Choosing An Evergreen Hedge

Evergreen Hedging
Many evergreen shrubs can be planted as a hedge. Its common for us to plant a selection of interesting evergreen close together and crop them into a hedge. Mixing a hedge allows for a diversity of foliage, flowers and berries throughout the year. Below are a few evergreens that would be suitable. This is not the limit to your choice but these are easy to grow evergreens that will mix well. Here are just a few ideas.

Lonicera

Lonicera nitidia
Chinese honeysuckleA very popular hedge. It has small glossy dark green leaves. Establishing quickly. The growth is soft, making this an easy hedge to penetrate if you push against it for this reason it is often grown in front of a fence. It makes a good screen rather than strong boundary.

Taxus baccata Yew Hedging
The classic English hedge. Its also perfect for topiary. A beautiful deep green fern like foliage. Totally hardy with little red berries. This is in the conifer family.
The English yews commonly seen in the classic gardens of stately homes and churchyards and make one of the best long-lived dividing hedge. It provides a dark background for flower beds and borders. Plant 75cm (2.5 ft)

Yew

Aucuba japonica
This has large laurel like spotted yellow leaves or green leaves. Both male and female plants to get berries but the female plants tends to produce most fruit. It grows very successfully in sun and dense shade and in any soil. Plant every.9m (3ft) It grows to 2.5m (8ft)

Acuba

Ceanothus Californian Lilac
Beautiful blue flower and small rich glossy green leaves. Most varieties flower in May and June. Suits a more sheltered position. Plant every 9m (3ft) Eventual height is 3m (9ft). 

Escallonia
Dense glossy green Leaves work well as a wind break. This flowers very freely in the summer with pink red or white flowers. It thrives in any soil. Plant every.9m (3ft) grows to 2.5m (8ft). Ilex aquifolium Holly
This is a slow growing but makes an impenetrable evergreen hedge. Usually the female plants bear the berries. It can produce good garden interest in dark green variegated, silver and yellow varieties. Plant every .8m (2.5ft)

Eleagnus
Medium to large foliage shrubs available in evergreen and deciduous varieties. Silver, yellow and variegated foliage varieties. Grows to 3m (9ft) planted at.9m (3ft) spacing

Osmanthus

This makes an excellent choice of hedge with its dense green and box like, with small leaves and with little scented white flowers in spring. Its also very hardy.

Prunus lusitanica, Portuguese laurel
One of the very best choices for deep green glossy foliage and red stems. Very easy to grow and make a tall solid hedge quick quickly.

Photinia

Photinia
Noted for there rich red new growth. Leathery shiny leaves similar to a Rhododendron.A tough large growing shrub. Very attractive red new leaves in spring. Grows 3m(9ft) at 9m(3ft) spacing.

Prunus Lustanicia Portuguese Laurel .
These frequently make good tall thick foliage hedges. Excellent for privacy. Upright in habit with small dark green leaves and red stems. They will grow to 3m(9ft)at 9m(3ft)spacing. 

Laurel

Laurocerasus or Common Laurel, Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia  

Cherry laurel has glossy oval pointed leaves producing white flowers in spring. Very bushy and hardy and will grow in all soils except waterlogged sites. Hedges will grow to 4m(13ft) planted at 9m(3ft)

Viburnum tinus

Viburnum Tinus
A reliable old favourite found in most Church yards. Medium sized dark green leaves. White or pink blossom in early spring. It’s grows around .45m(1.5ft) a year. Grows in sunny or part shade conditions and likes moist soil. Plant 80cm 2.5 ft apart.

Ligustrum ovafoluim Privet
Semi evergreen ,deep green or golden leaves ideal formal hedge. Suits almost all soils. Golden Privet is a good alternative with its bright foliage. Plant every
45m(1.5ft) apart. It grows to 2.5m(8ft).

Cotoneaster
A large family of deciduous and evergreen varieties grown for their remarkable display of berries in the autumn. Small white flowers in June. Plant every 9m(3ft).

Buxus sempervirens common box
Grow up to 6ft and requires regular trimming. Plant 30 cm (1 ft )apart.