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)
Thuja plicata
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae
Thuja plicata
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae
Thuja plicata 'Atrovirens'
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae
Thuja plicata 'Aurea'
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae
Thuja plicata 'Gelderland'
White cedar
Thuja plicata 'Gracilis Aurea'
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae
Thuja plicata 'Irish Gold'
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae
Thuja plicata 'Stoneham Gold'
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae
Thuja plicata 'Zebrina'
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae
Tsuga canadensis
Eastern hemlock, Canadian hemlock, Canada pitch
Tsuga canadensis
Eastern hemlock, Canadian hemlock, Canada pitch
Ugni
Strawberry myrtle
Ugni molinae
Chilean guava, Chilean myrtle, Murtillo, Uni, Strawberry myrtle
Ugni molinae Butterball = 'Tabball'
Chilean cranberry, Chilean guava
Ugni molinae Ka Pow = 'Yanpow'
Chilean cranberry, Chilean guava
Ugni molinae Red Devil = 'Yanvil'
Chilean cranberry, Chilean guava
Ulex europaeus
Prickly broom, Common gorse, Irish gorse
Viburnum tinus 'French White'
Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Lucidum'
Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Peter's Purple'
Laurustinus
Weigela 'Ebony and Ivory'
x Cuprocyparis leylandii
Leyland cypress
X cuprocyparis leylandii
Leyland cypress
x Cuprocyparis leylandii 'Castlewellan'
Golden leyland cypress
x Cuprocyparis leylandii 'Gold Rider'
Leyland cypress
x Cuprocyparis leylandii 'Naylor's Blue'
Naylor's leyland cypress
Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Dream'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Escallonia laevis Pink Elle = 'Lades'
Euonymus japonicus 'El Dorado'
Spindle, Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus'
Ilex aquifolium 'Madame Briot'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Lavandula angustifolia 'Nana Alba'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lonicera ligustrina var. yunnanensis 'Maigrun'
Shining honeysuckle, Boxleaf honeysuckle
Potentilla fruticosa 'Red Ace'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa Danny Boy = 'Lissdan'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Ribes uva-crispa 'Hinnonmaki Red'
Cooking & eating gooseberry
Rosa rugosa
Rugosa rose, Ramanas rose, Japanese rose, Turkestan rose, Hedgehog rose
Symphoricarpos Magical Galaxy = 'Kolmgala'
Snowberry, Coralberry
Symphoricarpos Magical Sweet = 'Kolmaswet'
Snowberry, Coralberry
Aucuba japonica f. longifolia
Spotted laurel, Japanese aucuba
Aucuba japonica f. longifolia 'Salicifolia'
Spotted laurel, Japanese aucuba
Berberis aggregata
Gerald's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Fireball'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Sunrise'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Red Rocket'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis x stenophylla 'Lemon Queen'
Rosemary barberry
Bromelia balansae 'Variegata'
Chaenomeles x superba 'Coral Sea'
Flowering quince