Hedges can be purely decorative, primarily practical, or a combination of both.
Hedge plants are eitherevergreenordeciduousshrubs, and they’re often trimmed to precise sizes and shapes.
Decorative hedges sometimes use flowering plants for added visual interest.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
They might have thorns (such ashawthorns) or prickly leaves (such as English holly).
Here are 21 plants that make a nice hedge, including flowering hedge plants and evergreen shrubs.
Many cultivars of thisbroadleafevergreen are available.
The Spruce
While this is a hedge with white flowers, it’s usually not grown for its small blooms.
Instead, it is the decorative, dark berries that make a showy statement in the garden.
It also tolerates severe pruning, pollution, and poor soil.
The Spruce / David Beaulieu
Berries are mildly toxic to humans when ingested.
The ‘Ferox Argentea’ cultivar is 15 feet tall by 8 to 10 feet wide.
However, note that holly berries are toxic and should be kept away from children and pets.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Like Japanese holly, this is an easy hedge to maintain.
English holly has a fairly slow growth rate, so occasional pruning maintains size and shape.
Bright red berries persist through cold-weather months toprovide visual interest in winter.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The thorns are present year-round.
This shrub tolerates many growing conditions and requires little maintenance and pruning.
Barberry is toxic to humans.
The Spruce / Cara Cormack
They are straightforward to care for once established, requiring a moderate amount of water and annual fertilization.
It blooms from late spring to early summer with showy, colorful flowers.
Thepink-floweringtypes are the most popular.
The Spruce / K. Dave
This shrub is toxic to people and animals.
Plant yew bushes in moist soil that drains well and fertilizes annually at the start of the growing season.
Some light cutting back encourages a fuller appearance.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Yew bushes are toxic to people and pets.
To grow a lilac hedge plant several of them in a line, and let them grow naturally.
They have a moderate growth rate and will fill out soon enough.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
If you’re looking for small flowering hedge plants, dwarf varieties are available that might suit your needs.
Although listed as invasive in several states, gardeners value it for itscontinuous sequence of bloom.
Rose of Sharon can be a fast-growing flowering hedge plant in conditions it likes.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Check with your local extension service to find out if rose of Sharon is invasive in your area.
Blooms appear from late March to mid-April lasting for one or two weeks.
Forsythia look their best when allowed to grow naturally into a draping, weeping form.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Keep in mind that branches contacting the soil re-root easily and are difficult to eradicate.
Larger varieties can gain a couple of feet per year.
But there are small varieties, too, that might suit your needs for shorter flowering hedge plants.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Not all varieties are evergreen, and those that are don’t grow in all hardiness zones.
Also, ask whether they are invasive in your region.Privet is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
In the right conditions, privets are fairly easy to grow.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
They should be watered regularly when they’re starting out, but tolerate some drought once established.
Azaleas are acid-loving plants that prefer afternoon shade and fertile, well-drained soil.
You’ll get the best result by choosing a variety best suited to your growing conditions.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Azaleas are toxic to people and pets.
There aremany types of arborvitaein various sizes, shapes, and colors.
‘North Pole’ and ‘Emerald Green’ are just about theright size for most landscapes.
Camellia flowers are fragrant autumn blooms.Courtesy of Pixabay
Camellia (Camellia spp.)
Camellias are well-loved for their large, vibrant blooms in colors to fit any landscape design.
This is an evergreen hedge plant suited to warmer climates.
easy13 / Getty Images
More than 100 species and plenty of cultivars offer lots of options.
Leathery, dark green foliage adds to their appeal when not in bloom.
This shrub tolerates a wide range of soil types and temperatures and is drought-tolerant when established.
Marina Denisenko / Getty Images
Pyracantha grows quickly, up to 2 feet a year depending on the variety.
Careful pruning is done following bloom since flowers and berries grow on old wood.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Ninebark is a fast-growing flowering shrub that comes in several size varieties.
olga_prava / Getty Images
Slight rounded blooms appear in late spring made up of multiple, small, pink or white flowers.
Foliage may be light green or purple depending on cultivar.
Ninebark can tolerate many different growing conditions, including clay and rocky soil along with drought.
Brian Pettinger/Flickr/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)
Blooms are often highly fragrant, attracting native pollinators.
Purple, red, or black berries follow in autumn and are a food source for wildlife.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Types best for hedges and screens grow to about 12 feet tall and wide.
Viburnums are pest and disease resistant with native varieties particularly easy to grow.
This is a long-lived plant growing to 10 feet tall and wide at maturity.
Maryna Terletska / Getty Images
Plant in full sun for best bloom and water young plants regularly until they are established.
Fertilize flowering quince in early spring and mulch to discourage weeds.
Euonymus (Euonymus)
Euonymus is a deciduous or evergreen shrub with cultivars that feature variegated foliage.
Popular varieties for the home landscape include Burning Bush,E.
alatus,along with ‘Emerald Gaiety’ and ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ in theE.
Other than occasional pruning to maintain shape and size, euonymus requires little care.
Euonymus is drought tolerant when mature and grows in all soil types as long as they drain well.
Euonymus is also sold as a ground cover commonly called wintercreeper.
Glossy abelia features dark-green leaves tinged with red and pink, bell-shaped flowers with contrasting purple stamens.
Glossy abelias bloom all season long from early spring through autumn.
Shrubs may be evergreen or deciduous depending on cultivar and climate.
Some varieties are pruned in early spring while others are shaped following bloom.
These shrubs do have good pest and disease resistance and can be drought tolerant once established.
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
Hawthorns can be grown as small deciduous trees or shrubs.
Many types also bear sharp thorns which can effectively keep livestock from wandering.
Look for a thornless cultivar like Cockspur Hawthorn,C.
crus-galli,for planting in high-traffic areas and where children are present.
These shrubs adapt to soil jot down but are prone to insect pests and disease.
Look for a cultivar bred for resistance.
Oleander grows best in porous, slightly alkaline soil and warm, humid climates.
Wear protective clothing when working with this plant as it is toxic to people and pets.
It depends on the key in of plant you have chosen for your hedge.
Typically they should be spaced approximately 18 to 36 inches apart.
Check with the nursery on the care and planting specifications of the plant you’ve chosen to use.
But this can vary based on the plant species and your growing conditions.
Ilex Crenata.North Carolina State Extension
Holly Berries.
National Capital Poison Control Center.
5, 2017, pp.
ASPCA
Azaleas and Rhododendrons.National Capital Poison Center
Wintercreeper.Invasive.org
Burning Bush.
1-13., doi: 10.1016/0300-483x(95)03296-r.
