Hedging Plants

Hedging plants – more info

Hedging plants come in so many shapes and sizes. From 12m tall hedging like oak and cigar-shaped cypress to English yew (taxus baccata) grows very well in shade. This slow-growing variety is perfect for shaping into topiary and has ornamental red berries in September and October that birds love. Read our full article on choosing the best hedge plants for more advice.

The top three evergreen hedging plants

Cherry laurel is one of the top evergreen hedging plants. It grows in a range of light levels from shade to full sun and gives a great return for little input, growing a thick screen of shiny green leaves to block noisy neighbours and prevailing winds. Laurus nobilis produces a similarly fuss-free hedge with lovely fragrant leaves. For colourful evergreen foliage you can’t go wrong with elaeagnus pungens. It has attractive leathery foliage that provides thick screening with scented blooms, even in tricky coastal conditions.

What plants are best for hedging in a coastal area?

If you have a garden in a coastal location, choose salt-tolerant varieties. Hedges often get the brunt of the weather, so make sure you plant a tough variety that can thrive in the face of salt-laden wind. Griselinia littoralis is a great candidate. The fresh rippled green leaves offer thick screening and make a great backdrop to a herbaceous border.

The top three hedging plants for wildlife

When choosing hedging to attract wildlife it’s a good bet to assume that native plants will be the best. Our collection of native & wildlife hedging is a really good place to view all the options that birds, bees and butterflies love. Our top three hedging plants for wildlife all have berries in autumn: rowan, blackthorn, and hawthorn. They provide a valuable natural food source for native birds who will flock to the garden to feast!