Many Sydney estates require a front hedge at least 0.9 m high on your landscape plan. Choosing the right plant makes approval easier and gives you a hedge that's simple to look after. These are the hedge and screen plants we specify most often.
Our most-used hedge and screen plants
| Plant | Native | Pot size | Spread | Height | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa 'Mundi') | Yes | 300 mm | 0.9 m | 1–1.2 m | Low front hedges |
| Lilly Pilly 'Minor' (Acmena smithii) | Yes | 15 L | 0.8 m | 1 m | Clipped hedges |
| Orange Jessamine (Murraya paniculata) | No | 300 mm | 1 m | 1.2 m | Fragrant formal hedges |
| Viburnum (Viburnum tinus) | No | 200 mm | 2 m | 3 m | Side and rear screens |
Why we often choose Westringia 'Mundi'
Native Rosemary is our go-to front hedge. It's a hardy Australian native, handles heat and dry spells well, and keeps a neat shape when clipped to around 0.9–1 m. Because it's native, it also helps meet the native planting percentage some estates require.
How many plants do you need?
We calculate the quantity from the length of your front boundary and the plant's mature spread, and show it on the plan — for example "30 WES" means 30 Westringia. On recent plans our front hedges have used between 20 and 30 plants, depending on the frontage.
Tips for approval
- Check the native percentage. Some guidelines require a minimum share of native plants across the whole plan.
- Leave room for services. The hedge needs to stop short of the letterbox pier, driveway and any water or sewer infrastructure.
- Use screens on the boundaries, not the frontage. Taller plants like Viburnum suit side and rear fences, where height isn't an issue.
Browse more of the plants we use in our plant library.
Good to know: requirements differ between estates and can change. Your developer's design guidelines and council's DCP always take priority — we check both for every plan we prepare.
Need a plan?
Our residential landscape plans are a fixed $450* for new homes on land up to 550 sqm, with free amendments for approval and delivery in 3–5 business days. Send us your site plan to get started.