Quick Reference

Best compact coastal hedge: Casuarina glauca ‘Green Wave’

Best groundcover texture: Casuarina glauca ‘Cousin It’

Best formal hedge: Syzygium / Lilly Pilly cultivars

Best dry, sunny screen: Westringia, Dodonaea, Callistemon, Melaleuca

Use low-phosphorus native fertilizer for Australian natives. Avoid waterlogged soil.

Data compiled from/expanded on this guide: casuarina glauca green wave.

Plant / Cultivar Type Mature Height Mature Width Growth Rate Sun Water Need Once Established Coastal Tolerance Drought Tolerance Hedge / Screen Use Pruning Need Best Use Key Notes
Casuarina glauca ‘Green Wave’ Compact shrub 1–2 m 1–2 m Moderate-fast Full sun Low High High Yes Low Compact hedge, coastal screen Rounded, self-shaping, fine green foliage
Casuarina glauca ‘Cousin It’ Groundcover 0.3–0.5 m 1–1.5 m Moderate Full sun Low High High No Low Banks, borders, cascading edges Weeping texture, very low form
Casuarina glauca standard Tree 10–15 m 5–8 m Fast Full sun Low High High Windbreak Medium Large coastal windbreak Too large for small gardens
Westringia fruticosa Shrub 1–2 m 1–2 m Moderate Full sun/part sun Low High High Yes Low-medium Native hedge Rosemary-like foliage, white flowers
Westringia ‘Aussie Box’ Compact shrub 0.6–0.9 m 0.6–0.9 m Moderate Full sun Low High High Yes Medium Formal low hedge Box-style native alternative
Rhagodia spinescens Shrub 1–2 m 1–2 m Moderate Full sun Low High High Yes Low Dry coastal planting Silvery foliage, hardy
Correa alba Shrub 1–1.5 m 1–1.5 m Moderate Full sun/part sun Low High Medium-high Low hedge Low Coastal native shrub White star flowers
Leucophyta brownii Shrub 0.6–1 m 0.6–1 m Moderate Full sun Low High High Border Low Silver contrast planting Great for exposed coastal sites
Dodonaea viscosa Shrub/small tree 2–4 m 1.5–3 m Fast Full sun Low Medium-high High Yes Medium Privacy screen Bronze-green foliage, tough
Syzygium ‘Resilience’ Shrub/tree 3–5 m 1.5–3 m Fast Full sun/part sun Medium Medium Medium Yes Medium-high Dense hedge Psyllid-resistant Lilly Pilly
Syzygium ‘Straight and Narrow’ Narrow screen 5–8 m 1–1.5 m Moderate-fast Full sun/part sun Medium Medium Medium Yes Medium Tight spaces Upright, narrow privacy screen
Acmena smithii ‘Minor’ Shrub/tree 3–5 m 2–3 m Fast Full sun/part sun Medium Medium Medium Yes Medium Classic hedge Flushes of new red growth
Callistemon ‘Slim’ Narrow shrub 2.5–3 m 1–1.5 m Moderate Full sun Low-medium Medium-high High Yes Low-medium Narrow screen Bottlebrush flowers, bird-attracting
Callistemon ‘Little John’ Dwarf shrub 0.8–1.2 m 0.8–1.2 m Slow-moderate Full sun Low Medium High Low hedge Low Small gardens Blue-green foliage, red flowers
Melaleuca thymifolia Shrub 1–1.5 m 1–1.5 m Moderate Full sun Low Medium-high High Informal hedge Low Flowering native border Mauve-pink flowers
Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ Dwarf shrub 0.4–0.6 m 0.8–1 m Slow-moderate Full sun Low Medium Medium-high Border Low Feature border Golden candle flowers
Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ Shrub 1.5–2 m 1.5–2 m Fast Full sun Low Medium High Informal screen Low-medium Wildlife garden Long flowering, bird-attracting
Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ Groundcover 0.2–0.4 m 3–4 m Fast Full sun Low Medium High No Low Slope cover Vigorous spreading groundcover
Myoporum parvifolium Groundcover 0.1–0.3 m 1–2 m Fast Full sun Low Medium-high High No Low Lawn alternative, banks Dense mat-forming native
Eremophila glabra Shrub 0.5–1.5 m 0.5–1.5 m Moderate Full sun Very low Medium Very high Informal hedge Low Hot dry gardens Excellent drought performer
Lomandra longifolia Grass-like perennial 0.6–1 m 0.6–1 m Moderate Full sun/part sun Low Medium-high High Border Very low Mass planting Tough strappy foliage
Dianella caerulea Grass-like perennial 0.5–0.8 m 0.5–0.8 m Moderate Sun/part shade Low-medium Medium Medium Border Low Underplanting Blue berries, strappy leaves

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Troubleshooting / FAQ

Yellowing foliage

Likely cause: poor drainage or overwatering.

Fix: improve drainage, water deeply but less often, avoid soggy soil.

Sparse growth

Likely cause: insufficient sun.

Fix: move or plant in full sun where possible.

Slow establishment

Likely cause: low light, poor root development, or nutrient deficiency.

Fix: water regularly for the first 10–12 weeks and use native low-phosphorus fertilizer.

Plant getting too large