Flowering Australian Hedge Shrubs

Gardenia shrubs bloom with white flowers.Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images

Australia is the home of a wide variety of shrubs, whether native or imported, that produce flowers. Many of these shrubs also make for good hedges, although pruning and shaping will be required to maintain an attractive appearance. The shrubs grow in most areas of Australia, although some can not tolerate freezing winds.

Abelia

Scientifically known as Abelia grandiflora, abelias can be found in most areas of Australia, except those buffeted by cold winds. Abelias need full sun to limited shade and soil that is moist and well-drained. This shrub needs pruning in the late winter or early spring to maintain an attractive appearance. It propagates with cuttings. This shrub averages 4 feet in size, although it can grow to 5 feet under optimal conditions. This dense shrub has dark green leaves in the summer and produces fragrant, purplish-pink flowers in the fall.

Gardenias are dense, evergreen shrubs found in the temperate parts of Australia, including the southeastern and southwestern parts of the country. They produce a dark foliage and large white flowers with a sweet smell. The flowers are often cut and displayed in vases. They also can be grown from seed in a pot indoors them transferred outside when they become big. The flowers bloom in spring and summer. Gardenias do well in climates that do not have extreme cold. They prefer soil that is well-drained and rich in nutrients. These shrubs can be raised from seed or by cuttings in the spring and summer. Gardenia can be grown in partially shaded or full-sun areas.

Cunoniaceae consists of a family of trees and shrubs that have about 350 species. Used as hedges, they are native to Australia and are found throughout that country, including in the tropical northern areas and the more temperate zones in the south. Most cunoniaceae species produce flowers with four to five petals, although some can bloom as many as 10. The most common color of cunoniaceae flower is white, although some are red. Most of the species are evergreen, but a few are deciduous. They produce a nut that contains a few small seeds and is edible.