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)
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Leyland Queen'
Lawson's cypress, Oregon cedar, Port Orford cedar
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Lutea Nana'
Lawson's cypress, Oregon cedar, Port Orford cedar
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pottenii'
Lawson's cypress, Oregon cedar, Port Orford cedar
Crataegus laevigata 'Plena'
Double white thorn, Quick set thorn, White thorn, English hawthorn, May
Cupressus macrocarpa 'Golden Cone'
Monterey cypress
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Maryline'
Hybrid oleaster
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Moonlight'
Hybrid oleaster
Euonymus japonicus 'Latifolius Albomarginatus'
Japanese spindle
Fargesia 'Angustissima'
Narrow leaf bamboo, Angustissima bamboo
Fargesia murieliae x nitida 'Viking'
Umbrella bamboo, Muriel bamboo, Fargesia hybrid bamboo
Fargesia nitida 'Black Pearl'
Fountain bamboo
Fargesia nitida 'Pillar'
Fountain bamboo
Forsythia Maree d'Or = 'Courtasol'
Godetia grandiflora 'Honeymoon Mix'
Godet's large flowered annual, Satin flower
Griselinia littoralis Green Horizon = 'Whenuapai'
Broadleaf, Papauma, Kapuka, New Zealand privet
Hebe 'Raspberry Chocolate'
Shrubby veronica
Hedera helix 'Atropurpurea'
Common ivy, English ivy, Purple English ivy
Hedera helix 'Palmata'
Common ivy, English ivy
Hedera helix 'Spectre'
Common ivy, English ivy
Ilex aquifolium 'Alaska'
Holly (Female berrying form)
Ilex aquifolium 'Hascombensis'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Myrtifolia Aurea'
Common holly, English holly, Hulver bush
Ilex aquifolium 'Pyramidalis'
Self-fertile variety
Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Van Tol'
Self-fertile variety, Common holly
Ilex cornuta
Horned Chinese holly, Bony horn
Ilex crenata 'Fastigiata'
Slender box leaved holly, Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex crenata 'Jenny'
Japanese holly
Ilex crenata var. latifolia
Japanese holly, Box leaved holly
Ilex meserveae
Self-fertile variety, Common holly
Ilex meserveae 'Heckenfee'
Blue holly
Ilex x altaclerensis
Highclere hybrid holly, Altaclera holly
Ilex x altaclerensis 'Ripley Gold'
Female variety, Highclere hybrid holly
Juniperus chinensis 'Robusta Green'
Chinese juniper
Kalmia latifolia 'Freckles'
Calico bush, Mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia 'Pink Frost'
Calico bush, Mountain laurel
Lavandula 'Blue Spear'
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Ellagance Purple'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Jean Davis'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Royal Purple'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Ligustrum sinense 'Sunshine'
Chinese privet
Lonicera nitida 'Bank of Gold'
Honeysuckle
Lonicera nitida 'Van Gogh'
Shining honeysuckle, Boxleaf honeysuckle
Olearia traversii
Chatham Island akeake
Photinia 'Red Devil'
Fraser's hybrid photinia
Photinia 'Super Red'
Christmas berry
Photinia x fraseri 'Carré Rouge'
Red square Photinia
Picea glauca 'Lilliput'
White spruce
Picea glauca var. albertiana 'Alberta Globe'
Albert's round spruce