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Hedges for full sun


15 Best Evergreen and Flowering Shrubs for Hedges

Create Privacy With Natural Borders in Your Outdoor Space

By

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. He was in the nursery business for over a decade, working with a large variety of plants. David has been interviewed by numerous newspapers and national U.S. magazines, such as Woman's World and American Way.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/30/22

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

Reviewed by Kathleen Miller

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column.  She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

Fact checked by

Jessica Wrubel

Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel

Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

The Spruce / Autumn Wood

A hedge is a living wall composed of plants. Hedges can be purely decorative, primarily practical, or a combination of both. Hedge plants are either evergreen or deciduous shrubs, and they're often trimmed to precise sizes and shapes. Decorative hedges sometimes use flowering hedge plants for added visual interest. On the flip side, practical hedges that are intended for privacy screens, windbreaks, and security are often composed of densely growing and tall shrubs. They might have thorns (such as hawthorns) or prickly leaves (such as English holly).

Here are 15 plants that make a nice hedge, including flowering hedge plants and evergreen shrubs.

The Spruce 

Warning

Yew, holly, and several other shrubs are toxic, so be careful when growing them if children or pets are present.

19 Classy Living Privacy Fences (Plus Plant Examples)

Watch Now: Tips for Selecting the Right Shrubs

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Ilex aquifolium. NC State Extension. 

  2. Yew. Yale University.

  3. Holly Berries. National Capital Poison Control Center.

  4. The Invasive Japanese Barberry. Penn State Extension.

  5. Deer. Missouri Botanical Garden.

  6. Privet. PennState Extension.

  7. Pruning Evergreens in the Landscape. University of Vermont Extension.

  8. Canadian Hemlock. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

Full Sun Hedging Plants | Home Guides

By Lisa Chinn

Hedges benefit a home landscape in many ways. They provide privacy around a home or yard, and they can even reduce the amount of street noise that reaches a house. They also add attractive greenery, and some produce pretty flowers and fragrances. Not all trees and shrubs can be trained to grow as hedges, and not all hedges tolerate full sunlight. Before selecting a hedge plant, gardeners should find a variety that will surely grow well in the local climate and planting area.

Shrub Roses

  1. Shrub roses (rosa spp.), such as Grandiflora roses, work well as hedges and produce attractive clusters of flowers. Some shrub roses only grow to a few feet tall, but others reach heights of up to 10 feet tall. Different varieties of roses tolerate different climates. Many grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 or 5 through 9 or 10. Roses generally prefer well-drained soil, and gardeners with heavy clay or very sandy soils should add some compost before planting. They like moderate amounts of moisture and may need irrigation during dry weather. One drawback of roses as hedges is that they usually lose their leaves during winter, so they provide more privacy during spring and summer than winter.

Juniper

  1. Juniper (juniperus squamata), is an evergreen, sun-loving groundcover, shrub or tree. Shrub and small tree varieties of juniper can be pruned into hedges, and its dense growth provides plenty of privacy. Many varieties of juniper, such as rocky mountain juniper, grow well in most areas, including USDA zones 4 through 9. Juniper tolerates minimal to moderate amounts of moisture and does not need irrigation in many climates. It grows well in just about any soil type but has problems in very waterlogged soils.

Boxwood

  1. Boxwood (buxus sempervirens) is one of the most popular hedging shrubs worldwide. One reason for its popularity is its ability to tolerate pruning and training into a variety of shapes. Some gardeners find perfectly square boxwood hedges too formal, while others love being able to cut them into a neat shape. Boxwoods like moist and well-drained soils in areas with plenty of sunlight. Mature boxwoods can grow up to 20 feet tall when left unpruned, but gardeners can cut them shorter or buy shorter boxwood cultivars, such as "green mound" boxwood.

Hibiscus

  1. Hibiscus is a sun-loving shrub that produces attractive flowers. Some types of hibiscus, such as Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), stay green year round and reach heights of up to 15 feet. Other varieties of hibiscus, such as "Diana" hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus 'Diana'), are deciduous and reach shorter heights of about 12 feet tall. Hibiscus likes full sun and moderate amounts of moisture. Depending on the variety of hibiscus, they will tolerate USDA zones 4 through 15. Hibiscus likes well-drained soil and tolerates neutral or acidic soil pH levels.

References

Resources

Writer Bio

Lisa Chinn developed her research skills while working at a research university library. She writes for numerous publications, specializing in gardening, home care, wellness, copywriting, style and travel. Chinn also designs marketing materials, holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and is working toward a PhD in cognitive neuroscience.

which plants to choose, how to plant and care for them

A hedge is a functional and beautiful addition to any garden. It can be used as a wind and even noise barrier or to create privacy, as well as a great decoration for your garden layout. When adding hedges, there are several factors to consider at once: soil type, lighting conditions, growth rate, and desired level of care.

Varieties of hedges

All hedges can be divided into two large groups: sheared (molded) and free-growing.

For clipped hedges, it is preferable to choose fast-growing crops with small leaves and a high ability of replacement shoots so that after cutting the plant quickly grows green mass. It is also better to choose slow-growing plants, this will reduce the number of haircuts and the time spent on them.

When choosing a free-growing hedge, give preference to flowering hedges with uniform growth. When choosing plants for such a hedge, pay attention to their coppice ability - the higher it is, the easier it will be to rejuvenate the plants after a while. nine0003

Selection of plants for hedges

If you need a year-round hedge, then it is better to choose conifers or evergreens that are suitable for growing in your climate zone.

But in no case do deciduous shrubs and trees lose, because in winter they retain their shape due to skeletal branches and can also become a wonderful decoration for your garden. In addition, a free-growing hedge can also be formed from herbaceous perennials and grasses, if they fit the style of your garden and their size suits you. nine0003

Large-leaved hydrangea hedge

Pay attention to the conditions in the selected area.
Because different plants have different needs, it is important to evaluate the type of soil, humidity, and amount of sunlight the hedge will receive. A long hedge can extend from full sun into shade. Many light-loving plants will have difficulty growing in the shade, resulting in gaps in the hedge.

Leave enough space. nine0021 Whether a plant will be heavily pruned or free growing, it needs enough space to grow and develop. Remember that plants are not a fence, their branches and roots need space. Therefore, be guided by the adult size of plants when choosing a crop. But do not leave too large gaps, otherwise the plants may not close.

Consult with experts.
If you are at a loss with the choice of plants for your site and the frequency of planting, then seek the help of professionals: it can be nursery workers, landscape designers or a course on planning your own garden from our Garden School. nine0003

Hedge Planting Tips

The main question all gardeners ask when building a hedge is how far apart should the plants be planted?

Naturally, there is no unequivocal answer to it, because each plant has its own size. In addition, the frequency of planting also depends on the height of the future hedge: for a molded hedge up to 60 cm high, the planting step should be 30-40 cm; with an average height (from 60 to 150 cm) - landing step 60-70 cm; to create a high hedge (above 1.5 meters), plant plants 1 meter apart. nine0003

Planting seedlings in a trench

General planting tips:

1. Prepare the soil in advance: remove all weeds at a distance of at least 30 cm on either side of the proposed hedge.

2. Dig a trench twice as wide as the width of the pot (if purchased with closed root systems) or the size of the roots (if plants with open root systems).

3. If the soil in the area is poor or heavy, prepare fertile soil for backfilling. For areas with high groundwater, lay drainage at the bottom of the trench - it can be gravel or broken brick. nine0003

4. Use string to mark a straight line for reference. Also mark the planting step with a tape measure or a stick of the right size so that each plant is located at the same distance from each other.

5. Spill the planting trench with water and let it soak into the soil. If you plant plants with bare roots, then you should hold them in water for a while.

6. Gently plant the plants at the level where they were planted in the pot or, in the case of an open root system, at the level of the root collar (the place where the roots meet the trunk). nine0003

7. Compact the soil to remove air pockets. Water the plants again after planting.

8. Use mulch to prevent weeds and reduce water loss from the soil. Water your hedge until its root system is fully established.

Hedge care

1. Mowing

Shaping hedge trimming should begin immediately, rather than waiting until it has grown to the desired height. In order for the plants not to become bare from below, and the crown not to thicken, it is necessary to cut not only from the sides, but also from above, in order to stimulate the growth of new shoots. nine0003

Formed hedges are not sheared at right angles in height, but form a small cone where the top is slightly narrower than the base. This is done so that the light falls on the lower shoots, and the plant does not become bare in the lower part.

For guidance in strict hedge shapes, we recommend using twine stretched at the level you need, or frames that you can make yourself from cardboard or other available materials.

Do not forget about sanitary pruning - it is mandatory for any plants (not only in hedges) and allows you to grow healthy crops.

2. Top dressing.

Use a nitrogen fertilizer to encourage lush green growth in spring. It is better to feed the plants with complex fertilizers marked "spring-summer" or use organic fertilizers. For spring fertilizers in the garden, watch the live broadcast with Andrey Ivashchenko from @formularosta61. nine0003

From mid-summer, nitrogen from fertilizers should be excluded so as not to stimulate plants to form growths. At this time, fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium in the composition are needed to a greater extent, you can also use ready-made complexes with macro- and microelements marked "autumn".

Both water-soluble and granulated forms are suitable. If you use the second ones, then do not forget to plant the granules into the soil and then spill them well with water.

3. Treatments for diseases and pests. nine0003

Plants in hedges are more susceptible to diseases and pests due to wall planting and dense canopy. In order to avoid this, plant them in the right place and conditions, so immunity will be higher and the risk of infection will be minimized. If infection does occur, then we recommend using systemic insecticides (for pests) and fungicides (for diseases). You can buy them at any specialized store.

4. Watering.

Don't forget to water your hedge, because plants can compete for moisture in the soil and grow unevenly, which will affect their appearance. Water generously, especially the first time after planting (every 2-3 days during the first year of planting). Watering is best done in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation. nine0089

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    Top 15 best hedge plants

    💣💣💣 BLACK FRIDAY IN HARSHINKA !

    Published:

    4 years ago

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    We present to your attention a selection of the best plants in our opinion for creating a living fence on your site. nine0003

    1. Thuja. Evergreen tree or shrub. In the conditions of the middle lane, it can reach a height of 3 m. It is widely used to create hedges. The optimal planting distance is 80-100 cm. It can be planted in two rows in a checkerboard pattern. In a temperate climate, among the various forms of thuja, the thuja western “Smaragd” and “Emerald” feel best. Among other plants used to create hedges, thuja has its advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages:

    • Endurance. Not demanding on lighting, frost and heat resistant, feels good in urban environments.
    • Tolerates shearing well. Thuja is distinguished by strong branching, forms a dense fence, takes any shape.
    • Possesses volatile properties.

    Drawbacks:

    The disadvantages of thuja include its burnout in the bright sun, while the needles lose their decorative effect and become brown. nine0003

    2. Juniper. Common, Cossack, virgin, scaly, and Chinese junipers are used to create hedges. All of them have their own characteristics, but their main advantages are the same:

    • Creates a fairly tight enclosure.
    • Drought resistant.
    • Not picky about the soil.
    • The needles do not crumble. nine0089

    Of the shortcomings of juniper, one can single out its need for good lighting. Otherwise, the bushes become loose and lose their decorative effect. Like all conifers, juniper has a rather slow growth, although this is a minus or plus for a hedge - a moot point.

    3. Berry yew. Evergreen coniferous plant. Great for creating a living fence and for good reason:

    • Excellent shear tolerance.
    • Forms shoots even on old wood.
    • Long-lived and slow growing.
    • Hardy.
    • Drought resistant.
    • Forms bright red decorative fruits.

    The yew has one drawback - all its parts are poisonous.

    4. Lawson's cypress is one of the most beautiful coniferous plants.

    Benefits:

    • Forms a dense dense conical crown.
    • Very decorative bluish-green needles.
    • Undemanding to soil fertility.
    • Quite resistant to diseases and pests.

    Disadvantages: prefers well-lit areas (goes bald in the shade), requires regular watering and spraying. nine0003

    5. Derain white. Fast-growing deciduous shrub up to 3 m high. Very beautiful, retains its decorative effect even in winter, thanks to bright red shoots. Blossoms twice a season, in the fall, along with young flowers, rounded white berries appear. The shrub has many virtues , among which:

    • Decorative throughout the year. nine0089
    • In autumn, the foliage turns a variety of hues.
    • It lends itself well to a haircut, able to take various forms.
    • Not picky about conditions.
    • Heat and winter hardy.
    • Adapted to urban conditions.
    • Fast growing.
    • Does not need additional feeding.

    Perhaps the only feature of turf that can be called its disadvantage is the need for regular cutting. If this condition is not observed, the bush is exposed in the lower part, it looks sloppy. nine0003

    6. Viburnum vesicle. Spectacular shrub with spreading drooping branches and large ornamental leaves. It reaches a height of 3 m. With proper care, a vesicle hedge will become a real highlight of your garden.

    Benefits:

    • Varieties of different colors allow interesting combinations. nine0089
    • Undemanding to the soil.
    • Drought resistant.
    • Very unpretentious in care.
    • Even a novice gardener can handle pruning.
    • Grows quickly to form a solid wall.
    • Heat and frost resistant.
    • Not affected by diseases and pests.

    has no defects.

    7. Mock orange crown

    A beautifully flowering fragrant shrub up to 3 m high. It is frost-resistant and unpretentious, excellent for the conditions of the middle zone. In addition to the already listed advantages of mock orange, the following should be noted:

    • Bright green foliage.
    • Relatively small shrub width.
    • The ability to quickly recover even after heavy pruning.

    Essential lacks the plant has no, it should only be noted that well-lit places should be chosen for planting mock orange, and the soil should not be compacted and waterlogged.

    nine0166

    8. Spirea. A very ornamental shrub with beautiful abundant flowering. A spirea hedge can reach a height of 1.5 m. The plant has many advantages, including:

    To maintain a neat appearance of the shrub, it is recommended to trim the faded inflorescences.

    9. Thunberg barberry. Great for hedges because it:

    • Unpretentious and adapts easily to various conditions.
    • Very decorative, changes its appearance throughout the season: bright green bushes in summer turn into a noble red color in autumn, the bush is covered with small red berries.
    • Able to create a dense enclosure.
    • Good for cutting. nine0089

    The plant has its own disadvantages . For example, the presence of long sharp spines complicates the care of the shrub. With a lack of sunlight, the decorative effect of the leaves is lost. The plant propagates easily and appears where its growth is undesirable.

    10. Privet. Fast-growing shade-tolerant shrub up to 2-2.5 m high. The plant deserves special attention for the following reasons:

    • Grows well, creating an impenetrable wall.
    • Perfectly gives in to a hairstyle, taking any form.
    • Undemanding to growing conditions.
    • Winter hardy.
    • Does not require watering.
    • Not damaged by diseases and pests.

    The only drawback of privet is poisonous fruit. Do not choose this plant if you have children.

    		nine0002

    11. Cotoneaster brilliant. Densely leafy deciduous shrub up to 0.5 to 1.5 meters high. Undoubted Benefits of Cotoneaster:

    • Decorative throughout the season.
    • Resistance to adverse conditions (drought, frost, waterlogging).
    • Not picky about soils.
    • Feels good in urban environments. nine0089
    • Possesses volatile properties.
    • It lends itself well to a haircut, taking any shape.
    • The fruits are not poisonous.

    Cotoneaster branches are fairly fast growing so regular pruning is essential to maintain the shape and attractiveness of the shrub.

    12. Blood red hawthorn. Unpretentious deciduous shrub, characterized by high longevity. The undoubted advantages of the plant are:

    • Resistance to adverse conditions (drought, frost, shading).
    • Undemanding to soils.
    • High shoot forming ability.
    • Handles shearing and shaping well.
    • Creates a dense, impenetrable fence over time.
    • Easily propagated by cuttings.

    Irregular shearing of hawthorn can expose the underside of the bush.

    		nine0002

    13. Lilac. Very ornamental flowering shrub. To create a hedge, the use of undemanding, frost-resistant, drought-resistant varieties, such as Meyer's, Amur and Hungarian lilacs, is recommended. The advantage of lilac over other shrubs is as follows:

    • Feels good in urban environments.
    • Drought tolerant.
    • Not damaged by diseases and pests.
    • Good for cutting.
    • Winter-hardy, but can freeze slightly in severe winters.

    disadvantages of lilacs include the need for annual cutting of root shoots; a short flowering period, after which the decorativeness of the plant is significantly reduced.

    14. Shrub cinquefoil. A very decorative compact shrub that blooms from early summer to autumn. The main advantages of the plant:

    • Unpretentiousness.
    • Winter hardiness.
    • Ability to grow in urban environments.
    • Good for cutting.
    • Long flowering.
    • A variety of varieties of different colors.

    Every 4-5 years the plant needs a rejuvenating pruning. Requires watering during dry periods. nine0003

    15. Hydrangea. Incredibly beautiful shrub with large leaves and very lush flowering. Paniculata and tree varieties are great for creating hedges. Hydrangea Benefits:

    • Long flowering period.
    • Variety of colors.
    • Large leaves and lush inflorescences.
    • Suitable for slightly shaded areas. nine0089
    • Grows well in acidic soils.

    At the same time, hydrangea is rather capricious, requires frequent watering, needs shelter for the winter, and is demanding on the composition of the soil. The plant needs pruning, since flowering occurs only on the shoots of the current year.

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