Hedges, screening & topiary
These mark a boundary, or an internal division within the garden. They provide a uniform and satisfying backdrop to other planting and act as a living windbreak to protect plants from wind damage. They are great for wildlife as a source of food and shelter. There are some things to consider which will help you make the right choice. ; Ease of maintenance - how often does it need trimming? ; Size - will it work in your space, how tall and wide will it grow? ; Natural looking or close clipped - how do you want it to look? ; Spacing: How closely to plant will depend on how high you want the hedge to grow, how quickly you need it to fill in, and the "height/spread" of the chosen hedge plant. A "rule of thumb" is between 1 to 4 plants per metre, with fewer plants for a taller hedge and more plants for a faster filled in hedge. ; Top tip: Some hedging plants have thorns such as pyracantha, which deter invaders and gives birds a safe place to nest. But on the other hand, trimming your hedge can become a prickly business!
Alternatives to Box
25 plants
Cloud pruned plants
72 plants
Hedge plants - conifer trees
80 plants
Hedge plants - evergreen
450 plants
Hedge plants - non-evergreen
362 plants
Roses for hedges
112 plants
Security hedges - prickly plants
148 plants
Topiary plants
179 plants
All plants (993)
Hedera hibernica 'Deltoidea'
Shield ivy, Sweetheart ivy, Atlantic ivy, Irish ivy
Hippophae rhamnoides
Sea buckthorn, Cornish seaberry
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Cherry Explosion™'
Hortensia hydrangea, Mophead hydrangea
Hypericum 'Rowallane'
St John's wort, St Peter's wort
Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens'
Hybrid holly
Ilex aquifolium 'Angustifolia'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata Pendula'
Perry's silver weeping holly, Silver-margined holly, Broad leaved silver holly
Ilex aquifolium 'Aurea Marginata'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Ferox Aurea'
Golden hedgehog holly, Hedgehog holly
Ilex aquifolium 'Golden Milkboy'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Golden Queen'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Golden Van Tol'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Green Pillar'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Handsworth New Silver'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Laurifolia'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Pyramidalis Fructu Luteo'
Yellow fruited holly
Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Milkboy'
Common holly
Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Milkmaid'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex crenata
Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata
Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata 'Convexa'
Convex box-leaved holly
Ilex crenata 'Green Hedger'
Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata 'Mariesii'
Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata 'Shiro-fukurin'
Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata 'Stokes'
Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata 'Twiggy'
Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata 'Variegata'
Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata var. fukasawana
Holly, Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata var. paludosa
Holly, Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex meserveae Blue Maid = 'Mesid'
Blue holly
Ilex verticillata
Winterberry, Black alder, Fever bush, Michigan holly
Ilex x altaclerensis 'Belgica Aurea'
Highclere hybrid hollies, Highclere hybrid holly, Altaclera holly
Ilex x altaclerensis 'Camelliifolia'
Altaclera holly, Camellia leafed English holly, Highclere hybrid holly, Altaclera holly
Ilex x altaclerensis 'Lawsoniana'
Highclere hybrid holly, Altaclera holly
Ilex x meserveae 'Little Rascal'
Blue holly 'Little Rascal'
Juniperus
Juniper
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Aurea'
Young's golden juniper, Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Obelisk'
Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Pyramidalis'
Chinese juniper
Juniperus virginiana
Pencil cedar, Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana 'Burkii'
Pencil cedar, Eastern redcedar
Juniperus virginiana 'Glauca'
Eastern red cedar, Pencil cedar, Red juniper
Kalmia latifolia
Calico Bush, Mountain laurel, American laurel, Spoonwood
Kalmia latifolia 'Carousel'
Calico bush, Mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia 'Little Linda'
Calico bush, Mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia 'Minuet'
Calico bush, Mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia 'Nipmuck'
Calico Bush, Mountain laurel, American laurel, Spoonwood