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Evergreen hedge plants


Best Evergreen Hedge Plants | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

A well-maintained evergreen hedge has various uses in the garden. It can serve as a boundary, it can help to block out noise and unwanted views and, of course, it makes an attractive feature in its own right.

Evergreen hedging also provides year-round shelter for garden wildlife, such as birds, which is especially important in winter months. Some evergreens also provide flowers and berries, serving as a food source for birds, pollinators and other wildlife.

More on growing hedges:

Discover some of the best evergreen hedging plants to grow.

1

Ceanothus

Ceanothus 'Concha'

If you're after an informal, flowering hedge, California lilac (Ceanothus) is a lovely choice. It's best planted in a sheltered, sunny position. Prune it lightly after flowering - as with any hedge pruning, you should wait until any nesting birds have departed before you cut.

2

Portuguese laurel

Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia'

Portuguese laurel, Prunus lusitanica, has lustrous green leaves that curve away from maroon-coloured stems. It's exceptionally easy to grow and can be cut back hard if needed. Otherwise, prune from late summer to autumn to produce a dense hedge.

3

Hedge germander

Teucrium x lucidrys

A seldom used but lovely choice for a short, informal hedge, hedge germander (Teucrium x lucidrys) is an aromatic, Mediterranean plant that enjoys the same growing conditions as lavender – full sun with good drainage. Clip it back after flowering.

4

Griselinia

Griselinia littoralis

If you're after a brighter hedge, Griselinia littoralis is a good choice, with rounded, apple green foliage. Annual trimming in late summer will help to produce a dense, leafy hedge. Best suited to a sunny, sheltered spot. Griselinia is tolerant of salt winds, so ideally suited to a coastal spot.

5

Box

Box ( Buxus) hedging

Box, Buxus sempervirens, is undoubtedly the classic evergreen hedging plant, and for good reason. It has small, rich green leaves and can be clipped into crisp, elegant hedges. Be vigilant for signs of box blight and box tree caterpillar, though, as they can result in the death or defoliation of your box plants. If either of these are a problem in your garden, Ilex crenata and Lonicera nitida are good alternatives.

6

Holly

Ilex crenata 'Convexa'

Lots of holly types can be used for hedging, and they're especially good if you're after a thorny, impenetrable barrier to would-be thieves. UK native Ilex aquifolium and its cultivars are classic choices, but you could also go for box-leaved holly, Ilex crenata or Ilex x koehneana. Pruning can be carried out in May and again in September.

7

Holm oak

Eventually growing to become a majestic evergreen tree, holm oak (Quercus ilex) can be also be grown as an attractive, wind-resistant hedge. Pruning in late summer will encourage fresh, silver-coloured leaves and keep it neat and dense.

8

Yew

Clipped yew hedge

This revered evergreen conifer makes a fantastic hedge plant. The finely divided foliage can be clipped to form the densest of hedges. It's relatively slow-growing too, so is ideal for a low-maintenance garden. Prune in late summer or early autumn.

9

Pittosporum

Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum'

Many pittosporums make lovely, evergreen hedges, whether it's Pittosporum tobira for its deliciously scented flowers, 'Tom Thumb' for its purple foliage or 'Irene Paterson' for its silvery leaves. Trim them into shape in late summer or autumn.

10 Best Evergreens for Privacy Screens and Hedges

Trees and Shrubs as Screens

By

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/06/21

Reviewed by

Barbara Gillette

Reviewed by Barbara Gillette

Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Autumn Wood 

Evergreens make wonderful, quick hedges and privacy screens. Some mature quickly into dense hedges and others develop with you, over time. When planting your living screen, do not plant in a straight line. Instead, zig-zag the trees to give a fuller effect and to allow the trees to get air and the sun. This will also help the hedge give with the wind, preventing breakage and wind tunnels.

Choose a couple of your favorite evergreen varieties. It is wise to plant more than one variety of evergreen in a border so that disease and pests will not destroy the whole planting. Take a look at the top 10 choices.

Living Privacy Fences Using Shrub Hedges

what to plant and how to care

Reasons for a green fence

A shrub hedge attracts with its juicy bright color and spectacular geometry. In addition to decor, this eco-friendly solution performs a number of other important functions:

How to choose plants?

To decide which hedge meets your expectations, before planning your green fence, answer the question about its purpose and desired height. A curb shrub is suitable for edging flower beds and paths, and a tall thuja hedge will hide the area from prying eyes. Take into account the characteristics of hedge plants: the size of the bushes, the growth rate, how the young shoots are formed, what light, watering and soil conditions this or that variety prefers.



Hedge: what is the best fence to make?

There are more types and varieties of hedges than you can imagine. Breeding, growth shaping and pruning work wonders to turn pears and lindens into living walls. Thuja alone, the “classic” hedge plant, has dozens of varieties. Thuja is frost- and wind-resistant, belongs to the evergreen, is easy to cut and grows relatively quickly.


How to choose the best hedge arborvitae?

The most popular hedge plant is the fast-growing Brabant thuja. During the year, it adds 30-35 cm. However, it is worth considering that this variety is not green all year round - in winter its leaves turn brown. Another common type of thuja, Smaragd, grows slowly, has a cone shape, but remains green even in winter.



Which seedling age should I prefer?

Experts advise purchasing thuja seedlings about 4 years old. They quickly adapt to new conditions, and after 3-4 years you will enjoy a thick high fence. If older and taller seedlings are planted, then there is a risk of plant disease without careful professional care.

Plants that can be turned into a living fence

Conifers: yew, fir, spruce, juniper - fast-growing frost-resistant shrubs for hedges. They live for a long time and are suitable both for creating an impenetrable fence of several meters, and for zoning the site.
Evergreen deciduous shrubs: boxwood, laurel cherry, euonymus are unpretentious in care and are well pruned. A hedge of evergreen barberry is distinguished by the aroma of flowers and bright berries.
Deciduous ornamental shrubs cotoneaster, spirea, hawthorn, barberry - allow you to create fences that are small in height, but varied in color schemes.
Deciduous trees such as beech or hornbeam are suitable for high green walls many meters high, but grow slowly and shed their leaves in winter.
Climbing plants require base grids, fences, columns. Otherwise, they are not demanding, but not durable either. Hops, ivy, hydrangea are mostly used for vertical gardening in the warm season.


Hedge Plant Care Features

Thinking about the creation of a hedge in the Moscow region, it is necessary to take into account the climatic features of the region. The main threat comes from cold and frost. Therefore, when choosing plants, it is worth giving preference to hedge bushes of frost-resistant species. Another threat is the winter and spring sun. Thuja, in particular, is subject to burns from its awakened rays. Regular care is necessary to ensure that the hedge has many years of life and enjoy its beauty.


Basic Hedge Care Rules

Like any plant on the site, hedge shrubs require attention. Although each variety is individual, the main efforts fall on the period of pruning of plants, on which their health, external shape and density depend.

Shrub pruning

Pruning of berry bushes is recommended in early spring or late autumn, evergreens - in early summer. The crown formation procedure can be started from the first year of life. Use only a well-sharpened tool and do not forget about the precautions for yourself: a prickly hedge of barberry or hawthorn should be cut with tight gloves.

Preparing for the change of season

Sanitary pruning in the fall helps the plant to overwinter. However, no matter how hardy hedges are, in some cases they need to be covered. At the end of autumn, cover young conifers with breathable material. In winter, to prevent mold and mildew, shake off the snow.

Not sure which hedge to choose? Need clarifications? Send your request to the feedback form, we will be happy to help.

Fast-growing perennial evergreen hedge

Any household territory requires a lot of time and effort to maintain. The most important task facing the owner of his site is its competent and beautiful fencing. In this case, a perennial fast-growing hedge will help you. Evergreen vegetation is a great way to decorate an area and define its borders.

Such a design, of course, will take a lot of time and effort, but the result is worth it. You can create a similar decor from trees, climbing crops and shrubs. If you still do not know which plants you want to plant, then our review will help you make the right decision.

Quality care of plantings allows you to create a magnificent view in any garden

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