Acronychia imperforata Vista

Acronychia 'Vista' (Acronychia imperforata 'Vista') is a compact form of the coastal beach acronychia, selected to screen a narrow space. It carries glossy rounded foliage from ground level to about 3.5m tall while holding near 2m wide, which is what a side boundary needs. Cream flowers through the warm months are followed by small yellow fruit that birds work through.

Why you'll love it

• Tall on a narrow footprint. Around 3.5m of height on 2m of width, so it fits the strip between two houses where most screening plants are too wide.
• Dense from the ground up. It branches low and keeps leaf at the base, so there is no bare gap at fence height.
• Front line coastal tolerance. Salt, wind and humidity are all handled, which makes it a standard choice on beachside blocks.
• An Australian native that feeds birds. Cream flowers, then small yellow fruit, in a plant that asks for two trims a year.

Where it works best

Screening and hedging. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense screen. It clips cleanly, so the same row can be held as a formal hedge from about 1.5m upward.

Coastal gardens. It stands in the first row on an exposed block, taking salt spray and onshore wind that scorches softer foliage.

Pots and entries. A pot 500mm or wider holds it near 2m, which suits a narrow courtyard or a matched pair flanking a door.

Growing Acronychia Vista in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest growth, though it accepts part shade with a looser habit. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate plant. It takes light frost only, so cold inland and hard frosting southern gardens are outside its range.

Soil. Free draining and reasonably fertile; sandy coastal soils suit it. On clay, plant on a raised mound with compost worked through, and keep 75mm of mulch clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off as it becomes drought tolerant. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the foliage glossy.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting to thicken the base, then trim twice a year to hold height and width. It reshoots from older wood, so a neglected hedge can be cut back and recovered.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in six sizes: packs of ten 140mm plants, packs of six 200mm plants, 300mm and 400mm pots, and 45L and 100L. The smaller sizes are the sensible choice for a long boundary and close into a screen over two to three seasons. The 45L and 100L plants arrive already branched with real height.

The thick glossy leaves travel well. Allow a quiet few weeks while the roots move out, then steady growth through the warm season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to creating and maintaining a hedge.
• Compare options in screening plants from 2m to 4m.
• See what else copes in salt tolerant plants.
• Browse the wider range of Australian native shrubs.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One metre apart in a single row. At that spacing the canopies meet within two to three seasons and the screen reads solid to the base.

How narrow will it stay?

Left alone it settles near 2m wide. Trimming the sides twice a year holds it closer to 1.2m, often the difference between fitting a side path and not.

Will it handle frost?

Light frost only. A cold snap on the coast is fine, but repeated hard frost damages foliage and checks growth, so cold gardens should choose something hardier.

Is the fruit a problem over paving?

Rarely. The fruit is small and birds take most of it, though a heavy crop over a path may need sweeping. Regular trimming reduces flowering and fruiting anyway.