Best Plants for Hedges

Boxwood sets the standard for formal clipped hedges. Its ability to withstand frequent shearing and shaping into perfect geometric forms makes this evergreen a popular border plant. You can also let it grow tall to provide a screen or to create a maze. Some varieties grow to 20 feet tall.

Name: Buxus selections

Zones: 4–8

Learn how to transplant boxwoods here.

Butterflies love the trumpet-shape flowers that dangle from glossy abelias branches all summer long. This shrub naturally forms an arching mound that grows 3 to 6 feet tall, but you can shear it to create a lower hedge.

Name: Abelia x grandiflora

Zones: 5–9

Grow hardy Amur maple as a small tree or large hedge and enjoy its spectacular red color in the fall. If you use it as a hedge, allow multiple trunks to grow, and shear their limbs occasionally to promote branching.

Name: Acer ginnala

Zones: 3–7

See more of the top trees and shrubs for fall color.

Barberry bears sharp spines that provide a nearly impenetrable barrier on this 3- to 6-foot-tall shrub. There's a wealth of varieties that bear foliage in shades of chartreuse, green, burgundy, and rosy red. The leaves develop golden, orange, and red hues in fall.

Test Garden Tip: In some areas, Japanese barberry is considered invasive, so check local regulations before planting.

Name: Berberis selections

Zones: 3–9

Flowering quince is equipped with sharp spines that make it an effective barrier plant or privacy screen. The 6- to 10-foot-tall shrub lights up the early spring landscape with its scarlet, pink, or white blooms. Some varieties might rebloom in fall. The selection pictured here is 'Toyo Nishiki'.

Name: Chaenomeles selections

Zones: 4–8

Sometimes called threadleaf false cypress for its delicate-looking foliage, this slow-growing evergreen usually grows about 6 feet tall in 20 years, but eventually matures at 20 feet tall. Many cultivars with slight variations in foliage color and plant form are available.

Name: Chamaecyparis pisifera

Zones: 5–9

Plant these outstanding evergreens for outdoor privacy.

This fast-growing evergreen shrub reaches 10–15 feet tall, but it's easy to shear it back to create a lower hedge. Create more landscape kick by selecting varieties of Japanese euonymus with gold-, cream-, or white-variegated foliage.

Name: Euonymus japonicus

Zones: 7–9

If you prune them regularly, many species of holly work well as hedges. Dwarf hollies, such as dwarf yaupon holly, meserve holly, and inkberry, are the easiest types to use, as they need less pruning. Most varieties of holly bear red or orange berries, which are set off by the glossy evergreen foliage.

Name: Ilex selections

Zones: 3–10

Among the most versatile of evergreens, junipers range from ground-hugging creepers to mounded shrubs and upright trees. Whether you are looking for a steely blue groundcover or a tall tree for a privacy hedge, junipers fit the bill. All respond well to pruning, making them useful hedges.

Name: Juniperus selections

Zones: 3–9

Golden vicary privet, seen here, has yellow-green foliage and reaches 10–12 feet tall. Without shearing, it develops an attractive vase shape. With just a little pruning, it makes a delightful, dense hedge or screen. It bears white flowers in spring, and is drought-tolerant.

Name: Ligustrum x vicaryi

Zones: 5–9

Oleander thrives with little care in California and the Deep South. The 12- to 15-foot-tall shrub tolerates drought, heat, wind, and air pollution. Its dark, leathery leaves form a lovely backdrop for its pink, peach, white, or red blooms.

Test Garden Tip: All parts of the plant are poisonous, so avoid planting it in areas used by pets and small children.

Name: Nerium selections

Zones: 8–11

Here's how to trim back oleander plants.

This plant has earned its common name—its toothed, evergreen foliage closely resembles that of holly. It grows slowly to 15 feet tall but can be sheared to create a solid wall of green.

Name: Osmanthus selections

Zones: 7–9

A popular shrub in the South, Japanese pittosporum forms a dense, compact mound that can be up to 12 feet tall. Its dense growth and evergreen foliage makes it suitable for screens or informal hedges. It can be closely sheared to create formal hedges or topiary. In spring it bears white flowers with the scent of orange blossoms.

Name: Pittosporum selections

Zones: 8–10

An evergreen in mild climates but deciduous in colder regions, scarlet firethorn has stiff, thorny branches that adapt well to being trained as an espalier or as an informal hedge. It's adorned by cheery white flowers in spring and orange-red berries in summer. It can grow 18 feet tall, depending on the variety.

Name: Pyracantha selections

Zones: 6–9

Discover more shrubs with winter interest here.

Also known as Meyer lilac, this 8-foot-tall shrub is one of the easiest lilacs to grow. Korean lilac is covered by fragrant purple flowers in May and resists powdery mildew, a common disease.

Test Garden Tip: This shrub blooms on last year's stems, so prune it in May or early June to ensure a good floral display the next year.

Name: Syringa meyeri

Zones: 3–7

Adaptable to sun or shade, hybrid yew is a versatile evergreen with few pest problems as long as it has good soil drainage. Many varieties are available, with mounded to upright growth from 10–40 feet tall. It withstands shearing well, making it popular for formal hedges and topiary.

Name: Taxus selections

Zones: 5–9

American arborvitae is an upright evergreen with flat sprays of scalelike needles. 'Techny' is among the most popular varieties; it grows 10–15 feet tall, making it a good choice for a hedge or screen.

Name: Thuja selections

Zones: 2–7

Plant these evergreens for fast-growing privacy.

Although Canadian hemlock naturally grows 40–70 feet tall, it responds well to shearing as a hedge or evergreen screen. It tolerates shade but dislikes drought, wind, or salt spray. Woolly adelgid, an insect problem, can be serious in some regions.

Test Garden Tip: Control woolly adelgid by spraying the trees with horticultural oil.

Name: Tsuga canadensis

Zones: 4–8

'Blue Muffin' arrowwood viburnum is a top-notch landscape plant. It bears creamy-white flowers in spring, blue fruits in late summer, and lovely yellow, red, or reddish-purple foliage in fall.

Name: Viburnum dentatum 'Blue Muffin'

Zones: 3–8

Delicate foliage and cascading branches of white or pink spring flowers are two traits that earn spirea its rightful place in the mixed border. Spireas thrive in fertile, moist soil with good drainage. These plants can grow from 1 to 8 feet tall, making it perfect for a privacy hedge.

Name: Spiraea varieties

Zones: 5–9

Shrub roses are one of the easiest classes of roses on the market to grow. These are tough roses that have been bred to have the best attributes of all classes. Shrub roses are some of the easiest roses to prune, as well as the most foolproof. Even if you don't prune shrub roses every year, they will still bloom. 

Name: Rosa varieties

Zones: 3–10

Hydrangeas can flourish in sun or shade. Huge bouquets of hydrangea flowers, which vary from mophead to lacecap types, show beauty from summer to fall. Varieties of hydrangea differ in size, flower shape, color, and bloom time.

Name: Hydrangea varieties

Zones: 3–9