Sticky Hop Bush - Dodonaea viscosa

Dodonaea viscosa, the Wedge Leaf Hop Bush, is one of Australia's most reliable and versatile large native shrubs for hedging, screening, and windbreak planting. Dense, fast-establishing, and genuinely tough, it forms a substantial screen of rich green foliage that provides year-round privacy and wind protection across a wide range of garden conditions. In summer the plant produces its most distinctive feature decorative papery red seed capsules that appear in generous clusters across the foliage, adding a warm seasonal colour accent that is one of the most attractive fruiting displays available on a native screening plant.

Growing to 2 to 4m tall and 1 to 2m wide, Dodonaea viscosa has a naturally dense, shrub-like habit that responds well to clipping and shaping for formal hedging, or can be left to grow freely as an informal screen or windbreak. It is highly drought and wind tolerant once established, adapts to coastal conditions, and performs in full sun through to semi shade in well-drained soils. These qualities make it one of the most practical large native shrubs available for exposed, dry, and coastal garden situations where other screening plants struggle to establish.

Low phosphorus slow-release fertiliser and occasional liquid feeding is all it needs to maintain healthy dense growth. Generally trouble free, though scale can occasionally appear and should be treated promptly if detected. A hardworking, attractive, and ecologically valuable native that earns its place in any garden requiring a tough, low water screening solution with genuine ornamental appeal.

Key Features:

• Soil: Well-drained soil essential. Tolerates a wide range of soil types provided drainage is good. Highly adaptable to sandy, loam, and rocky soils in coastal and inland conditions.
• Light: Full sun to semi shade. Best density and growth rate achieved in a full sun position. Tolerates semi shade well while maintaining good screening density.
• Watering: Low once established. Water in well at planting and keep moist through the first season. Once established, highly drought tolerant and requires little to no supplementary watering in most Australian garden conditions.
• Fertiliser: Low phosphorus slow-release fertiliser annually and occasional liquid feeding through the growing season. High phosphorus fertilisers can be harmful to Australian native plants. Use a formulation specifically suited to natives.
• Maintenance: Medium. Clip to shape for formal hedging as required through the growing season. Monitor for scale and treat promptly with an appropriate horticultural oil or insecticide if detected. No other significant pest or disease concerns.
• Flowering: Summer. Flowers are insignificant but are followed by the highly decorative papery red seed capsules that are the plant's most ornamental feature, appearing in generous clusters across the foliage through summer.

For the fastest and densest hedge establishment, plant Dodonaea viscosa at 60 to 80cm spacings and clip lightly from the first season to encourage dense branching from the base. Allowing plants to grow unchecked before the first clip results in a leggier, less dense base that is harder to correct later. Early and regular light clipping is the single most effective technique for achieving a tight, dense, and well-furnished hedge from the ground up.

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