Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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escallonia tree

The escallonia tree is a sought-after evergreen staple for New Zealand gardens, offering year-round glossy foliage and an abundance of vibrant summer blooms. Known for their fast growth, resilience to coastal winds, and versatility in hedging and screening, escallonias are a top choice for anyone aiming to create structure and colour in their landscape. Whether you’re looking to establish a tidy formal hedge, soften a fence line, or attract bees and butterflies, the escallonia tree is remarkably accommodating and low-maintenance for gardeners at any level.

Escallonia 'White Knight'

Escallonia 'White Knight' is a compact, evergreen shrub admired in New Zealand gardens for its glossy green foliage and masses of pure white, bell-shaped flowers. Blooming from late spring through summer, it provides long-lasting colour and structure. Reaching around 1.2 to 1.5 metres tall and wide, it’s ideal for hedging, borders, and coastal planting. Hardy to wind, salt, and light frost, 'White Knight' is low maintenance and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil.

Buy Escallonia 'White Knight'

From $24.23

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 3.00 m

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy

Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Pool areas, Screening

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, White

Escallonia 'Red Knight'

Escallonia 'Red Knight' is a hardy, evergreen shrub prized in New Zealand gardens for its rich green foliage and striking clusters of deep red flowers. Blooming from late spring through autumn, it attracts bees and adds vibrant colour to borders and hedges. Growing 1.5 to 2 metres tall, it’s ideal for screening, topiary, or coastal planting. 'Red Knight' thrives in full sun, tolerates wind and salt, and requires minimal maintenance once established.

Buy Escallonia 'Red Knight'

From $32.33

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 2.00 m

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy

Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Modern

What is an Escallonia Tree?

Despite commonly being called an "escallonia tree", escallonia is technically a genus of evergreen shrubs that, with regular pruning, can be shaped into small trees or dense, upright hedges. Their lustrous dark green leaves and clusters of bell-shaped flowers bloom in pink, red, or white, depending on the variety. Escallonia trees are prized for their robust growth even in demanding coastal or exposed locations, tolerating salt-laden winds and poor soils better than many other hedging plants.

Best Uses for Escallonia Trees

Escallonia trees are extremely versatile and suit a range of garden uses across New Zealand. Their dense foliage makes them perfect for privacy screens, noise barriers, windbreaks, and formal hedging. When allowed to grow naturally, they make stunning flowering specimens for larger gardens or mixed shrub borders. Their nectar-rich blooms also make escallonia trees excellent for attracting pollinators and supporting local biodiversity.

Popular Escallonia Varieties

Choosing the right escallonia tree variety can transform your garden with different flower colours and growth habits. Some of the most popular varieties in New Zealand include:

Escallonia 'Red Knight': Renowned for its vivid, deep red blooms and compact form, ideal for vibrant hedges.
Escallonia 'Field Scarlet': This variety features rich scarlet flowers and is especially hardy—great for coastal properties.
Escallonia 'White Knight': With pure white, fragrant blooms, this option is perfect for brightening shaded areas or planting in mixed borders.
Escallonia 'Apple Blossom': Loved for its pretty soft pink flowers and glossy leaves, it adds a gentle cottage charm.
Escallonia 'Snowbud': This variety stands out for its profuse white buds that open through summer for a striking contrast against green foliage.

Growing Tips for Escallonia Trees

Escallonia trees thrive in full sun but will manage in partial shade. Plant them in free-draining soil and water deeply during establishment. Once settled, these evergreens are drought-tolerant and require very little fuss. Clip annually after flowering to shape or encourage dense growth where used as a hedge. Minimal feeding is required, but a light mulch each spring will help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Bring Year-Round Beauty with an Escallonia Tree

Easy to grow and loved for their reliability, escallonia trees are an excellent investment for gardeners wanting effortless colour and structure throughout the year. Browse our collection, including standout varieties like Escallonia 'Red Knight', Escallonia 'Field Scarlet', Escallonia 'White Knight', Escallonia 'Apple Blossom', and Escallonia 'Snowbud', to find the perfect fit for your landscape.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.