Clusia Hedge Plants, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida

Clusia is one of the most-planted privacy hedges in SW Florida: thick, leathery leaves, strong salt and drought tolerance, and growth fast enough to close a gap along a lot line in a year or two. It handles coastal sun and canal lots well but dislikes standing water. We deliver and plant 3, 7 and 15 gallon clusia, plus a lower-growing dwarf type for short hedges.

Light:: Full sun to part shade
Water:: Moderate while establishing; drought tolerant once established
Salt:: High, good for coastal and canal lots

Text Me a Planted Price Call (239) 799-5594

Clusia sizes we deliver and plant

Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.

Variety or form	Sizes	Good to know
Clusia	3 Gallon, 7 Gallon, 15 Gallon	The standard small-leaf clusia, in 3, 7 and 15 gallon plants, for privacy screens and lot lines that reach 8 to 10 feet if you let them.
Clusia Dwarf	7 Gallon	A more compact, denser selection in 7 gallon that stays lower, so it suits low hedges and foundation planting where regular clusia would outgrow the space.

Clusia in SW Florida, at a glance

Mature size here: 8 to 10 ft tall and 5 to 8 ft wide if left to grow, easily held lower with trimming; the dwarf stays shorter
Light: Full sun to part shade
Water: Moderate while establishing; drought tolerant once established
Salt tolerance: High, good for coastal and canal lots
Cold tolerance: Leaves burn around 30°F and hedges usually recover; cover young plants inland on frost nights
Growth rate: Moderate to fast
Spacing: 3 to 4 ft on center for 3 and 7 gallon plants, 4 to 5 ft for 15 gallon
Florida native: No, a non-native ornamental
Botanical name: Clusia (small-leaf clusia, often sold as Clusia guttifera)

Where Clusia works in a SW Florida yard

A single row along a fence or lot line makes a clean green wall, and a staggered double row builds a thicker screen faster. Clusia can be sheared into a formal shape or left loose and natural, and it shrugs off the salt and wind that burn many hedges on canal and Gulf-side lots.

Use the dwarf where a tall screen would block a view or crowd a foundation. Coontie and dwarf ixora in front finish the base with a lower layer.

Privacy hedge
Lot-line screen
Coastal and canal lots
Low foundation hedge (dwarf)

How our crew plants it

A hedge goes in with 3 and 7 gallon plants 3 to 4 feet on center and 15 gallon plants 4 to 5 feet. Each hole is twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper, with the top of the ball level with the soil. Our crew waters every plant in and cleans up, and a mulch ring stays clear of the stems.

Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings, and a new hedge needs it daily at first, then less as roots spread.

Care after planting

Trim lightly and often with sharp hand shears, cutting just above a leaf node, because hacking through leaves leaves brown, ragged edges.
Feed about three times a year with a slow-release shrub fertilizer that includes micronutrients, skipping June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
Water deeply but less often once established, and use drip or a bubbler so the root zone gets a soak.
Keep mulch two to three inches deep and pulled back from the stems.

What to watch for

Clusia tolerates salt spray but not standing water or prolonged flooding, so low spots that hold rain can lead to root rot.
Scale insects show up as sticky leaves and black sooty mold, and horticultural oil clears them if you catch them early.

Clusia questions we hear

How far apart do you plant a clusia hedge?+

Plant 3 and 7 gallon clusia 3 to 4 feet on center and 15 gallon plants 4 to 5 feet. Tighter spacing closes the gap sooner but means more trimming and more competition for water. For a thicker screen, stagger two rows instead of crowding one.

How fast does a clusia hedge grow in Cape Coral?+

Clusia grows at a moderate to fast pace with regular water, and plants set 3 to 4 feet apart usually knit together in one to two years. The larger 7 and 15 gallon plants close the gap sooner. Growth slows in the cool, dry months and picks up with the summer rains.

Is clusia salt tolerant?+

Yes, clusia is one of the better hedge plants for salt spray and wind on coastal and canal lots. It does not tolerate saltwater flooding or standing water, so avoid planting in low spots that flood. Good drainage matters as much as salt tolerance.

Is clusia native to Florida?+

The small-leaf clusia sold as a hedge is a non-native ornamental. A related species, the large-leaf pitch apple (Clusia rosea), is native to the lower Florida Keys. If a true native hedge matters to you, cocoplum and green buttonwood are good choices.

Will a clusia hedge survive a freeze?+

Usually, yes. Leaves burn when temperatures fall to about 30°F, and a hedge normally leafs back out in spring. Coastal Lee and Collier rarely get that cold, but Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers can. Cover young plants on frost nights and wait until spring to cut back burned growth.

How much does a planted clusia hedge cost?+

Price depends on the plant size, how many feet of hedge you need and access to the planting line. We text a planted price, usually within the hour during the day. Half down holds the plants and a delivery day.

Updated October 2026