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)
Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Small-Ness'
Ground cyprus, Cotton lavender, Lavender-cotton
Santolina pinnatus subsp. neapolitana 'Sulphurea'
Cotton lavender, Lavender-cotton
Sarcococca hookeriana 'Purple Gem'
Himalayan sarcococca
Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Crimson Feathers'
Tree spiraea, Golden tree spiraea
Symphoricarpos
Snowberry, Coralberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Snowberry, Coralberry, Common snowberry, Wax berry
Symphoricarpos doorenboosii 'Magical Berry Christmas'
Snowberry, Coralberry
Symphoricarpos Magical Candy = 'Kolmcam'
Snowberry, Coralberry
Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii 'Magic Berry'
Snowberry, Coralberry
Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii 'Mother of Pearl'
Hybrid coralberry
Taxus
Yew
Taxus baccata
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata
English yew, Common yew, Yew
Taxus baccata 'Aureomarginata'
English yew, 'Fastigiata' (narrow) yew
Taxus baccata 'Bultinck Orange Beauty'
Dwarf English yew
Taxus baccata 'David'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Davie'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Dovastoniana'
Westfelton yew, Dovaston's yew, English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Dovastonii Aurea'
Westfelton yew, English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Dwarf Bright Gold'
Dwarf English yew
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Aureomarginata'
English yew, Common yew, Irish yew
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Robusta'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'
Irish yew, English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Golden Carol'
English yew
Taxus baccata 'Icicle'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Papageno'
Dwarf English yew
Taxus baccata 'Repandens'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Repens Aurea'
Groundcover English yew
Taxus baccata 'Standishii'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Summergold'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata 'Washingtonii'
English yew, Common yew
Taxus baccata Fastigiata Aurea Group
Golden English yew, Common yew
Taxus x media 'Hicksii'
Hick's yew
Teucrium
Germander, Wood sage
Teucrium chamaedrys
Wall germander, Ground oak, Ground germander
Teucrium fruticans Indyho = 'Ventecu'
Shrubby germander
Thuja
Red cedar, Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis
American arbor vitae, White cedar, Yellow cedar
Thuja occidentalis
American arbor vitae, White cedar, Yellow cedar
Thuja occidentalis 'Ericoides'
American arbor vitae, White cedar, Yellow cedar
Thuja occidentalis 'Fastigiata'
American arbor vitae, White cedar, Yellow cedar
Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Brabant'
Yellow cedar
Thuja occidentalis 'Holmstrup'
American arbor vitae, White cedar, Yellow cedar
Thuja occidentalis 'Jantar'
White cedar
Thuja occidentalis 'King of Brabant'
American arbor-vitae, White cedar, Yellow cedar
Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'
American arbor vitae, White cedar, Yellow cedar
Thuja occidentalis 'White Smaragd'
White cedar
Thuja occidentalis Golden Smaragd = 'Janed Gold'
Yellow cedar