Best Plants for Hedging
Hedges are a classic feature in British gardens, offering structure, privacy, and a natural alternative to fences or walls. Whether you're looking to create a formal boundary, encourage wildlife, or simply define different areas of your garden, choosing the right hedging plant is key. There are a wide variety of shrubs ideal for hedging that you can find at Thompson's Garden Centres, here are some of the best options:
1. Griselinia
Griselinia is a popular evergreen shrub often grown for hedging due to its dense, glossy green foliage and fast growth. Ideal for coastal areas, it tolerates wind and salt well, making it perfect for seaside gardens. Low-maintenance and easy to trim, Griselinia forms a tidy, attractive hedge that provides privacy and year-round interest in both formal and informal landscapes.
2. Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium)
Privet is a fast-growing semi-evergreen (or fully evergreen in mild areas) that’s easy to grow and maintain. It makes an excellent dense hedge and responds well to regular pruning. Ideal for urban gardens, privet is hardy, pollution-tolerant, and can quickly establish a solid privacy screen. Golden privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum’) adds a splash of colour with its yellow-tinted leaves.
3. Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Laurel is one of the most popular evergreen shrubs for hedging due to its fast growth and large, glossy leaves. It forms a thick, bushy screen that’s great for privacy and noise reduction. Cherry laurel can grow tall quickly, so it needs regular trimming, but it is low maintenance and tolerates a variety of conditions, including shade.
4. Holly (Ilex)
For a hedge with character, consider holly. With spiny leaves and bright berries, holly adds seasonal interest and provides shelter for birds. Evergreen varieties like Ilex aquifolium or Ilex crenata (a good boxwood alternative) are great for hedging. Plant both male and female shrubs if you want berries.
5. Photinia ‘Red Robin’
For a vibrant, colourful hedge, Photinia is hard to beat. Its new growth emerges a brilliant red, turning glossy green with age. This evergreen shrub grows quickly and responds well to pruning. It prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade and adds an ornamental flair to any garden.
The best hedging plant depends on your garden’s conditions and your aesthetic preferences, there’s a hedging shrub suited to every UK garden. Choose wisely, and your hedge will reward you for years to come with beauty, privacy, and a home for wildlife.
Need more advice? Come and have a chat with a member of our plant team and we'll talk you through which shrubs are best suited for planting up a hedge.