Shrubs for Hedges

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A hedge is a continuous and close planting of shrubs, and occasionally trees, along a boundary to protect and enclose a garden or property. A hedge can also be a division line within the garden to set one portion apart from another.

The term hedge does not necessarily imply a rigidly pruned and restrained growth, though it often is. Walls of living green can be developed by pruning or simply by allowing plants to grow close. An unsheared casual hedge belongs to a more free-and-easy landscape; also it requires more room.

Shrubs for hedges are commonly evergreen, but not always. The first choice for a clipped hedge is almost always an evergreen shrub. A clipped evergreen hedge will give an unbroken surface.

Flowering shrubs are effective for untrimmed hedges. Deciduous shrubs planted close together will create a garden wall that may be transparent in winter, but if plants are set close enough they will still serve as a boundary.

How to choose a shrub for a hedge

To choose a shrub or shrubs for a hedge, choose first a plant that will grow in your region or growing zone. Some plants that are evergreen in warmer zones may be deciduous in cooler zones. Know if you are choosing an evergreen or deciduous plant. Second, decide if you want a flowering or non-flowering hedge.

For quick results, set deciduous shrubs as close as 9 inches (23cm) apart and evergreen shrubs as close as 18 inches (46cm) apart. If you are not in a hurry, plants can be set further apart.

Shrubs for hedges

A-B Common Name	Botanical Name	Zones
Abelia, glossy	Abelia x grandiflora	6-9
Arborvitae, Emerald	Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald’	3-8
Azaleas, Exbury	Rhododendron Exbury hybrids	4-8
Azalea, Northern Lights	Rhododendron ‘Northern Lights’	4-7
Barberry, Japanese	Berberis thunbergii	4-8
Bayberry, northern	Myrica pensylvanica	2-6
Boxwood, English	Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’	6-8
Boxwood, Green Beauty	Buxus microphylla ‘Green Beauty’	5-9
Boxwood, Korean	Buxus microphylla koreana	5-9
Boxwood, Wintergreen	Buxus microphylla ‘Wintergreen’	4-6

C-F Common Name	Botanical Name	Zones
Camellia, sasanqua	Camellia sasanqua	7-9
Cape honeysuckle	Tecomaria capensis	10-11
Coralberry	Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	10-11
Currant, Green Mound alpine	Ribes alpinum ‘Green Mound’	2-7
Dogwood, corneliancherry	Cornus mas	4-8
Dogwood, gray	Cornus racemosa	4-7
Euonymous, Manhattan spreading	Euonymous kiautschovicus “Manhattan’	4-8
Firethorn, scarlet	Pyracantha coccinea	6-8
Firehorn, Yukon Belle	Pyracantha angustifolia ‘Yukon Belle’	5-9
Forsythia, border	Forsythia x intermedia	6-9

H-J Common Name	Botanical Name	Zones
Hawthorn, Indian	Rhaphiolepis indica	6-9
Hibiscus, Chinese	Hibiscus rosa-sinensis	9-10
Holly, dwarf Burford	Ilex cornuta ‘Bufordii Nana’	6-9
Holly, dwarf Yaupon	Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’	7-10
Holly, Green Lustre	Ilex crenata ‘Green Lustre’	4-6
Holly, winterberry	Ilex verticillata	3-9
Honeysuckles	Lonicera spp.	Varies
Ixdora; jungle geranium	Ixora coccinea	10-11
Jasmine, downy	Jasminum multiforum	9-10
Juniper, Parson’s	Juniperus chinensis ‘Parsonii’	3-9
Juniper, tam	Juniperus sabina ‘Tamariscifolia’	3-7

L-P Common Name	Botanical Name	Zones
Laurel, cherry	Prunus caroliniana	6-9
Lilac, common	Syringa vulgaris	3-7
Lilac, cutleaf	Syringa x laciniata	4-8
Lilac, Miss Kim	Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’	3-7
Lilac, Persian	Syringa x persica	3-7
Oleander	Nerium oleander	8-10
Photinia, redtip	Photinia x fraseri	6-9
Pieris, Japanese	Pieris japonica	5-8
Pieris, mountain	Pieris floribunda	4-8
Pittosporum, Japanese	Pittosporum tobira	8-10
Potentilla, shrubby	Potentilla fruticosa	2-7
Privet, Amur	Ligustrum amurense	3-7
Privet, Chinese variegated	Ligustrum sinense	7-10
Privet, golden vicary	Ligustrum x vicaryi	5-8
Privet, wax-leaf	Ligustrum lucidum	7-10

R-S Common Name	Botanical Name	Zones
Rock rose, white	Cistus x hybrids	8-10
Rose, Betty Prior	Rosa ‘Betty Prior’	5-9
Rose, Graham Thomas	Rosa ‘Graham Thomas’	5-9
Rose, Iceberg	Rosa ‘Iceberg’	4-9
Rose, Peace	Rosa ‘Peace’	5-9
Rose, Pink Meidiland	Rosa Pink Mediland	5-9
Serviceberry	Amelanchier alnifolia	4-5
Silverberry	Elaeagnus pungens	7-9
Spirea, baby’s breath	Spirea thunbergii	2-8
Spirea, Vanhoutte	Spirea x vanhouttei	3-8
Spruce, dwarf Alberta	Picea glauca ‘Conica’	3-8
Spruce, dwarf Norway	Picea abies ‘Pumila’	3-8

T-Z Common Name	Botanical Name	Zones
Texas ranger	Leucophyllum frutescens	8-10
Viburnum, arrowwood	Viburnum dentatum	3-8
Viburnum, compact American	Viburnum trilobum ‘Alfredo’	2-7
Viburnum, sweet	Viburnum odoratissimum	2-7
Yew, Hick’s upright	Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’	4-7
Yew, Anglo-Japanese	Taxus x media ‘Densiformis’	4-7

Also of interest:

Designing with Shrubs

How to Plant Shrubs