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)
Lavandula angustifolia
English lavender, True lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Arctic Snow'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula aristibracteata 'Blue Star'
Bristle-bracted lavender
Lavandula stoechas 'Papillon'
Lavender, French lavender
Lavandula x chaytoriae 'Sawyers'
Lavender
Ligustrum japonicum 'Rotundifolium'
Japanese privet
Ligustrum ovalifolium
Oval leaf privet, California privet
Lonicera
Honeysuckle
Lonicera ligustrina var. yunnanensis
Shining honeysuckle, Boxleaf honeysuckle
Lonicera nitida 'Twiggy'
Shining honeysuckle, Boxleaf honeysuckle
Lycium barbarum
Chinese boxthorn, Goji berry, Common matrimony vine
Miscanthus sinensis
Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, Susuki, Japanese silver grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'
Porcupine grass, Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, Susuki, Japanese silver grass
Olearia macrodonta
New Zealand holly, Toothy New Zealand holly
Olearia x haastii
Haast's daisy bush
Osmanthus delavayi
Delavay tea olive
Osmanthus x burkwoodii
Burkwood's sweet olive
Pennisetum
Fountain grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
Fountain grass, Swamp foxtail grass, Chinese pennisetum, Chikara shiba
Photinia
Christmas berry
Photinia x fraseri 'Little Red Robin'
Fraser's hybrid photinia
Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin'
Christmas berry, Red robin, Fraser photinia, Redtip photinia
Photinia x fraseri Pink Marble = 'Cassini'
Fraser's hybrid photinia
Physocarpus
Ninebark
Pittosporum
Parchment bark
Pittosporum 'Garnettii'
Parchment bark
Pittosporum tenuifolium
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Abbotsbury Gold'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Gold Star'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Golf Ball'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Irene Paterson'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Margaret Turnbull'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Queen'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tandara Gold'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Potentilla
Cinquefoil, Five finger
Potentilla fruticosa
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Abbotswood'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Elizabeth'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldfinger'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Kobold'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Primrose Beauty'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Tangerine'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa Marian Red Robin = 'Marrob'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa Princess = 'Blink'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil