Bushy Needlewood – Hakea decurrens
At Sylvaterre, we call it “Burglar Bush” and grow it as a regularly trimmed hedge beneath external windows. It responds extremely well to hedging, becoming a closely branched barrier that produces a wall of intricate cream-white flowers in early winter.
Its foliage is substantial and sharply pointed—not soft or delicate. The stiff, cylindrical leaves on our plants are several centimetres long, roughly the thickness of a fencing nail, and finish in a needle-sharp tip. These leaves give a clipped hedge its particularly effective barrier qualities.
Upright forms grow to approximately 4 metres high and 1–3 metres wide when allowed to develop naturally. Regular trimming makes Bushy Needlewood useful where a maintained hedge is preferred to a freely growing shrub.
Flowers and Foliage
At Sylvaterre, hedged plants deliver their standout display in early winter, when masses of cream-white flowers cover the closely branched growth. Each flower is Grevillea like and intricate, and together they transform the hedge.
The flowers are fragrant and clustered along the stems. Woody, beaked seed capsules remain among the rigid, outward-pointing leaves after flowering, adding another distinctive feature.
Cultivation
Soil: Adaptable to sandy loam and clay soils with adequate drainage. Naturally occurring plants occupy open forest, heath and dry scrubland on varied soils.
Sunlight: Full sun to semi-shade.
Watering and drought: Water during establishment, adjusting to rainfall and soil moisture. Established plants tolerate drought; provide supplementary water during prolonged dry conditions when needed.
Frost: Frost tolerant and suited to many temperate native gardens.
Fertiliser: Feed sparingly with a fertiliser suitable for phosphorus-sensitive native plants. Avoid phosphorus-rich general garden fertilisers.
Pruning and Hedge Maintenance
Bushy Needlewood is an excellent hedging plant in our experience at Sylvaterre. Regular trimming develops closely interwoven growth, maintains the desired outline and creates an effective prickly barrier.
For the flowering hedge effect we achieve, maintain the branching framework rather than allowing plants to grow unchecked and then attempting a drastic size reduction. We recommend completing the main shaping after the winter flower display so the flowers can be enjoyed before trimming.
Wear protective gloves and clothing when handling or pruning the needle-sharp foliage.
Garden Suitability and Pots
Use Bushy Needlewood for clipped barrier hedges, boundary plantings and carefully positioned window-side planting. Its winter flowers make it much more than a purely functional barrier.
We recommend planting it in the ground for hedging, rather than relying on small containers. Position the sharp foliage away from narrow paths and play areas, and retain clearance for maintenance, window access and emergency exits.
Habitat Value — Our Experience at Sylvaterre
We grow multiple Bushy Needlewood plants near the house and in our Wild Garden. Birds have nested in neighbouring plants, but we have never observed nesting in our Bushy Needlewood shrubs.
Our nesting birds favour dense foliage that conceals their nests and shelters them from the weather, often choosing plants with relatively few flowers in late spring and early summer. A prickly branch structure does not automatically provide that same leafy protection.
For habitat planting, our recommendation is to grow Bushy Needlewood close to dense-foliaged shrubs, combining the different structures rather than relying on it as a stand-alone nesting plant. Its flowers also provide nectar for butterflies.
Natural Range
Hakea decurrens is native to New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania. Its three recognised subspecies occupy different parts of this range. It is also naturalised in South Australia, where introduced populations should not be confused with its indigenous distribution.
Conservation / Rarity Status
Species overall: Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Victoria: Hakea decurrens subsp. platytaenia is listed as Endangered under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. This listing applies to that particular coastal subspecies—not automatically to all Bushy Needlewood plants.
At a Glance
Height × width: Upright forms to approximately 4 m × 1–3 m; maintained smaller by hedging.
Position: Full sun to semi-shade.
Foliage: Rigid, cylindrical leaves with needle-sharp tips.
Flowers at Sylvaterre: Masses of cream-white flowers in early winter.
Frost: Tolerant.
Drought: Tolerant once established.
Pots: In-ground planting recommended for hedging.
Main garden use: Flowering barrier hedge—our “Burglar Bush.”
Shipping Note
Sylvaterre ships plants upright in custom-made cardboard boxes so they arrive healthy and ready to plant. Plants are secured to prevent movement in transit.
