A hedge is a living wall made up of plants. Hedges can be purely decorative, primarily practical, or a combination of both. Hedge plants are either evergreen or deciduous shrubs, and they’re often trimmed to precise sizes and shapes. Decorative hedges prefer to use flowering plants for added visual appeal. On the flip side, practical hedges intended for privacy screens, windbreaks, and security are often made of densely growing and tall shrubs. They might have thorns or prickly leaves.
Here are 10 plants that make a nice hedge, including flowering hedge plants and evergreen shrubs.
Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)
Japanese holly has an appearance similar to boxwood with small, glossy, oval leaves. Many cultivars of this broad-leaf evergreen are available. For hedge plants, most people select those that reach 3 to 4 feet in height with a similar spread. While this hedge contains white flowers, it’s generally not grown for its small blooms. Rather, it is the decorative, dark berries that make a showy statement in the garden.
This is one of the simplest hedges to maintain, needing a moderate amount of water, though it can tolerate drought. It also survives pruning, pollution, and poor soil. Berries are mildly toxic to humans when ingested.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: White flowers, black berries
- Sun Exposure: Full to part shade
- Soil Needs: Acidic, well-drained
English Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
English holly is a single type of holly that grows big enough to work as a privacy screen. 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.
Like Japanese holly, this is an easy hedge to maintain. English holly has a slow growth rate, so occasional pruning keeps its size and shape.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: greenish-white flowers, red berries
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile
Barberry Bushes (Berberis thunbergii)
Sharp thorns line barberry branches, making it the best choice for security hedges. Bright red berries occur during cold-climate months to provide visual interest in winter. The thorns are present year-round.
This shrub can survive many growing conditions and needs little maintenance and pruning. Barberries are toxic to humans.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Color Varieties: Yellow-orange flowers, red berries, purple foliage
- Sun Exposure: Full to part shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, neutral
Boxwood Shrubs (Buxus)
Boxwoods are a famous edge plant with a big history in Europe as determining elements in formal garden design. They are straightforward to care for after establishing and need a moderate amount of water and annual fertilization.
Boxwoods suited for hedges range from dwarf varieties at 2 to 3 feet tall and wide up to 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. They tend to grow in a pleasant shape without much pruning but are easily shaped to fit most landscape plans, including topiaries. Boxwood hedges are deer-resistant and toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Yellow-green
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained soil
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Mountain laurel is a broad-leaf evergreen that makes one of the best flowering hedges. It blooms from late spring to early summer with showy, colorful flowers. The pink-flowering kinds are popular.
Mountain laurel plays best in conditions similar to those for rhododendrons. Loose, acidic soil and a partly shaded location are mandatory for good plant health. This is a slow-growing shrub that develops thick, gnarled branches, giving it an interesting appearance when not in bloom.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
- Color Varieties: Rose, pink, white, purple
- Sun Exposure: Part shade to full sun
- Soil needs: acidic, rich, moist, and well-drained
Yew Bushes (Taxus)
In between needle-bearing evergreens, yew bushes are a modern hedge plant. A popular reason is that they have the capacity to tolerate shade. Plant yew bushes in moist soil that drains well and fertilizes annually at the start of the growing season.
Some varieties get tall enough to provide privacy screens; however, this is a slow-growing shrub that needs only occasional pruning. Yew bushes are toxic to people and pets.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Color Varieties: non-flowering; dark green needles; red berries
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade, variety-dependent
- Soil needs: well-draining, neutral pH
- Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris)
Lilacs
Lilacs make some of the best flowering hedge plants thanks to their pretty flowers and delicious scent.
To grow a lilac hedge, plant several of them in a line and let them grow naturally. They have a medium growth rate and will fill out soon enough. If you’re searching for small flowering hedge plants, dwarf varieties are present that might fulfill your needs.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Color Varieties: lavender-blue, white, burgundy, deep purple, lilac
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Loam, neutral pH
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
The Rose of Sharon is another deciduous shrub commonly found in hedges. Although it is stated as invasive in many states, gardeners value it for its ongoing sequence of blooms.
Rose of Sharon is a rapid-growing flowering hedge plant in conditions it likes. Check with your local extension service to find out if the rose of Sharon is invasive in your area.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: White, red, lavender, light blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil needs: rich, moist
Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)
If you’re looking for an early-blooming, fast-growing, flowering hedge, forsythia might be the right choice for you. These bushes are among the first plants to bloom in spring, with bright yellow, bell-shaped flowers that appear before leaves. Blooms appear to start from late March to mid-April, staying for one or two weeks.
Forsythia look their best when permitted to grow naturally into a draping, weeping form. Remember that branches contacting the soil re-root easily and are difficult to remove. But there are small varieties, too, that might fulfill your requirements for shorter-flowering hedge plants.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained
Privet Hedges (Ligustrum)
Privet is a broadleaf shrub that keeps out flowers; the small, white flowers are not much of a selling point. Not every variety is evergreen, and those that are don’t grow in all hardiness zones. So check with your local county extension to determine whether you can grow evergreen privates in your area if you’re looking for an evergreen hedge.
In the right conditions, privets are fairly easy to grow. They should be watered regularly when they’re starting out, but they will tolerate some drought once established.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
- Color Varieties: White flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun
- Soil Needs: Average, adaptable