The Complete Murraya Hedges, Plants, and Trees - Redslandscaping

The Complete Murraya Hedges, Plants, and Trees Growers Guide 2023

Murraya hedges, also known as orange jessamine or Chinese box, are a popular choice for hedges and screens due to their attractive glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers. In this article, we will discuss different types of Murraya hedges and where to grow them, as well as answer some of your questions, such as "how to propagate Murray hedges from cuttings."

What Kinds of Murraya Hedges Are There?

There are several different types of Murraya plants, including Murraya paniculata, which is the most common variety and can grow up to 3 metres tall, and Murraya exotica, which is a smaller variety that grows up to 1.5 metres tall.

To care for Murraya hedge plants, it is important to provide them with well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade, and regular watering. They also benefit from regular fertilisation and pruning to promote healthy growth and shape. The best time to prune them is early summer or late spring.

Murraya Hedge Flowers and Fruits – What You Need To Know And How to Care for Them

Murraya Hedge Flowers and Fruits - Redslandscaping
Murraya Hedge Flowers and Fruits.

The flowers and fruits of Murraya hedging are small and white, and they bloom in clusters. The fruit is a small, round berry that is green when unripe and turns black when ripe. But how do you care for the Murraya hedge plant and its fruits? It is important to provide the plant with the proper growing conditions, such as adequate sunlight and watering, as well as regular fertilisation. Let's look at the care routine in detail below.

Growing Murraya at Home

Growing Murraya at home is a great way to add some greenery to your home. They are known for their glossy green leaves and fragrant white flowers that bloom in the spring and summer.

Growing Murraya at Home - Redslandscaping
The Lowdown on Care and Maintenance.

First, it's important to note that Murraya are tropical plants and prefer warm, humid environments. They do well in temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit and thrive in bright, indirect light. If you're looking to grow Murray's indoors, a south- or west-facing window would be ideal. If you're planting them outdoors, make sure they are protected from strong winds and direct sunlight.

The Lowdown on Care and Maintenance

  • When planting, make sure to dig a hole that is slightly larger than the root ball of the plant. The depth of the hole should be the same as the depth of the root ball; this is how deep you plant a shrub. Murraya prefers well-draining soil, so make sure to amend the soil with compost or other organic matter before planting.
  • Once your Murraya is planted, it will need regular watering to establish its roots and keep them hydrated. Don't overwater plants because this can cause root rot. Murraya should be watered when the soil is dry to the touch. In the summer, you may need to water them more frequently, while in the winter, you can reduce the frequency.
  • Fertilizing your Murraya is also an important part of caring for them. They prefer a balanced fertiliser with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They should be fertilised every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
  • Pruning is also an important part of maintaining your Murraya Hedges. They can grow quite large, so pruning will help to control their size and shape. The best time to plant shrubs in Melbourne is in the spring or summer. Prune your Murraya in the spring, after they have finished blooming. Cut back any dead or damaged branches and shape the plant as desired.
Murraya Pruning and Trimming - Redslandscaping
Prune your Murraya in the spring, after they have finished blooming.

Growing Murraya at home is a great way to add some greenery to your home. They are easy to care for and maintain, but they do require regular watering, fertilising, and pruning. With the right care and attention, your Murraya will thrive and bring beauty and fragrance to your home for many years to come.

Murray's Frequently Asked Questions

How frequently do you water Murray's?

It is one of the common questions about growing Murrayas, and the answer is that it's best to water the Murraya regularly. The amount of water needed to keep your Murraya happy and healthy depends on the climate, the season, and other factors, such as soil type However, as a general rule of thumb, Murrays should be watered on average two to three times a week.

How often should Murray be fertilised?

Fertilize them at least once a month. When fertilising Murrays, use a balanced fertiliser and apply it according to the instructions on the packaging Generally, Murrays should be fertilised at least once a month to ensure they stay healthy and are able to achieve their best blooms.

How do we control pests and diseases?

Keep an eye out for pests and diseases and treat them promptly with fertilisers or pesticides. Murrays are quite susceptible to pests and diseases, so it is important to be vigilant in checking them regularly and treating any symptoms that appear quickly to avoid serious damage to the plants.


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Hedge design for Landscaping

Creating a hedge design and tree pruning are gardening techniques which can be used to great effect in virtually any size of garden. These techniques can be used to control and direct the size, shape, and direction of plant growth. When combined with plant supports, such as trellises and other plants, an interesting garden effect can be created. Of course, pruning is also used to encourage fruit tree growth and to improve plant health by encouraging air circulation. The use of hedge planting and pruning has been a feature of Mediterranean gardens and English classic garden design for centuries.

Hedge Designs for Cyder Cottage - Reds Landscaping and Design
Hedge Designs for Cyder Cottage.

Hedge Design for Shrub Growth Control

If shrubs and trees are allowed to grow uncontrolled, they may become too large for the space in your garden. Often, branches are left at an awkward height near pathways, which can result in safety issues. It is often the case that a tree or shrub will become misshaped through natural growth, and some pruning is required to improve its aesthetics.

Privacy Trees and Hedges - Reds Landscaping and Design
Plant Privacy Trees and Shrubs just for privacy purposes to shield out unwanted activity.

Hedge Design using the correct Pruning Techniques.

For flowering shrubs and trees, the correct pruning technique will encourage new growth of younger shoots and, in some cases, more flowering in the long term. Annual pruning of fruit trees will often result in better quality and larger fruit, as well as a reduction in fungal diseases.

Keeping your garden hedge well maintained in the first place, will save you money and add value to your property. A hedge that is not well maintained may not only lose its shape, but will leave bare patches of hedge when it is finally shaped with the trimmer or saw.

Living Hedge - Reds Landscaping and Design
A living hedge not only keeps livestock fenced but also prevents soil erosion and water runoff.
Hedge Design around a central boxed plant - Reds Landscaping and Design
Hedge Design around a central boxed plant.

Espalier
Originally developed in Europe to grow fruit trees in a microclimate, a warm wall was used to provide heat and support to the plant. Later, trellises were also used to support espalier plants.

Shredded Hedge - Reds Landscaping and Design
Shredded Hedge.

 

Supports for espalier plants now include wooden, metal, and wire supports, as well as stone, brick, and even glass walls. Espalier is a great technique for improving the look of a fence or wall, especially in the case of a small garden.

 

Hedge Design with Pleaching - Reds Landscaping and Design
Hedge Design with Pleaching.

Pleaching
Pleaching is a great technique for creating a screen for garden privacy. Pleaching can be applied not only in a straight line but also as a circle or rectangle.

 

Hedge Design with Pleaching on a Tree - Reds Landscaping and Design
Hedge Design with Pleaching on a Tree.

Pleaching is a great way to create a green privacy screen in your garden. It can also be used to create an impenetrable hedge, which can be used as a fence. It makes a nice alternative to a wire fence in rural areas.


If you would like a qualified horticulturist to take a look at your hedging needs, contact us.

Click here for more Landscaping Ideas

Click here for more of our garden design blogs.

Click here to take a look at our own Melbourne landscape construction and garden maintenance.

For more detailed advice on how to trim hedges,

Check the Stihl garden trimmer site at
https://www.stihl.in/the-correct-way-to-cut-hedges.aspx


Contact experienced landscape gardeners

For all of your garden maintenance needs or help with the design and development of your landscaping ideas, contact one of our experienced landscape gardeners. We can help with small garden design all the way up to commercial landscape design. Our specialties include fast growing screening plants, plant health, as well as horticulture, garden lighting  and outdoor pool landscaping ideas.

3D Renders – What To Expect

3D render allows you full access to see your future landscape as it would be built.
Renders allow you to visualize the designed spaces not only from top and side views but from every view: out of key viewpoints such as balconies, views from the spa, underneath the pergola: 3D modelling lets you spatially see how it all fits together.

Our render package includes 5–10 images like the one here, as well as a flythrough video, which takes you on a journey through your landscape. These are great for understanding how the area would be experienced, as you are seeing it as you would if you were really there.

Design Fee Proposal Options

Please see below the 2 options for your landscape design. These prices have been custom priced according to your brief, site conditions, and the landscape elements required.

2D Landscape Package

  • This option includes a 2D fully scaled landscape plan drawn at 1:100, with annotation depicting design elements on the plan.
  • A mood board document with indicative imagery, such as Pinterest photos of poolside paving, planting styles etc – all included to give an indication of the design intent.
  • A planting schedule and materials schedule will break down exactly what plant species and hardscaping materials are within the design.
  • You will be able to obtain quotes and build from these plans once the 2D Landscape Package process is complete and you’re happy with your design.
  • 4 hours of allocated change/revisions included in price, revisions beyond quoted amount will be charged at an hourly rate
©️ 2020 Red’s Landscape Gardening Melbourne

Gardening Services Melbourne

Gardening Services is one of the gardening and landscaping services provided by Red’s Landscape Gardening. We believe that excellent garden maintenance is both great for your business image and great for property values.

Gardening services work in progress on a Melbourne nature strip. Copyright Red’s Landscape Gardening – Gardener Melbourne.

Gardeners Melbourne

Our experienced and expert technical staff have knowledge not only in landscape design and construction but also in chemistry, horticulture, biology, floriculture, infrastructure, turf systems, and irrigation. All up we have over 50 years of garden maintenance behind us as well as the technical knowledge to make a garden look great. Our team of experienced landscape gardeners take a pro-active approach to gardening services. We can even suggest a few landscaping ideas during our visits.

Garden Maintenance Plan

To fit within your budget, we have come up with a four-tiered garden maintenance plan. Each of these will give you an excellent return on your investment and give your house or business instant kerb appeal.

Service
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
1)    Lawn mowing
2)    Brush cutting
3)    Hedge Trimming
4)    Tree Planting
5)    Tree Pruning
6)    Palm tree cleanup
7)    Examination for Pests and diseases.
8)    Pest and Disease Control Plan
9)    Pressure Cleaning.
10) Irrigation System Repair or upgrades.
11) Garden Lighting repair or upgrades.
12) Paving repairs
13) Fence Repairs
14) Drainage Checks.
15) Mulching.
16) Lawn Aeration
17) Fertilizer application.
18) Soil wetter application
19) Garden Bed weeding.
20) Soil Amelioration / Amendments.
21) Planting and care of annuals.

Pressure Cleaning of Decks and Pavers.

Pressure cleaning your decks and paving will make your garden safer and more attractive. If you are looking to enhance your property for sale, this will really give your property a boost.

Garden Services. Paving after a pressure clean looks crisp and clean. It is also safer to walk on once the moss is removed.

Garden mulch for low maintenance gardening.

To keep your garden looking healthy, and to save on water, mulch should be topped up regularly. Some species of plants can suffer from collar rot if mulch is applied to the trunk. Experienced landscape gardeners and qualified horticulturists will know this.

Garden Landscaping. Water saving Garden Mulch applied by experienced Landscape Gardeners will keep your garden healthy. Copyright Red’s Landscape Gardening – Gardener Melbourne.

Hedge Trimming gardening services.

A well maintained, neatly trimmed hedge looks great on commercial, residential and  body corporate sites. Our keen eye for detail will keep your hedges looking pristine and neat.

Hedge trimming Garden Services package. Neatly trimmed hedges.

 

Tree planting by experienced Landscape Gardeners.

When planting trees, an experienced landscape gardener will make sure the hole is an adequate size and correct soils and fertilisers are used. As part of our Gold and Platinum packages we will prune and maintain you trees. Small trees will be replaced as part of the package, but the cost of the tree itself is not included.

Garden Services. Preparing the ground for tree planting. Melbourne Gardening services.
Melbourne lawn mowing. Street Trees in your nature strip provide shade and give your property a lift. They need to be well maintained so they do not become a hazard for pedestrians or cyclists.

Minor Fence and Gate Repairs

A fence in a state of disrepair can be both a security and a safety issue. As part of our Platinum package, we will check on the safety of your fences and carry out minor repairs.

A recently repaired fence by Red’s Landscape Gardening creates a great first impression on this Melbourne House..

Garden Maintenance Plans include Soil wetter granules.

Our garden maintenance plans include the use of soil wetters and the most appropriate fertilisers for your garden. This will save on watering and keep your garden looking great. An uneven lawn is difficult to mow and can become a tripping hazard. We will check your lawns and recommend an appropriate treatment.

Soil wetter and Top Dress gardening services.

Garden and Lawn before adding soil wetter and top dressing.

Irrigation maintenance and repairs.

A well maintained irrigation system will save water and keep your plants healthy. Minor irrigation system repairs are included in our Platinum garden service package. As installers of premium irrigation systems with WIFI controllers, solenoids, manifolds and fertiliser dosing, we know what makes these systems tick. We can check liquid fertiliser levels and make sure your system is working efficiently.

Irrigation system with controller, solenoids, manifolds Tee pieces and fertiliser dosing. Irrigation Maintenance Melbourne

Irrigation Repairs

A premium irrigation system with controller, manifold , liquid fertiliser dosing and solenoid valves. Minor irrigation repairs and maintenance are part of our platinum package, but expensive replacement parts are extra. Ideal for your business or home garden. Sprinkler maintenance Melbourne

Drainage Maintenance gardening services.

Our Platinum gardening service includes minor repairs and cleaning of drainage pits and checking for blockages. This can help prevent an expensive flood when the heavy rains come.

Gardening Services Melbourne. Drainage and Irrigation repairs. Minor maintenance, repairs and testing is part of our platinum package.
Agricultural, French and Spoon Drains. Minor repairs and Maintenance are included in the Platinum Plan.

Other Gardening Services. – Lawn Mowing

Lawn mowing. Gardening Services from an experienced landscape gardener lawn mowing.

 

Contact us to find out how to make Red’s Landscape Gardening your property management partner.

One of our well maintained  Gardens

Contact us

For Gardening Services or help with the design  and development or your landscaping ideas, contact one of our experienced Landscape Gardeners. We can help with small garden design all the way up to  Commercial Landscape design.  Our specialities include fast growing screening plants, plant health and horticulture, garden lighting  and outdoor pool landscaping ideas.

For some landscape garden design ideas, take a look at our Garden Design blog.

By Callum O’Brien

More Information on Mulches from Gardening Australia

 

© Copyright 2020 Red’s Landscape Gardening – Melbourne Landscaper

 


Murraya Paniculata hedge in pots.

9 Ways Murraya Paniculata is Perfect for Melbourne

Murraya Paniculata is a versatile plant for Melbourne Landscaping.

At Red’s Landscaping and Design, we put a lot of thought into exactly which plants best suit your local environment and your specific outdoor area. There’s never a one-size fits all solution.

While one tree or shrub may be good here, perhaps it just does not suit there. But one of our favourite go-to plants is the Murraya Paniculata. One of the most gorgeous, luscious and sweet-smelling plants you’ll ever find.

Better yet, it seems to be handmade to thrive in the salty Melbourne coastal air! Almost every one of our designs recently puts the Murraya to good use, which is handy because it actually comes in a large number of varieties! From the full-grown to the hedge, or even the dwarf type.

Melbourne Landscaper - Dwarf Murraya Paniculata
Dwarf tree Murraya Paniculata.

 

The Murraya paniculata, more commonly known as the orange jasmine, orange jessamine, honey bush, mock orange, or satinwood is an absolutely stunning evergreen plant from the citrus family.
The Murraya paniculata, more commonly known as the orange jasmine, orange jessamine, honey bush, mock orange, or satinwood is an absolutely stunning evergreen plant from the citrus family.

Murraya Paniculata a Garden Favourite

This sub-tropical plant is very popular in the landscaping world and is often used in commercial landscaping and residential landscaping all over Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

Fragrant white flowers with curled up petals bloom on the orange jasmine plant during the springtime, and small red berries are formed in the summer months.

Thanks to its eye-catching white flowers and delicious berries, the Murraya Paniculata constantly attracts beautiful birds, bees, and butterflies, and fills the air with delicious smells all summer long.

However, there is much more to this gorgeous plant than you think! Read below to find out ten things you need to know about the Murraya Paniculata plant.

Murraya paniculata or Orange Jessamine, China Box Tree, Andaman Satinwood, Chinese Box-wood on fancy carp fish pond and mini waterfall. Reds Landscaping Melbourne Landscaper.
Murraya Paniculata or Orange Jessamine, as a edging plant to soften the edge of a tranquil pool and mini waterfall. Reds Landscaping Melbourne Landscaper.

 

 

Murraya Paniculata Bush
Murraya Paniculata Bush

Murraya Paniculata. The Fragrant Sweet Smelling Orange Jasmine

Many who choose to add the orange jasmine to their garden do so because they are looking to add some sweet aromas to their backyards and around their homes.

Adding the yummy scents of orange blossoms from the orange jessamine to a garden will definitely upgrade the landscape design and will make house guests and family members enjoy being seated outdoors all throughout the day.

The orange jasmine, or Murraya Paniculata as it is often called by landscapers, is an extremely fragrant flower that fills the air with its beautiful and memorable scent all summer long. It is said that the flower is most fragrant during summer evenings.

Perhaps the reason this flower is so beloved by homeowners is due to the old memories of summer fun that are brought back when they get a whiff of the orange jasmine flowers.

Murraya Paniculata Flower
Murraya Paniculata Flower

It is All Edible!

Along with its gorgeous smell and beautiful appearance, this amazing plant is also completely edible.

That’s right! Every single part of the plant, except the branches, is completely safe to consume by humans.

Being part of the citrus family, this plant grows citrus berries that look a lot like kumquats and are safe to eat and are even often added to salads or eaten on their own by owners of these trees.

On top of that, even the leaves of the plant are quite appetizing and are used to make delicious tea all over the world.

If you are ever hanging out around the orange jessamine tree while it’s flowering, grab some of the stamens from inside of the flower and have a taste!

It is absolutely delicious, and it is kind of fun to eat a flower right off of the branch.

Murraya Paniculata Hedge
Murraya Paniculata Hedge

Attracts Visitors to Your Garden

The Murraya Paniculata is not only edible for humans, but it is also considered a delicacy among birds, bees, and butterflies!

The sweet stamen previously mentioned is often the food of choice of birds, bees, as well as butterflies in the area.

This is due to the very high sugar content in the flower’s stamen that gives it a very sweet taste, and nutritious compound.

Interestingly enough, honey farms that grow their bees near honey bush trees end up selling honey that has a hint of a sharp orange taste!

The delicious berries, on the other hand, often attract small frugivore birds to your garden to devour them.

While bees may not always be welcomed guests in your garden, seeing beautiful birds and butterflies fly around your home may all be worth it.

Murraya Paniculata Plant
Murraya Paniculata Plant

Murraya Paniculata. Good for Landscape Design

Thanks to its prominent white flowers that stand out against the deep green leaves, fragrant smell, and its attraction of lovely animals, the Murraya Paniculata is widely used in landscape design for both residential and commercial landscaping.

This rather tropical looking flower may look delicate and soft, but it is actually an extremely hardy evergreen and a very durable plant which makes it great for creating all kinds of landscape designs that last all year long.

Along with its hardiness, the beauty and relaxed atmosphere it brings to any area makes it the perfect addition to any garden. On top of adding the generic orange jasmine tree to gardens, landscapers often also add the very cute dwarf varieties of this plant as well.

The Murraya Min-a-Min is one of these Orange Jasmine plant varieties that is often used to decorate the front of houses or commercial buildings by being placed in small pots.

On top of that, the dwarf orange jessamine trees are often kept indoors and shaped and treated as bonsai trees by enthusiasts.

The growth pattern of the Murraya Paniculata branches makes it look very enchanting when they are revealed.

Orange Jasmine (Murraya paniculata)
Orange Jasmine (Murraya Paniculata)

Murraya Paniculata. Perfect for Hedging

The Murraya Paniculata plant is very widely used to create hedges or screens in Australia and the neighbouring countries.

Conveniently named the honey bush, this beautiful plant grows thick like a large shrub with glossy green leaves and gorgeous flowers.

The plant grows very fast, very dense, and very tall, which means your hedge will be full and impermeable to the wondering eye in no time!

You will rarely find missing chunks in between the orange jessamine leaves, which will leave all your hedges looking absolutely perfect all year round.

The smaller varieties of the Orange Jasmine are also used to create low hedges to add style to the landscape design.

On top of that, the growth pattern of this particular plant makes it very easy to maintain, so you won’t have to worry about reshaping your hedges very often throughout the year.

Orange Jasmine (Murraya Paniculata) Hedge
Orange Jasmine (Murraya Paniculata) Hedge

Murraya Paniculata. Shaping and Topiary

While the orange jasmine plant does grow incredibly fast for a plant of its kinds, it is actually best left without over pruning and shaping.

It is recommended that you prune your orange jasmines only once or twice a year to get rid of any dead or broken branches.

Like previously stated, this plant is very easy to shape due to its size and dense growth pattern, your landscaper will be able to create a hedge shape, tree shape, or shape the bushes into the artistic designs of your liking.

The tree shape is often adopted by those looking to add a mystical theme to their garden. The branches on the Orange Jasmine bush twist and turn as they grow upwards and look rather wicked when they are revealed through the shaping process.

Also, these sturdy branches holding the glossy evergreen foliage of the plant make it easy for the Orange Jasmine to hold all types of shapes.

You will often find the Orange Jasmine plant shaped in many different shapes in the same garden including spherical, rectangular, spiral, triangular, and even shaped like your favourite animal or cartoon character.

Thanks to this versatility in shaping and topiary, the Orange Jasmine is used in both commercial and residential landscaping to add beauty and artistic finesse to the area.

Glossy Evergreen Foliage - Orange Jasmine
Also, these sturdy branches holding the glossy evergreen foliage of the plant make it easy for the Orange Jasmine to hold all types of shapes.

Murraya Paniculata. Perfect for Melbourne Conditions

Unfortunately, not many plants can survive very long in outdoor gardens given the rough weather in Melbourne.

However, this does not ring true for the Murraya Paniculata which is actually the perfect plant for this local climate and general environment.

In fact, one of the cool things about this resilient plant is its dislike to living in waterlogged soil and preference for well-drained settings most days of the week.

It is actually recommended that the Murraya Paniculata is only watered about once every ten to fourteen days for optimum results if planted directly in the ground; making it a very drought efficient plant.

The low need for water makes this sub-tropical plant the perfect tenant in Melbourne soil due to the lack of rainfall in the area. The orange jessamine is also a big lover of all-day full sunlight which can always be found on the Melbourne.

On top of that, the orange jasmine is also known to be stellar in wind resistance. Its strong branches and leaves hold up against some very tough long-term breezes which often hit the beaches of the Melbourne.

Finally, the orange jessamine is perfect for this beachside area due to its moderate to high salt tolerance, which means the high salinity of the Melbourne soil will not be in the way of this plant’s growth cycle.

If you live on the Melbourne, or anywhere that has similar environmental and weather conditions, then consider adding the Murraya Paniculata to your landscape design very soon.

Orange Jasmine - Murraya Paniculata
Orange Jasmine is perfect for this beachside area due to its moderate to high salt tolerance.

Related to another Favourite of the Australian garden!

One of the most interesting facts about this rather versatile plant is its genetic heritage. In fact, the orange jessamine, or scientifically the Murraya Paniculata, is actually closely related to the curry plant.

Oddly enough, the orange jessamine we keep in our gardens belongs to the genus Murraya which belongs to the citrus family and includes the very well-known curry plant.

Of course, we all know the curry plant whose leaves are ground down and used in a ton of different dishes around the world; especially in South East Asia. Edible leaves seem to be a running theme in this genus of plant.

Curry Plant - Murraya Paniculata
Curry Plant - Murraya Paniculata

Murraya Paniculata. Low Maintenance in Winter

Murraya Paniculata is actually a very easy plant to maintain, especially in the Melbourne winter months.

This is likely why Murraya hedges are so commonly found in Australia. As previously stated, this gorgeous plant needs minimal water and minimal shaping in comparison to other hedging plants.

On top of that, after the first two years of growth and once the plant is established, you will no longer need to fertilize the soil either.

The low maintenance aspect to the orange jessamine makes it absolutely perfect for hedges and formal gardens where there are too many plants to be constantly paying attention to.

Keep that in mind next time you need a low maintenance, yet attractive addition to your garden.

Murraya hedges
Murraya Hedges - Murraya Paniculata

Murraya Paniculata. Orange Jessamine for Medicine?

Finally, one of the most interesting facts about this member of the citrus family is its place in ancient and modern medicine!

The Murraya Paniculata has been used for centuries by the people of India, China, the Philippines, and pretty much every other country this plant is native to, to treat all kinds of illnesses.

Some of the illnesses the orange jessamine leaves, roots, and branches have been used to treat include coughs, hysteria, rheumatism, dysentery, and general pain relief!

There is a lot more to this wonderful plant than just a beautiful look!

As we’ve seen on our journey learning about the Murraya Paniculata, there is a lot more to this plant than meets the eye.

Thanks to its beautiful flowers, glossy strong leaves, and dense growth, this plant has become a favourite among landscape architects, and even homeowners who want to spice up their own gardens.

On top of that, its strong scent, as well as its delicious fruit and flowers make it the perfect attraction for humans, birds, bees, and butterflies alike.

If all that wasn’t enough, this gorgeous and very useful plant is also extremely easy to maintain, manipulate, and keep alive.

Keep all these interesting facts in mind the next time you are looking for a new addition to your garden. The Murraya plant is a versatile, hardy, evergreen and gorgeous plant with a sweet aroma that can offer great shade for your outdoor area.

Pool Landscaping Designs

Murraya Paniculata is a great hardy plant for swimming pool landscaping. It can be used as a fast growing screening plants in pots to help increase privacy around your pool. The dark green leaves and attractive flowers can help to create and exotic tropic look for your swimming pool or rooftop garden.

This hardy plant will survive a few splashes of swimming pool water and will not be shedding leaves into your swimming pool all year round provided it is well maintained. Buying good sized plants in pots means that you can have instant garden privacy for your pool.

Murraya Paniculata hedge in pots.
Murraya Paniculata hedge in pots - Murraya Paniculata

Choosing your Murraya

In some parts of Australia the exotic cultivars of Murraya Paniculata can escape into the nearby bush-land and become a nuisance plant. In those areas look for plant nurseries that stock plants grown from cuttings.

Always buy your seedlings from reputable suppliers.

Grow Me instead buying advice

 

Commercial Landscaping with Murraya Paniculata

Once established in your commercial landscape, the Australian native Murraya Paniculata is low maintenance,  hardy and drought tolerant. The fast growing nature will ensure the plant will become quickly established in your corporate or business premises' gardens. The attractive glossy dark green leaves and fragrant white flowers will create a tranquil environment for your employees and customers. The plant can be grown as a fast growing hedge to soften and hide parts of your business carpark, or grown as individual feature shrubs to create focal points.

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English Classic Garden Design - Sissinghurst

English Classic Garden Design - Sissinghurst

English classic garden design

There is no doubt that the Australian garden style, especially prior to the 1930s, was heavily influenced by the design of English gardens. These gardens were in turn influenced by French, Italian and Spanish gardens and ideas brought back to England from the Grand Tour. Although plant selection will be different in the sub tropical Gold Coast, there are still lessons we can learn about colour, texture and hard landscaping. For this blog we will look at the classic English garden of Sissinghurst in Kent.

The garden design style

Widely regarded as one of England’s most iconic gardens, Sissinghurst garden was created in 1930 by Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson. As a reflecting of the two different styles of its designers, the garden combines Harold’s classical elegance with Vita’s romantic profuse plantings.

Tower views Sissinghurst classic English Garden - Reds Landscaping and Design
Tower views Sissinghurst classic English Garden.

Views from the 16th century tower reveal the layout of the garden and show how it has been divided up and planned. Garden pathways are lined by manicured yew hedges, with focal points provided at every possible vista. Parts of the garden are planted as wildflower meadows, providing food and habitat for local wildlife, as well as nectar and pollen for bees and other insects.

 

Sissinghurst's tower - Reds Landscaping and Design
One of the most famous gardens in England belongs to the National Trust and is called Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Over the years, the Castle itself has undergone numerous changes. A new structure was erected next to the remains of a large defensive stone castle that once stood (to the east of the current location).

Lawns and classic English garden design.

The top lawns are neatly close cut mown with a diagonal pattern, which hides the fact that the area is not rectangular. Originally, the lawns at Sissinghurst were just English meadow grass. Dwarf ryegrass was added to the sward to make it more resistant and tolerant of close mowing. A seed mix known as "Olympic sports ground" is used. Every autumn, the lawn is scarified, aerated, and lightly resown with fescue, bent, and dwarf ryegrass.

 

Sissinghurst Lawns - Classic English Garden Design - Reds Landscaping and Design
One of England's most renowned gardens, Sissinghurst Castle Garden, is listed as a Grade I Historic England Historic Parks and Gardens and is located in the English town of Sissinghurst in the Weald of Kent. Here you see the well kept Sissinghurst Lawns.

 

For your Melbourne lawns, take a look at seed species suitable for the hot, dry climate in Melbourne. Species like Santa Ana couch will look great over the summer, but will go dormant over the late winter. The Sissinghurst lawns are fertilised annually in February with a slow release fertiliser, followed by a later application of a seaweed based tonic much later in the year. The lawns are mowed once per week at just over 20mm. To keep the diagonal pattern crisp, each stripe is always mown in the same direction. With 10 hours per week just for mowing, the gardens must have a huge maintenance budget.

 

Classic English circular Yew hedge - Reds Landscaping and Design
Classic English Circular Yew hedge.

 

Formal and informal plantings

The National Trust aims to arrest the decline in wildflower meadows in the UK by adding informal plantings where possible. Sissinghurst is a great example of this. Wildflower meadows provide food and habitat for local wildlife, as well as nectar and pollen for bees and other insects.

 

Wildflower Meadow - Reds Landscaping and Design
Wildflower meadows like these are great for attracting insects and birds to a garden.

 

Wildflowers - Reds Landscaping and Design
A bee enjoys the wildflowers at Sissinghurst.

 

Pleached pruning

The English classic garden design often makes use of pleached tree pruning. Pleaching is a great way to create a compact hedge or screen by training trees on to a supporting framework or to each other. To achieve this, the flexible young shoots are tied together to create the desired shape. This can be seen in the pictures below, taken in the early spring before the spring growth.

Lime Walk and Paving with pleached pruning in early Spring - Classic English Garden Design - Reds Landscaping and Design
Lime Walk and Paving with pleached pruning in early Spring.

 

You can create your own classic garden design by using this technique to make arches, tunnels, walks, and privacy screens. The pleached hedge can also be grown in a circle or a rectangle. In the English classic garden design, ash, beech, hornbeam, wisteria, or lime trees like these are often used. For your Melbourne classic garden design, also take a look at Acmena smithii, Lilly Pilly.

 

Mass planting of flowers behind pleached trees - Reds Landscaping and Design
Classic English Garden Design. Mass planting of flowers behind pleached trees.

 

 

Yew and box hedges

Planted in 1932, the Yew Walk was considered a radical modernist design statement.

Yews and box hedges - Classic English Garden Design - Reds Landscaping and Design
Yews and box hedges.

 

A great deal of effort goes into maintaining the hedges. Annually around 1200 man hours are spent trimming the hedges at Sissinghurst. To cut the Yew Hedges so straight, poles, strings plumb bobs and trestles are used. Yews can be very difficult to prune and the hedges around the rose garden alone can take 2 weeks with two gardeners working full time.

Melbourne Hedges

For your Melbourne garden, take a look at the orange jessamine (murraya paniculata), also known as mock orange, chalcas, or satinwood. If you are looking for small hedge plants for your Melbourne garden, consider using a dwarf syzygium or the Coastal or Native Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa) for your hedges. Take a look at a Pittosporum like James Stirling (Pittosporum tenuifolium) or Silver Sheen if you are looking for screening plants for garden privacy. Using light coloured paving or fine gravel along with fine-leaved plants in your garden will help to create the illusion of extra space.

 

Yew Hedge focal point - Reds Landscaping and Design
Yew Hedge focal point. Classic English Garden Design.

 

Yew Hedge garden Focal Point - Reds Landscaping and Design
Yew Hedge garden Focal Point with pleached trees in the background.

 

Hedges and a beautiful lawn - Reds Landscaping and Design
Classic English Garden Design. Hedges and a beautiful lawn.

 

The English Herb Garden

A traditional divided herb garden is situated in one corner of the garden. The narrow dividing garden pathways enable the herbs to be harvested without being damaged by clumsy feet.

 

Succulents in a planter pot by a herb garden - Reds Landscaping and Design
Succulents in a planter pot by a herb garden. Terracotta tiles placed edgeways.

 

Climbing Plants

On the red brick walls of the building and garden walls, there were several different species of climbing plants growing. One of these was the Japanese Quince (Chenomeles x superba knap hill scarlet). Chaenomeles are deciduous, spiny shrubs with beautiful clusters of 5-petaled flowers. They flower early in spring. The plant sets fragrant green or yellow fruit depending on the variety.

 

chaenomeles x superba knap hill scarlet - Reds Landscaping and Design
Chaenomeles x Superba knap hill scarlet.

 

Japanese Quince - Reds Landscaping and Design
Japanese Quince looks great against this red brick wall.

 

Japanese Quince flower - Reds Landscaping and Design
Japanese Quince flower in early spring with the leaves just starting to emerge from the buds.

The tangled figs over the gothic arch on the garden wall make a bold statement even in winter. A tangle of climbing plants was one of the garden design styles employed by Vita.

 

tangled figs over the gothic arch on the garden wall - Reds Landscaping and Design
Tangled figs over the gothic arch on the garden wall. Classic English Garden Design.

 

 

The famous Sissinghurst Moat - Reds Landscaping and Design
The famous Sissinghurst Moat.

English Classic Garden Design Plants in Pots

Plants in pots are a design feature throughout the gardens. Here, some basins have been reused to plant bulbs.

 

Garden Pots and climbing plants on a red brick wall - Reds Landscaping and Design
Garden Pots and climbing plants on a red brick wall. Good use of colour with the yellow and blues in the planter pots. Classic English Garden Design.

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More information about Sissinghurst.

 

https://youtu.be/VD1fjZQhImM

 

https://youtu.be/CcRtOWveuPc

 

The National Trust