning. 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.

What to expect when it arrives

It 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.

Expect 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.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full range of Australian native shrubs.
• Compare other salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens.
• See what else suits retaining walls and slopes.
• Read our waterwise garden guide for planting in dry conditions.

Common questions

How many plants do I need?

At 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.

How high will it get?

About 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.

Will it handle frost and dry heat?

Both. It is frost hardy enough for cool temperate and inland gardens, and drought, heat and poor soil are all within its range once established.