The 5 Best Shrubs for Hedges High and Low

Planting a hedge is one of the friendliest ways to put a border around a property.

Unlike fences, shrubs take time to grow, allowing you to ease into defining your space.

In addition to creating privacy, hedging is a great way to divide gardens, line the borders of a driveway, and adorn your home’s foundation.

The culture of planting trees and shrubs in dense, interwoven lines dates back thousands of years to the fields of farmers who needed to pen livestock and shield tender crops from seaborne winds. In medieval days, dense thickets of thorny hawthorn kept enemies at bay.

In England and Ireland, the ancient tradition of “hedge laying” is still practiced in the countryside today, in which shrub branches are cut, bent, and intermingled to create dense barriers.

Use any of our top 5 shrubs for hedges as sound barriers | GardenersPath.com

More recently, formal gardens in Europe have been framed by natural borders of artistically pruned bushes that create regal, manicured landscapes.

What is a Hedge?

Today’s hedges are living walls that create privacy and adorn garden spaces, forming natural borders that are functional and beautiful.

Plant one of our top five shrubs for hedges | GardenersPath.com

In the broadest sense, any woody plants spaced close together to form a barrier constitute a hedge, from a towering cypress windscreen to a knee-high border of lavender.

The definition is then fine-tuned as follows:

  • Formal or Informal
  • Deciduous or Evergreen

When a row of intertwined shrubs is pruned, we call this a formal style. When it is left loose, like the hedgerows that divide farmers’ fields, we call it informal.

As you may remember from science class, a deciduous plant is one that drops its leaves, and an evergreen stays green year-round.

Some shrubs are evergreen in one climate and deciduous in another – something to keep in mind when plant shopping.

Creating a Boundary

What are you looking for in a hedge?

Do you want shrubbery that’s fast growing, evergreen, and tall, to block your view of the gas station on the corner? Did you know that in addition to creating an attractive sight line, plants absorb pollutants and noise?

Use hedges for privacy barriers around your property | GardenersPath.com

Or, are you establishing a driveway border of shrubs to invigorate your curb appeal and keep guests from leaving tire tracks on your lawn?
Knowing your needs will help you select the right varieties for your property.

Be aware that while formal varieties require pruning on a regular basis, even informal types may benefit from occasional clipping.

The 5 Best Hedges

The following shrubs have stood the test of time and merit recognition as 5 of the best for hedging.

Prune them for a formal display, or leave them to their own devices for an unassuming hedgerow. You’re sure to find the perfect varieties for your outdoor space among these winners!

1. Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’)

For a fast-growing, column-shaped shrub that creates privacy and blocks wind, consider the emerald green arborvitae.

Suitable for zones 4 to 9, this soft, scented evergreen thrives in full sun in a variety of soils.

Once established, it requires no watering, and is cold and heat tolerant.

Emerald green arborvitae is one of our top 5 shrubs for hedges | GardenersPath.com

This arborvitae is great for narrow spaces, as its maximum girth is only about four feet, with a height reaching to 15.

Plant closely to create a living wall of green.

Emerald green arborvitae shrubs are available from Nature Hills Nursery.

2. Dwarf English Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’)

This formal garden icon lined the front walk of my childhood home. I didn’t know then what a treasure it is!

Dwarf English boxwood, or box, is a pungent scented evergreen with soft, glossy little leaves that grow in round bushes.

Box is a slow grower, but a great investment, as it may live over 100 years!

Dwarf English boxwood is one of our top 5 shrubs to use for hedges: https://gardenerspath.com/plants/ornamentals/best-shrubs-for-hedges/

A key benefit to this type of boxwood is that it is the least resistant to a destructive insect pest, the boxwood leaf miner.

This shrub is drought resistant and thrives in average soil. Full sun is best, but box will tolerate some shade.

It tops out at about three feet, with a girth of up to four feet around.

Plant closely and clip for a manicured hedge.

Dwarf English Boxwood is available from Nature Hills Nursery.

3. Red-Tipped Photinia (Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’)

Red tipped photinia is a fast-growing evergreen that is a hybrid of Photinia glabra and P. serrulata. It’s named for the bold red new growth it puts on in spring.

A year-round beauty, photinia has fragrant white blossoms that are followed by the appearance of red berry-like fruits called pomes. Mature leaves darken to a rich green.

Red-tipped photinia is one of our expert's top 5 shrubs to use for hedges | GardenersPath.com

This broadleaf shrub is hardy in zones 7 to 9, where it thrives best in well-drained soil, in full sun. It can tolerate some shade, but the risk of disease is lowest in full sun.

You may try it in Zone 6, but plant it in a sheltered area, or provide winter protection.

Unpruned, this photinia may reach both a height and girth of 15 feet. Plants grown in the north are less prone to a disease called leaf spot than those grown in the south.

A close up of the foliage of a red tip photinia growing in the garden.

Red Tip Photinia

There is a row of this stunning shrub in my neighborhood. It forms a barrier between a residential property and a street, absorbing pollutants and sound from passing vehicles.

If you decide to allow your photinia to grow to maximum proportions, you should still thin centers occasionally to improve air circulation.

Red-tipped photinia is available from Nature Hills Nursery.

Read more about growing red tip photinia here.

4. Forsythia (Forsythia ‘Sunrise’)

One of my all-time favorites, forsythia is one of the earliest spring bloomers, its bright yellow flowers signaling winter’s end.

It’s deciduous, with leaves that drop in autumn.

Forsynthia is one of our top 5 shrubs for hedges | GardenersPath.com

The “Sunrise” variety is a fast-grower suitable for zones 4 to 8 that prefers full sun and tolerates any type of soil. Once established, it’s able to withstand a moderate degree of dry, hot weather.

Expect unpruned shrubs to a reach a height and girth of approximately 5 feet.

This variety has the sweeping branches typical of forsythia, but a more compact shape than other cultivars. Left alone, it makes a dense natural hedgerow.

I love forsythia; every time I prune a branch, I root it in a glass of water and plant it in the yard. And, it’s great for cutting and forcing branches in the spring.

Forsythia ‘Sunrise’ is available from Nature Hills Nursery.

Learn more about growing and caring for forsythia here.

5. Weigela (Weigela florida ‘Minuet’)

This deciduous dwarf shrub has dark purple-green leaves, pink trumpet-shaped flowers, and an overall round shape. It does best in zones 4 to 8.

I’ve been cultivating one for about five years, and it has proven to be outstanding. As promised by growers, it does in fact bloom several times during the growing season.

Our expert picks weigela is one of the 5 best shrubs to use for hedges | GardenersPath.com

Full sun is ideal for this shrub, although it tolerates partial shade. It tops out at about 3 feet, with a width of about 5.

Whether you prune or let nature take its course, this weigela is great for smaller yards.

I’ve let mine grow and then pruned it drastically. It has survived dry spells and severe cold, and each spring it has returned in all its glory.

Weigela florida ‘Minuet’ is available from Nature Hills Nursery.

Tips for Success

I have three quick tips for you as you begin to think about the hedge that’s right for your garden:

1. Check for Invasives

If a shrub says it’s fast growing, make sure that’s not because it’s an invasive species.

Privet (Ligustrum), burning bush (Euonymus alatus), Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), and orange jasmine (Murraya paniculate) are commonly cultivated, but may overtake a garden and pose a threat to native species.

If these shrubs appeal to you, look for “sterile” varieties that do not self-sow.

2. Don’t Block the View

Do not obscure your house completely with shrubbery.

In addition to purchasing with caution, when planting tall rows of shrubbery, do not to completely block the view of your doors and windows from passersby.

Doing so may enable potential burglars, and others, to approach your home unseen.

3. Prune Carefully

To prune shrubs properly, don’t just lop off the top and sides with your power trimmer and call it a day.

Take the time to make the top a little narrower in diameter than the sides and bottom, so sunlight reaches the lower branches. Then use hand pruners to make a few cuts deep inside to promote air circulation and increase light penetration.

For details, see our article on pruning shrubs.

Functional and Stylish

Gradually, shrubs planted close together will interweave to form a dense barrier, helping to promote soil conservation, inhibit flooding, reduce snow drifting, and sustain wildlife.

Use our top 5 shrubs for hedges for privacy, a dividing device or to form a border | GardenersPath.com

And, whether it’s 20 feet high or a mere 10 inches, your new hedge will add function and visual appeal to your outdoor living space.

Some gardeners find peace and relaxation while pruning, and others prefer to let nature dictate her own design. Whatever your pleasure, hedging is another option in your horticultural toolbox that you may use to enhance your surroundings.

Let us know in the comments below how hedges feature in your outdoor décor.

And if you enjoyed this guide, you’ll find these worth reading:

© Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photos via Nature Hills Nursery. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock.

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About

Nan Schiller is a writer with deep roots in the soil of southeastern Pennsylvania. Her background includes landscape and floral design, a BS in business from Villanova University, and a Certificate of Merit in floral design from Longwood Gardens. An advocate of organic gardening with native plants, she’s always got dirt under her nails and freckles on her nose. With wit and hopefully some wisdom, she shares what she’s learned and is always ready to dig into a new project!

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lavinia mcadam
lavinia mcadam (@guest_2570)
5 years ago

I have a 6 ft retaining wall to the left of my house but 2 metres within the boundary. At present it has a wire fence. To get ccc I need to plant in front of this fence and I have no idea what I require. The area is 34 metres long. I would like a plant that will not drop leaves or flowers down onto the path and I would like something with a colour, maybe purple or lilac (not red). I need it to be as economical as possible – how many plants would I require to do… Read more »

Joe
Joe (@guest_4053)
4 years ago

we should never be planting any non native shrubs regardless of whether they are invasive or not. Non native shrubs do not support wildlife in the same manner as native shrubs. Please recomend some native alternatives like Ilex Glabra, or Bayberry shrubs.

Gayle
Gayle (@guest_4350)
Reply to  Joe
4 years ago

You make a very important point, Joe! I also hope people will go for more variety and less monoculture. Check with your local extension office where Master Gardeners can help you make a wise choice.

Lisa
Lisa (@guest_4889)
Reply to  Joe
4 years ago

I would also suggest asking yourself before planting if you would like wildlife living and eating your shrubs. If not, find something resistant to the nearest pest in your area.

Sir Kevin Parr Bt
Sir Kevin Parr Bt (@guest_14486)
Reply to  Lisa
2 years ago

Exactly. Building a garden where deer are near is madness leading to bankruptcy so fences at 8 feet tall must be first buy before any plant is used as hedge.Deer will eat anything do not listen to those who say deer proof. Nothing is not even hated Lavender.In Europe when hungered in January deer will eat the whole garden as in my 6 acre plot 12000 plants cropped down even rose hedge Hansa. White tail and red dear attack over weekend we went away. Never had deer before that . Now strong fences and barbed wire and replanted whole gardens… Read more »

Lisette
Lisette (@guest_15415)
2 years ago

Hello. I am moving into the NW part of Pennsylvania and noticed I do not have any fencing along the street of my home. I have a three way stop and at the end of my house I have a tire store and yes a lot of tires that I see lying in their property. I would like to put some kind of hedging or possibly Italian cypress along the edge so I do not have to see this. What would you recommend?
thanks

Sandy
Sandy (@guest_16041)
2 years ago

I live on a narrow lane with a huge lot for parking vehicles since at any time we have 3 to four vehicles, not counting 3 in the garage. My problem is the neighbors. When someone is coming into our lane the person/s coming out refuse to use reverse and pull into our massive driveway and let the other person come through. Instead they insist in driving in our yard, putting large ruts, which makes it difficult to cut the grass with our lawn tractor. I want to plant hedges to prevent this. It would be better than fencing. What… Read more »

Jody Jardine
Jody Jardine (@guest_23129)
1 year ago

I live in New Brunswick Canada. I want to put a hedge at end of property to quiet down, and remove visual I would like to plant a wild hedge among naturally growing trees. pine ,spruce ,fur and white birch. What wild hedge can i use in this situation?

Naomi
Naomi (@guest_25629)
1 year ago

I live in East TN and want to plant a hedge row to keep dogs out of my yard. I would like a hedge row that will stay around 4″ tall and is thick enough to deter animals but would be resistant to dog pee.