Hedging Plants

Hedges serve a multitude of purposes. They can be decorative or practical. You can use them to screen an unsightly area, to provide an interesting backdrop to your planting scheme or to provide privacy. They can be clipped into simple or elaborate shapes or can be left to grow freely. There is a wide range of plants you can choose to grow the perfect hedge. Horticolour can take care of all your hedging needs. The following is a brief look at the types of plants you can choose for your hedge.

Conifer Hedging

Chamaecyparis, Cupressus, Thuja and Taxus are the principle conifers used as hedging. All are evergreens that will cope with frequent clipping. The most popular is Chamaecyparis lawsonnia, which can reach up to 3m high. It is also quick growing, hardy and tolerates most soils.

Thuja plicata and T. occidentalis grow well in heavy soils and need to be clipped twice a year in spring and late summer.

Taxus is one of the best. They are slow growing plants and do not require frequent clipping. Yew will grow in most conditions and can regenerate from old wood - so even if you cut it back hard it will grow back. However, Yew is poisonous so beware!

Probably the most infamous conifer hedging is the Leyland cypress. It is extremely fast growing and can grow incredibly tall, hence the reasons for it sometimes causing neighbour disputes. Only choose this if you have the space for it to grow.

Deciduous Hedging

Not all hedges are chosen to retain their leaves. Deciduous hedges will naturally change the look of your garden throughout the year and this can provide great interest to your planting schemes.

Fagus sylvatica is the most popular deciduous hedge. It grows quickly and will retain its dead leaves throughout the winter (a term known as marcescence). Copper and purple beech can also be mixed with green leaved beech to provide a tapestry effect hedge.

Carpinus betulus looks similar to beech but it does better in clay and other wet soils.

Crataegus monogyna is the plant to choose if you want your hedge to act as a protective barrier - the thorns on this species are an excellent deterrent to would-be intruders!

Small-leaved Evergreen

Lonicera usually refers to honeysuckle but the genus also refers to hedging plants. Lonicera nitida is often used and will provide a very pretty hedge. It is also happy in most soils so a good one to choose.

Buxus sempervirens (box) has small, round leaves and is much favoured as a topiary plant.

Ligustrum ovalifolium (privet) is only evergreen in mild winters, but does make an excellent hedge with attractive small leaves.

Large-leaved Evergreens

Prunus laurocerasus (cherry laurel) is a popular choice, with large, glossy dark green leaves. It grows well in most soils and is happy in full sun or dense shade.

Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel) has smaller and darker leaves.

Aucuba japonica (spotted laurel) has large, light green leaves and will be happy pretty much everywhere.

The Ilex species makes a good, impenetrable hedge and there are many varieties to choose from. Holly can be dark green, silver-variegated or golden-variegated so plenty of choice to make a very pretty and protective hedge. However, it can be slow growing.

Ornamental Hedges

Flowering or fruiting plants make excellent informal hedges. Berberis darwinii has very attractive orange flowers in spring time. However, this is a very prickly shrub so best avoided if one has small children.

Viburnum tinus is an evergreen shrub that produces white or pink flowers.

　How Horticolour Can Help

Horticolour can provide you with all the advice you need when choosing the right plant to form a hedge in your garden. We have a fantastic array of plants to choose from so why not visit us at the nursery or call us to discuss your hedging needs.