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)
Kalmia latifolia 'Olympic Fire'
Calico bush, Mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia 'Pink Charm'
Calico Bush, Mountain laurel, American laurel, Spoonwood
Lantana
Bush lantana
Lantana camara
Bush lantana
Laurus nobilis 'Aurea'
Golden bay, Bay laurel, Sweet bay, Poet's laurel, True laurel, Laurel tree
Laurus nobilis f. angustifolia
Willow leaf bay
Lavandula 'Anouk Deluxe Purple'
Lavender
Lavandula 'Devonshire Compact White'
Lavender
Lavandula 'Helmsdale'
Hybrid French lavender, Hybrid butterfly lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Ashdown Forest'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Beechwood Blue'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Elizabeth'
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Folgate'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Pink'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Imperial Gem'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Lavenite Petite'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Loddon Blue'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Loddon Pink'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Miss Katherine'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Peter Pan'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Princess Blue'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Rosea'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Twickel Purple'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia Blue Scent = 'Syngablusc'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia Garden Beauty = 'Lowmar'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia Little Lottie = 'Clarmo'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia Melissa Lilac = 'Dow4'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula stoechas 'Twin Summer'
French lavender, Butterfly lavender
Lavandula x chaytoriae 'Richard Gray'
Soft leaved lavender
Lavandula x intermdia 'Silver Sands'
Lavender
Lavandula x intermedia 'Arabian Night'
Lavandin, Intermediate English x French lavender
Lavandula x intermedia 'Edelweiss'
Lavandin, Intermediate lavender
Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso'
Lavandin, Intermediate lavender
Lavandula x intermedia 'Hidcote Giant'
Lavandin, Intermediate lavender
Lavandula x intermedia 'Tuscan Night'
Lavender
Lavandula x intermedia Dutch Group
Dutch lavender, Lavandin, Intermediate lavender
Ligustrum
Privet
Ligustrum 'Vicaryi'
Privet
Ligustrum delavayanum
Delavay's privet
Ligustrum japonicum
Japanese privet
Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum'
Japanese privet
Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Argenteum'
Silver privet, Oval leaf privet, California privet
Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum'
Golden privet, Oval leaf privet, California privet
Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Green Diamond'
Oval leaf privet, California privet
Ligustrum quihoui
Chinese privet
Ligustrum undulatum 'Lemon Lime and Clippers'
Undulating privet
Ligustrum vulgare
Common privet
Ligustrum vulgare 'Atrovirens'
Common privet