The Murraya hedge is a crowd-favourite among gardeners thanks to the sweet-smelling white flowers and glossy, dark green leaves.
This versatile hedge works as a privacy screen, ornamental plant, or indoor statement plant. Add to that the heady, orange-blossom scent and you’ll see why it’s popular among plant lovers.
Let the lush tropical appearance and scent of the Murraya transform your garden – just make sure to choose the cultivar carefully!
Learn all you need to know about growing and caring for the Murraya hedge, so you can enjoy their dense growth and heavenly scent all year long.
Murraya Varieties In Australia | When To Plant | Growing Conditions | How To Plant | Watering | Pruning | Fertilising | Propagating Murraya | Common Problems | FAQs
About the Murraya Hedge
Murraya is a genus of evergreen shrubs or small trees that are native to several places in Asia. They are an introduced plant to Australia, although some records state there is a variety native to northern areas of the country.
The most popular species is Murraya paniculata, also called Mock Orange, Orange Jasmine, Chinese Box, or Orange Jessamine.
The names come from the heavily scented white flowers, which give off a signature citrusy aroma. In late winter to spring, they offer a gorgeous contrast to the dense, dark green foliage.
In the summer, the flowers give way to bright berries that attract birds, bees, and butterflies. The fruits can range from red-orange to black, and are sometimes used to make tea.
Since Murraya is evergreen, you’ll have dark green leaves year-round. Thanks to its dense growth habit and compact shape, Murraya is often used as hedges.
Murraya Varieties in Australia
It’s very important to choose a Murraya hybrid or cultivar when growing the plant in Australia!
Some varieties (including the well-known Murraya paniculata “Exotica”) are now classified as weeds in New South Wales and Queensland.
While they are not specifically a prohibited or restricted invasive plant, residents across Australia have a “biosecurity duty” to minimise the environmental risks associated with Murraya.
Some Murraya cultivars you can grow in Australia include:
- Murraya “Hip High”
- Murraya “Min-a-Min”
- Murraya lucida (G.Forst)
- Sweet Privacy™ Murraya (by Ozbreed)
- Murraya ovatifoliolata or “Native mock orange”
Per the NSW government website, you may plant a Murraya paniculata hedge if it is at least 6m away from any sewer, water, or stormwater pipe. NSW considers Murraya paniculata as having an “invasive root system.”
In Queensland, you will have to check your local council regulations regarding Murraya paniculata and its cultivars. QLD’s “Grow Me Instead” alternative is the native lilly pilly!
NOTE: You may be able to grow Murraya paniculata if it is grown from a cutting, not a seed. These cutting-grown plants produce little to no berries and therefore have minimal risk of spreading via seeds.
When to Plant Murraya Hedges
It’s best to plant a Murraya hedge during autumn, so the plant can establish its roots before the growing season.
Transplant or plant your Murraya hedge in cooler months, ideally in the early morning.
Murraya Hedge Growing Conditions
Murrayas make for great hedges, thanks to their dense foliage.
The Murraya is also quite a hardy plant, since it can tolerate drought, heat, and wind.
Position or spacing
As a fast-growing shrub, it’s important to consider proper Murraya hedge spacing.
How far apart to plant Murraya hedges? If grown as low hedges (i.e. dwarf varieties), space them about 50-80cm between trunks.
If grown as tall screens or privacy hedges, space them about 0.9-1.5m between trunks. Murrayas typically reach 1.5m in width when mature.
Keep your Murraya hedge away from structures such as house foundations, pools, and underground sewage systems.
Soil
Rich, well-drained soil will allow for optimal growth, but the Murraya plant is adaptable to various soil types. It does prefer slightly acidic soil, and too-high soil pH can cause yellow foliage.
The most important factor is soil drainage – if you have heavy soil, amend it with vermiculite, perlite, sand, or gypsum. For too-alkaline soils, lower the soil pH with elemental sulphur or aluminium sulphate.
Light
Murrayas can grow in full sun to part shade, but have more prolonged and prolific flowering in sunny spots. Try to plant them where they get 6 hours of morning sun a day.
For indoor potted Murrayas, place them by a bright and sunny window.
Climate
The Murraya hedge prefers warm climates – tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate. The warmer climates can even allow it to flower multiple times in a year!
For cooler regions (such as mild to cool temperate), it will need more sunlight and a more sheltered location. Murraya cannot tolerate temperatures below 0ºC (32ºF) or any frost.
You can grow Murraya in coastal areas, as the plant is salt tolerant.
Planting Murraya Hedges
You cannot grow Murraya from seed – you can only grow from cuttings or young plants (also called tubestock). Make sure your tubestock is not grown from seed as well.
Thankfully, though, planting and growing Murrayas is straightforward.
Growing Murraya outdoors
Once you’ve chosen your tubestock, pick a sunny spot in your garden.
Remove weeds and other debris from the ground, and amend the soil if necessary to ensure good drainage. Begin digging holes or trenches as deep as the root ball and twice as wide.
Make sure there’s enough distance between each plant so the hedges are evenly spaced.
Gently remove the Murraya shrub or tubestock from the container and loosen the root ball. Try to disturb it as little as possible, only teasing any curled or tangled roots.
Position each plant in the hole and backfill, gently firming down. Don’t press the soil too much, as compacted soil can lead to root rot.
You can form a small outer ring around the base of the shrub to direct water towards the roots. Then water the Murrayas well to settle the soil.
Keep the soil moist but not wet for the first few weeks as the plants establish their roots. Depending on how hot or rainy the weather is, this could be once or twice a week.
Layer some organic mulch around the area to keep the soil cool, retain moisture, and deter weeds.
Growing Murraya in pots
Make sure you’ve chosen a dwarf or bonsai variety of Murraya. The container should be large – at least 30cm wide, or a few centimetres larger than the root ball – with drainage holes.
Fill the container partway with well-draining potting mix, then place the plant inside the pot. Leave enough space so that the soil line will be 2-3cm below the pot’s rim.
Fill the remaining space with more potting mix, then give the pot a good shimmy or tap to settle the mix around the roots.
Water the plant thoroughly, enough that water drains out the bottom. Place the pot somewhere warm and sunny.
Caring for a Murraya
Murraya is generally a low-maintenance plant, but if you want to maintain a tidy size and shape, you’ll need to stay on top of pruning.
Watering
Murraya requires regular watering as a young plant, but is quite drought-tolerant once established.
For outdoor hedges, check to see if the top 5cm of soil is dry. If yes, water deeply so the roots get a good drink. If you’re unsure, it’s better to err on the side of underwatering.
Reduce or stop watering during rainy and cool seasons, and water a bit more frequently during hotter months.
For Murrayas in pots, allow the potting medium to moderately dry out in between watering. You can purchase a moisture meter to keep track and ensure you’re not overwatering your plant.
Pruning
Regular pruning is key to maintaining your Murraya hedge. If you don’t trim your hedges, that dark green foliage can quickly get out of hand!
When to prune a Murraya hedge? Any major pruning should be done in late autumn to early winter – when your plant is dormant. This will avoid stressing the plant and encourage more prolific flowering in spring.
Remove any dead, diseased, crossing, or tangled branches to promote good health and airflow. Do not cut more than a third of the plant, and use sanitised shears or trimmers to prevent disease and rot.
In spring and summer, do some regular, light pruning to maintain the Murraya’s shape and prevent excessive growth.
Avoid cutting along the sides (lateral pruning) as you could snip off flower buds and remove one of the most attractive features.
Some varieties, such as Sweet Privacy™, require less pruning – about twice a year.
Stay on top of Murraya hedge maintenance by bringing in a professional hedge trimming service!
Fertiliser
For healthy Murrayas, fertiliser is a good bonus but not necessary. The best fertiliser for Murraya is a slow-release fertiliser applied in early spring.
Try a balanced NPK fertiliser or an organic, humus-rich fertiliser.
Avoid plant food that is high in nitrogen, which accelerates the growth of weak, spindly branches.
Yellowed leaves and poor growth can signal a nutrient deficiency, which will require more specialised fertiliser. Perform a soil test or consult a professional gardener about what amendments are needed.
Over-fertilisation can lead to fertiliser burn and dying roots.
How to Propagate Murraya
You can propagate Murraya from cuttings, but it can be quite difficult and unreliable.
For Murraya cuttings, you have two options: softwood taken in early summer or semi-hardwood taken in early autumn. Softwood cuttings may root more easily but are prone to rot.
Use a sharp, clean pair of shears or a gardening knife and take a stem cutting that is at least 10cm long. Try to leave a “heel” or strip of wood/bark at the base.
Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the stem and root them directly in a starter mix in a pot. Keep the soil moist but not wet, and place the pot somewhere bright but not in direct sunlight.
It will take several weeks to months for cuttings to root, which is why propagation is a risk. There’s a chance your cuttings will rot before they can establish themselves.
If you lightly tug the cutting and feel some resistance, it’s likely begun putting out roots. Wait until the plants have several centimetres of roots before transferring them to individual pots.
Common Problems with Murraya
There’s plenty to love about the gorgeous Murraya hedge, but it’s not without problems!
Here are a few of the challenges gardeners face when caring for a Murraya.
Over-watering
Overwatering is one of the most common issues with a Murraya hedge, especially Sweet Privacy™. Since these plants prefer well-drained soil and can tolerate drought, they’re not fond of wet feet.
Too much water limits nutrient and oxygen uptake by the roots, which can lead to root rot, crown rot, and dying foliage. If not corrected, your Murraya will eventually die.
It’s best to do a deep soak in less frequent intervals – generally when the soil is drying out. Frequent, shallow watering can hinder root growth and lead to unhealthy plants.
If you suspect you’ve overwatered your hedges, stop watering and let the soil dry out. Do a root check if possible to check for root rot. Then slowly work your way back up to a proper watering schedule.
Pests
Murraya paniculata and other varieties are generally pest-resistant, but they’re prone to borer beetles which eat the stems and bark.
Other pests that can affect your Murraya include:
- Aphids
- Whiteflies
- Mealybugs
- Spider mites
- Root-knot nematodes (parasitic worms)
Note that root-knot nematodes should not be confused with beneficial nematodes, which can greatly help combat in-ground pests.
You’ll need the appropriate pesticide to tackle these unwelcome visitors (typically a pyrethrum-based product).
Unkempt growth
Irregular or inadequate pruning will lead to a ragged, unkempt appearance – think spindly branches, leggy growth, and gaps in the foliage.
It could also cause the plant to invade nearby spaces as it spreads out. If left unpruned, Murrayas can reach up to 8.0m in height and excessive widths!
Regularly pruning hedges will contain them to the size and shape you prefer, and ensure they don’t encroach on other areas. It will also encourage proper air circulation in the foliage.
Plant diseases
The Murraya hedge is also fairly disease-resistant, but can still be affected by certain fungi or bacteria.
African and Asian citrus psyllids can cause yellow dragon disease. It’s also called citrus greening and primarily affects plants in the citrus family.
Signs of citrus greening are yellow mottling in leaves, blotchy foliage, and dying back of twigs and foliage. You will have to discard any infected plants immediately to prevent the disease from spreading.
Mulch layered too close to the stems can also lead to mould growth.
FAQs About Growing and Caring for Murraya
Whether you’re a first-time Murraya grower or an experienced gardener, there are some common questions and concerns about caring for a Murraya.
Can Murraya grow in full sun?
Yes – in fact, Murraya loves full sun, and will flower multiple times in a year in warm, sunny climates.
However, it can tolerate partial shade, although it may not grow as large and lush.
How fast does Murraya grow?
This depends on the variety, but in general, Murraya is a moderately fast-growing plant.
Sweet Privacy™, for example, can grow about 70cm in width per year, up to 1.5m wide. On the other hand, a dwarf variety may grow around 20cm in width per year.
For the main variety, Murraya paniculata growth rate is about 30-60cm per year.
How long does Murraya take to mature?
A Murraya hedge will take about 3-4 years to fully mature.
The typical Murraya hedge height is 3-4m with pruning, while Murraya dwarf varieties and other cultivars (like Sweet Privacy™) may only reach 1.5-2.5m in height.
Regular, light pruning will help encourage growth and maintain the hedge’s shape. It also keeps the hedge from becoming unruly or untidy.
Can you grow Murraya paniculata in pots?
You can absolutely grow Murraya paniculata in pots, and you can even train it as a bonsai or purchase a bonsai cultivar!
Other Murraya cultivars, such as Min-a-Min, are considered “dwarf” varieties and do well in containers.
The main considerations for growing Murraya in pots are the medium and container type. Make sure to use well-draining soil or potting mix, and a large pot size with drainage holes.
Why are my Murraya leaves turning yellow?
Yellowing leaves and mushy or drooping stems are classic signs of overwatering. The roots are being suffocated and can no longer take up water and nutrients.
Check the roots of your plant if you’re able – dark and soft/mushy roots are a key sign of overwatering and root rot.
On the other hand, yellow leaves that turn brown and drop off could signal either underwatering or nutrient deficiencies.
Lastly, yellowing leaves that begin dying off (especially at the base) could be a sign that your Murraya hedge lacks sunlight.
Are Murraya roots invasive?
Some states, such as NSW and Queensland, list Murraya paniculata as having potentially invasive roots.
This is why residents are advised to grow their Murraya at least 6m away from sewers and pipes.
Is Murraya paniculata toxic?
Murrayas are generally non-toxic to people and pets. The berries are completely edible, and are even made into tea in some regions of Asia.
However, some varieties can cause allergic reactions.
Murraya is generally not poisonous to pets (such as dogs and cats) either, although your pet could develop an allergic or secondary reaction to the plant.
