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)
Prunus
Cherry
Prunus 'Amanogawa'
Flagpole cherry, Upright cherry, Lombardy cherry, Apple blossom cherry
Prunus incisa
Fuji cherry, Fuji zakora, Mame zakura
Prunus laurocerasus
Common laurel, Cherry laurel
Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'
Common laurel, Cherry laurel
Prunus lusitanica
Portugal laurel
Pyracantha
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Golden Charmer'
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Mohave'
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Orange Charmer'
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Orange Glow'
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Soleil d'Or'
Firethorn
Pyracantha coccinea 'Red Column'
Firethorn, Buisson ardent, Scarlet firethorn
Quercus robur
Common oak, English oak, Pedunculate oak
Rhododendron
Ribes
Currant, Gooseberry
Ribes uva-crispa
Gooseberry, Goosegog
Ribes uva-crispa 'Hinnonmaki Yellow'
Cooking & eating gooseberry
Ribes uva-crispa 'Invicta'
Cooking & eating gooseberry
Rosa 'Ballerina'
Hybrid musk rose
Rosa 'Roseraie de l'Hay'
Rugosa rose
Rosa 'Ruby Wedding'
Hybrid tea (large flowered) rose
Rosa 'Sarah van Fleet'
Rugosa rose
Rosa Bright Smile = 'Dicdance'
Floribunda (cluster-flowered) rose
Rosa Cider Cup = 'Dicladida'
Floribunda (cluster-flowered) rose
Rosa gallica 'Versicolor'
Gallica rose, Rosa mundi, French rose, Provin's rose
Rosa Graham Thomas = 'Ausmas'
Shrub rose
Rosa Lichfield Angel = 'Ausrelate'
Shrub rose
Rosa Lilli Marlene = 'Korlima'
Floribunda (cluster-flowered) rose
Rosa Pink Flower Carpet = 'Noatraum'
Ground cover rose
Rosa Princess Anne = 'Auskitchen'
Shrub rose
Rosa rugosa 'Alba'
Rugosa rose
Rosa The Queen Elizabeth II = 'Harzinc'
Floribunda (cluster-flowered) rose
Rosa Wild Edric = 'Aushedge'
Rugosa rose
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Ground cyprus, Cotton lavender, Lavender-cotton
Santolina rosmarinifolia 'Lemon Fizz'
Rosemary lavender cotton
Syringa
Lilac
Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'
Korean lilac, Meyer lilac
Ulex europaeus 'Flore Pleno'
Double flowered gorse
Viburnum
Arrow wood
Viburnum tinus
Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'
Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Gwenllian'
Laurustinus
Abelia x grandiflora 'Compacta'
Glossy abelia, Large-flowered abelia
Abelia x grandiflora 'Francis Mason'
Glossy abelia, Large flowered abelia
Abelia x grandiflora 'Gold Spot'
Glossy abelia, Large flowered abelia
Acacia paradoxa
Kangaroo thorn, Hedge wattle
Acer campestre
Field maple, Hedge maple, Common maple