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)
Pinus nigra 'Globosa'
Austrian pine, Black pine
Pinus nigra subsp. nigra 'Helga'
Austrian pine, Black pine
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Bannow Bay'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Cratus'
Kohuhu, Tawhiwhi
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Glo Ball'
Tawhiwi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Green Elf'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Wrinkled Blue'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Platycladus orientalis 'Elegantissima'
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental thuja
Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldstar'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Longacre Variety'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Orangeade'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Prunus incisa 'Lotte'
Fuji cherry
Pyracantha 'Golden Paradise'
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Golden Sun'
Firethorn
Pyracantha coccinea 'Red Star'
Firethorn, Buisson ardent, Scarlet firethorn
Quercus ilex
Holm oak, Evergreen oak, Holly leaved oak
Quercus petraea
Sessile oak, Durmast oak
Ribes uva-crispa 'Careless'
Gooseberry
Rosa 'Agnes'
Rugosa rose
Rosa 'Maiden's Blush'
Alba rose
Rosa 'Perfect Moment'
Floribunda (cluster-flowered) rose
Rosa 'Rosemary Rose'
Floribunda (cluster-flowered) rose
Rosa Bredon = 'Ausbred'
Shrub rose
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Barbecue'
Barbecue Rosemary
Sambucus nigra Gold Spark = 'Alcsam'
Elderberry, Elderflower, Black elder
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
Indian currant, Buckbrush, Coralberry, Indian currant
Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii 'White Hedge'
Snowberry, Coralberry
Taxus baccata 'Elegantissima'
English yew, Common yew, Golden English yew
Thuja plicata 'Martin'
Western red cedar
Ugni molinae
Chilean guava, Chilean myrtle, Murtillo, Uni, Strawberry myrtle
Viburnum odoratissimum Coppertop = 'Brant01'
Sweet viburnum
Viburnum tinus 'Ladybird'
Scented laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Macrophyllum'
Laurustinus