Escallonia Red Hedge – Plant Guide
Escallonia ‘Red’ is an attractive evergreen hedging shrub with glossy green foliage and clusters of red to rosy-red flowers. It is suitable for decorative garden hedges, screening and coastal-style gardens, adding colour as well as privacy.
Main features
Plant type: Evergreen flowering shrub.
Foliage: Glossy, dark-green leaves.
Flowers: Red to rosy-red clusters, attractive to bees and other pollinators.
Mature height: Approximately 1.5–3 m, depending on variety and pruning.
Mature width: Approximately 1.5–2.5 m.
Growth habit: Dense, bushy and suitable for clipping into a hedge.
Best position: Full sun to partial shade.
How to grow Escallonia in Perth
Sunlight: Choose a sunny position for better flowering and dense growth.
Soil: Plant in well-drained soil. Improve sandy Perth soils with quality organic matter.
Watering: Water regularly while establishing. Once established, water deeply during hot, dry weather.
Pruning: Trim after flowering or lightly through the growing season to maintain the desired shape.
Fertilising: Apply a slow-release fertiliser suitable for flowering shrubs in spring.
Drainage: Avoid waterlogged soil, particularly during winter.
Landscaping importance
Privacy hedge:
Creates a leafy screen between properties.
Flowering boundary: Adds seasonal red-pink colour to garden borders.
Wind protection: Useful for exposed and coastal gardens.
Wildlife-friendly planting:
Flowers attract pollinators.
Low-maintenance structure:
Evergreen foliage provides year-round greenery.
Planting distance for a hedge
For a dense hedge, start with approximately 50–70 cm between plants, adjusting for the size of your plants and how quickly you want the hedge to fill in.
Growing tip: Escallonia can be affected by leaf spot in humid or poorly ventilated conditions. Good airflow, careful watering and removal of affected fallen leaves help maintain healthy foliage.
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