Medium Shrubs
Medium Shrubs
This section covers shrubs 1 meter to 4 meters tall.
Acacia acinacea - Gold Dust Wattle
0.5-2.5 m x 2-4 m
Open spreading shrub. Flowers in profuse bright yellow balls along arching branches.
Adaptable to well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
A good low screening plant.
Acacia genistifolia - Spreading Wattle
1-3 m x 1-3 m
Fast growing, open spreading shrub with perfumed lemon ball flowers.
Reliable shrub tolerating wet or dry soil. Full sun, semi-shade.
A common refuge for small birds.
Acacia myrtifolia - Myrtle wattle
1-3 m x 1-2 m
A rounded or erect shrub with red, ribbed branches and cream to yellow flowers.
Most soils. Full sun to full shade.
Provides a fast-growing low screen. Heavy pruning can be beneficial.
Acacia paradoxa - Hedge Wattle
2-4 m x 2-5 m
Fast growing dense spreading shrub. Prickly tree, abundant large golden yellow balls.
Dry to moist well drained situations. Full sun, semi-shade.
A very ornamental wattle. A noxious weed in some rural areas.
Acacia stictophylla - Cinnamon Wattle
Synonym: Acacia leprosa
2-4 m x 2-4 m
Fast growing small tree. Drooping, aromatic foliage with scented lemon ball flowers.
Moist to well drained soils. Semi-shade to full shade.
Rare in Victoria. An excellent medium screening plant.
Acacia ulicifolia - Juniper Wattle
1-2 m x 1-2 m
Open rounded tree with prickly leaves. Perfumed cream ball-shaped flowers.
Well drained dry sandy soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Fast-growing, and suitable as an ornamental screen or windbreak.
Allocasuarina paludosa - Swamp Sheoke
0.5-2 m x 1 - 2 m
Slow growing, open or dense tree, brown flowers.
Moist to wet clay or sandy soils. Frost tolerant. Full sun, semi-shade.
Banksia spinulosa - Hairpin Banksia
2-4 m x 2-5 m
Dense tree, narrow dark green toothed leaves, flowers are golden yellow spikes.
Prefers moist well drained soils but will tolerate dryness once established. Full sun, semi-shade.
An excellent shrub for growing under established trees. Can prune lightly.
Cassinia aculeata - Dogwood
2-4 m x 1-2 m
Open, upright shrub. Aromatic, cauliflower heads of white flowers, or sometimes pink flowers.
Heavy, moist and well drained soils. Semi-shade.
Cassinia longifolia - Shiny Cassinia
2-4 m x 2-3 m
Medium upright aromatic shrub. Dense terminal clusters of small white flowers.
Moist, well drained and drier soils, often found in rockery sites. Semi-shade to full shade.
An adaptable shrub to most conditions.
Cassinia sifton - Drooping Cassina, Chinese Scrub
2-4 m x 1-2 m
Fine foliaged shrub, drooping form. Whitish flowers. Buds often pink.
Heavy, moist and well drained soils. Semi-shade.
Coprosma hirtella - Rough Coprosma
1-2 m x 0.5-1.5 m
Slender tree with rough, dull green leaves.
Moist, well drained sheltered position. Semi-shade to full shade.
Coprosma quadrifida - Prickly Currant Bush
2-4 m 1-2 m
Open, upright, spiny shrub. Red fruit.
Moist well drained soil. Semi-shade to full shade.
A useful plant to grow with ferns.
Correa reflexa var lobata - Correa
(Mt. Dandenong form)
0.3-2 m x 1-2 m
Leaf margins scalloped, calyx lobes deeply triangular.
Correa reflexa var reflexa - Native Fuchsia
0.3-2 m x 1-2 m
Open, upright shrub with green bells.
Well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Red-flowering forms with yellow tips are known.
Daviesia latifolia - Broad Leaf pea
1-3 m x 1-2 m
Spreading shrub, racemes of fragrant yellow & brown flowers.
Adaptable to most soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Useful in massed plantings for screening or hedges.
Daviesia leptophylla - Slender Bitter Pea
Stiff, dull green linear leaves, racemes of yellow and red flowers.
Dillwynia cinerascens - Grey Parrot-pea
0.6-1.5 m x 0.5-1.5 m
Open understorey shrub, greyish-green leaves with yellow and orange pea flowers
Dry soils. Semi-shade.
An adaptable plant for a shady situation.
Epacris impressa - Common Heath
0.5-1.5 m x 20-60 cm
Open, wiry shrub with masses of white or pink flowers. Victoria's floral emblem.
Moist, well drained soil, tolerating limited dry or wet periods once established. Semi-shade.
An attractive rockery plant.
Goodenia ovata - Hop Goodenia
1-2.5 m x 1-3 m
Small to medium open erect shrub. Yellow flowers, fast growing. Also semi-prostrate form.
Damp soils, tolerating waterlogging. Full sun to full shade.
If straggly can be pruned.
Grevillea alpina - Mountain Grevillea
1-2 m x 1-2 m
Dense, upright shrub with clusters of bright red and yellow flowers in terminal clusters.
Well drained soils. Semi-shade.
A showy understorey shrub. Prune frequently when young.
Gynatrix pulchella - Austral Hemp Bush
2-4 m x 1.5-3 m
Open woody shrub to small tree. Hairy, heart-shaped leaves.
Well drained moist soil. Semi-shade.
Often profuse in flower. Prune regularly to avoid becoming straggly.
Hakea decurrens ssp. physocarpa - Silky Hakea
2-5 m x 1-3 m
Stiff, spreading prickly needles. Masses of fragrant white or occasionally pink flower clusters.
Adaptable to moist or dry conditions. Full sun, semi-shade.
The prickly foliage provides a safe habitat for small birds.
Hakea nodosa - Yellow Hakea
1-3 m x 1-2 m
Erect and spreading. Small yellow flowers and soft needles.
Tolerates poor drainage but grows well in dry or moist conditions. Full sun to full shade.
Attractive in flower. Provides a good low screen. Quick growing.
Hakea teretifolia - Dagger Hakea
2-3 m x 1-3 m
Dense, upright and spreading shrub. Masses of hairy, white flowers and stiff, sharp needles.
Adaptable to any well drained situation. Full sun, semi-shade.
Seed germinates readily after fires.
Hakea ulicina - Furze Hakea
1.5-4 m x 1-2 m
Rigid upright shrub. Cream flowers.
Well drained dry to moist soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Excellent bird and animal habitat.
Indigofera australis - Austral Indigo
1-2 m x 1-2 m
Open spreading and erect shrub. Mauve flowers in spring.
Adaptable to any well drained soil. Full sun to full shade. Lime tolerant.
Very attractive in flower.
Leptospermum continentale - Prickly Tea-tree
1-2 m x 1-2 m
Upright, dense and straggling shrub. Masses of white flowers in spring.
Adaptable, tolerating both well drained and moist to wet soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Leptospermum myrsinoides - Silky Tea-tree
0.5-2.5 m x 1 m
Compact or wiry shrub, dull green leaves and white or pink flowers.
Adaptable, usually on deep sandy soil, tolerating poor drainage. Full sun, semi-shade.
An attractive shrub for understorey planting.
Leptospermum scoparium - Manuka
Horizontal form
2 m x 1.5-3 m
Dense shrub. Leaves rigid and prickly. White flowers.
Moist soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Melicytus dentatus - Tree Violet
Synonym: Hymenanthera dentata
To 1.5 m high
Wide spreading shrub. Scented tree, small berries.
Dry soil. Full sun.
Olearia asterotricha - Rough Daisy Bush
1-2 m x 1 m
Dull green, rough & hairy foliage with single blue to mauve flowerheads on long stalks.
Well drained moist soils. Semi-shade.
Rare in Victoria.
Olearia erubescens - Moth Daisy Bush
1-1.5 m x 1-1.5 m
Small loose panicles of white to pink flowerheads with yellow centres.
Well drained soils tolerating dryness once established. Full sun, semi-shade.
Looks good planted amongst other shrubs.
Ozothamnus ferrugineus - Tree Everlasting
2-4 m x 2-4 m
Open rounded shrub. White flower heads.
Moist well drained soil. Full sun, semi-shade.
Olearia glandulosa - Swamp Daisy-bush
1-2 m x 1 m
Open erect shrub. Fine, dark green, sticky leaves. Dense white or pale blue flowerheads.
Damp conditions. Locally rare.
Olearia phlogopappa - Dusty Daisy-bush
1-3 m x 1-2 m
Fast growing open to dense shrub. Masses of long-stalked white flowerheads with yellow centres.
Well drained moist soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
One of the most attractive local olearia species. Prune after flowering.
Olearia ramulosa var ramulosa - Twiggy Daisy-bush
0.5-2.5 m x 1 m
Open spindly, often sprawling shrub.Fast growing, white flowers.
Well drained soils. Semi-shade.
Attractive garden plant.
Olearia rugosa - Wrinkled Daisy Bush
1-2 m x 1 m
Spindly, upright shrub. Small white flowers with yellow or purplish disc florets.
Moist well drained soil. Semi-shade.
An attractive foliage plant for a sheltered position.
Ozothamnus obcordatus - Grey Everlasting
1-2 m x 1 m
Slender or spreading erect shrub. Numerous dense clusters of tubular yellow flowers.
Well drained dryish conditions. Full sun, semi-shade.
A showy shrub for a difficult spot.
Pimelea axiflora - Bootlace Bush, Tough Rice Flower
1-3 m x 1-2 m
Open, erect shrub with dark green leaves and small creamy-white flowers.
Moist well drained soil. Semi-shade to full shade.
Bark was used by Aborigines to make nets and headbands. Early settlers used bark for bootlaces.
Polyscias sambucifolia - Elderberry Panax
1-3 m x 1-3 m
Rounded shrub or small tree. Clusters of small yellow-green flowers. Edible fruits.
Moist soil. Semi-shade to full shade.
Pomaderris lanigera - Woolly Pomaderris
1-3 m x 1-3 m
Erect hairy shrub, hairy leaves, large cluster of yellow flowers.
Moist well drained soil. Full sun, semi-shade.
An attractive low screening plant. Spectacular in flower.
Pultenaea gunnii - Golden Bush Pea
0.5-1.5 m x 0.5-1 m
Wiry erect or straggling shrub with golden flowers.
Well drained soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Spectacular in flower. Grows well under established trees.
Pultenaea scabra - Rough Bush-pea
1-2 m x 0.5-1.5 m
Erect or rounded hairy shrub with masses of orange-yellow flowers in terminal clusters.
Well drained soil which does not dry out. Semi-shade to dappled shade.
Senecio campylocarpus - Fireweed
To 1.5 m x 1-1.5 m
Erect perennial herb. Loose clusters of brown bottle-shaped flowers.
Moist clay and loams, winter-wet soils. Full sun, semi-shade.
Senecio hispidulus - Rough Fireweed
Synonyms: Senecio hispidulus var hispidulus, Senecio hispidulus var dissectus
0.2-1.3 m high
Erect perennial herb with branched clusters of inconspicuous flowerheads. Leave margins variably toothed and dissected.
Senecio linearifolius - Fireweed Groundsel
1-1.7 m x 1-2 m
Erect perennial herb with large flat-topped clusters of numerous small flowerheads.
Moist soils. Semi-shade to full shade.
A brilliant display in flower.
Solanum aviculare - Kangaroo Apple
1-4 m x 1-4 m
Erect soft woody shrub. Purple flowers, red fruit.
Well drained soils. Full sun to full shade.
A decorative fast growing shrub becoming straggly with age. Appreciates heavy pruning.
Solanum laciniatum - Large Kangaroo Apple
1-3 m x 1-3 m
Fast growing shrub. Bluish to purple flowers, orange fruit.
Moderate to well drained soil. Full sun, semi-shade to dappled shade.
Spyridium parvifolium - Australian Dusty Miller
1-2 m x 1-2 m
Soft, dense spreading shrub, grey-green foliage. Small white flowers.
Moist well drained soils, tolerating dryness once established. Semi-shade to dappled shade.
Provides a light screen in dry, shady areas.
Veronica derwentiana - Derwent Speedwell
0.6-1.4 m x 0.5-1 m
Upright to straggly open perennial shrub. Terminal sprays of white or pale-blue flowers.
Moist well drained soil.
Hard pruning encourages more vigorous growth.