Red Escallonia Hedge (Escallonia rubra 'Macrantha')

Escallonia Rubra 'Macrantha' Hedge Plants Description

Red Escallonia (Escallonia rubra 'Macrantha') is a popular evergreen hedge that combines dense, glossy foliage with abundant clusters of bright red-pink flowers from June through October. Its long flowering season makes it an excellent choice for adding colour while providing year-round privacy and structure.

Growing around 20–40cm per year, it forms a dense hedge that responds well to regular trimming. It thrives in well-drained soils and is particularly suited to coastal gardens thanks to its excellent tolerance of salt-laden winds. Once established, Red Escallonia is drought tolerant, low maintenance and suitable for both formal and informal hedging, making it a reliable choice for gardens across the UK.

Pruning Advice

Red Escallonia is easy to maintain with regular light pruning.

• Trim immediately after flowering to encourage dense growth and maintain shape.
• Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in early spring.
• Light annual pruning encourages bushier growth and improved flowering.
• Avoid cutting into old woody stems where possible, as regrowth may be slower.
• Water well during prolonged dry periods while plants establish.

Why Choose Red Escallonia?

• Evergreen Hedge: Provides year-round privacy with glossy green foliage.
• Long Flowering Season: Produces vibrant red-pink flowers from June to October.
• Coastal Friendly: Excellent tolerance of exposed and coastal conditions.
• Wildlife Friendly: Flowers attract bees and other pollinators.
• Low Maintenance: Easy to prune and drought tolerant once established.
• Versatile Hedging: Ideal for formal hedges, informal screens and garden boundaries.

Recommended Planting Density

Planting density depends on how quickly you want your hedge to establish.

• Bare Root Plants: Plant 3 plants per metre for standard coverage, 5 per metre for a fuller hedge, or 7 plants per metre in a double staggered row for the fastest results.
• Cell-Grown Plants: Plant 4 plants per metre in a single row or 6 plants per metre in a staggered row for a denser hedge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast does Red Escallonia grow?

Red Escallonia typically grows 20–40cm per year under good growing conditions.

Is Red Escallonia evergreen?

Yes. It retains its glossy green foliage throughout the year, making it an excellent evergreen hedge.

When does Red Escallonia flower?

It produces vibrant red-pink flowers from June until October, providing long-lasting seasonal colour.

Can Red Escallonia grow near the coast?

Yes. It performs exceptionally well in exposed coastal gardens and tolerates salt-laden winds.

When should I prune Red Escallonia?

Prune immediately after flowering to maintain a neat shape and encourage bushy growth.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £9.98 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £24.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £350 | or £82 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £1500 | or £450 charge.