Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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red tipped hedge plant

Searching for the perfect red tipped hedge plant for your New Zealand garden? You're in the right place. Red tipped hedge plants are highly sought after for their vibrant colour, fast growth, and ability to create year-round privacy. Whether you’re looking to add a splash of colour to your landscape, create a living fence, or simply enjoy easy-care hedging, there are several standout options to consider. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the most popular varieties, highlight their ideal uses, and offer tips for getting the best results in your garden.

Leptospermum 'Red Damask'

Leptospermum 'Red Damask' is a striking evergreen shrub admired for its masses of rich red flowers and fine dense foliage. Flowering through spring and summer, this hardy manuka variety creates a bold display of colour while providing year round structure and texture in NZ gardens. Its compact growth habit makes it ideal for hedging, borders, feature planting, and coastal gardens. Leptospermum 'Red Damask' is easy to grow, low maintenance, and highly effective for adding vibrant colour and native character to outdoor spaces.

Buy Leptospermum 'Red Damask'

From $26.93

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 2.00 m

Spread: 1.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy

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

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

Photinia 'Super Red' (Red Robin)

Photinia 'Super Red' is a striking evergreen shrub known for its vibrant red new growth that contrasts beautifully with mature green foliage. This hardy plant provides year round colour and structure in NZ gardens. Ideal for hedging, screening, and feature planting, it offers a bold look and reliable performance across a wide range of garden styles.

Buy Photinia 'Super Red' (Red Robin)

From $25.58

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 3.00 m

Spread: 2.50 m

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind

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

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

Why Choose a Red Tipped Hedge Plant?

A red tipped hedge plant instantly elevates any garden. Its vivid new growth provides eye-catching contrast against green foliage, delivering curb appeal that lasts well beyond spring. These hedges are ideal for defining property lines, screening unsightly views, and offering wind protection. Their robust nature means they thrive in many New Zealand climates and cope well with regular trimming, making them a low-fuss solution for both urban backyards and larger rural sections.

Top Red Tipped Hedge Plant Varieties

The term "red tipped hedge plant" covers several outstanding species, but some stand out for their reliability, performance, and ease of care.

Photinia Super Red (Red Robin)

The most popular red tipped hedge plant in New Zealand is undoubtedly Photinia Super Red (Red Robin). With striking red new shoots that mature to deep green, this variety offers year-round interest and dense growth ideal for hedging. Photinia is celebrated for its resilience and adaptability, thriving in full sun or part shade and tolerating most soil types.

Photinia 'Red Robin'

Another fantastic choice is the trusted Photinia 'Red Robin'. Similar to the Super Red, it provides an incredible burst of glossy red foliage in spring and flushes after trimming throughout the year. It's valued for its pest resistance and makes a formal or informal hedge up to 4 metres tall.

Callistemon 'Red Alert'

If you love birds in your garden, Callistemon 'Red Alert' is an excellent red tipped hedge plant. In addition to red-tipped new growth, this Callistemon boasts bright red bottlebrush flowers that attract tui and other native birds. It’s hardy, drought-tolerant, and well-suited to a sunny spot.

Escallonia Varieties

For a more compact or coastal hedge, consider Escallonia 'Red Elf' or Escallonia 'Red Knight'. Both varieties offer glossy green foliage and clusters of vivid red-pink flowers, as well as red-tinted new growth. They’re salt-tolerant, making them perfect for seaside gardens and exposed locations.

Planting and Care Tips

To get the best from your red tipped hedge plant, select a well-drained site with at least half a day of sun. Space plants according to their mature size—usually about 1 metre apart for hedging. Apply a slow-release fertiliser in spring and trim back lightly after new growth flushes to encourage dense, bushy growth and maintain the vibrant red colour. Mulch regularly to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Bring Vibrant Colour and Privacy to Your Landscape

A red tipped hedge plant is a smart, stunning choice for New Zealand gardens, blending beauty, privacy, and easy care. Whether you go for Photinia Super Red (Red Robin), Photinia 'Red Robin', Callistemon 'Red Alert', Escallonia 'Red Elf', or Escallonia 'Red Knight', you’ll reap years of colourful rewards. Browse our selection to find the perfect red tipped hedge plant for your space and enjoy a garden that looks great in every season.

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.