Here are 15 plants that make a nice hedge, including flowering hedge plants and evergreen shrubs. This is one of the easiest hedges to maintain, requiring a moderate amount of water though it can tolerate drought. It also can tolerate severe pruning, pollution, and poor soil.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: White flowersSun Exposure: Full to partial shadeSoil Needs: Acidic soil that drains well
Like Japanese holly, this is an easy hedge to maintain. English holly has a fairly slow growth rate, so you won’t have to do extensive pruning.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: Greenish-white flowers and red berriesSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soil
Until recently, barberry had fallen out of favor in North America due to its invasive nature. But the development of new, noninvasive cultivars gives gardeners the opportunity to grow this plant without having to worry about its spread. This shrub can tolerate many growing conditions and requires little maintenance and pruning.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: Red berries; some varieties have purple foliage and yellow-orange flowersSun Exposure: Full to partial shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained soil
Boxwoods also are straightforward to care for, especially once they’re established. They require a moderate amount of water and annual fertilization. And they tend to grow in a pleasant shape without much pruning.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: Yellow-greenSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained soil
Do not try to trim laurels as you would boxwoods. Laurels look best when they are allowed to grow into their natural mature shape.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9 Color Varieties: Rose, pink, white; may have purple markings Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full sun Soil Needs: Cool, rich, moist, well-drained acidic soil
Yew can tolerate some drought but prefers a moderate amount of soil moisture. It also should be fertilized annually. Annual pruning isn’t essential due to the slow growth rate, but it can help to promote fuller, more lush growth.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8, depending on the varietyColor Varieties: Non-flowering; dark green needles and red berriesSun Exposure: Sun, partial shade, or full shade depending on varietySoil Needs: Well-draining soil with a neutral pH
To form a hedge with lilacs, simply plant several of them in a line, and do not fuss with making them conform to precise dimensions. They have a moderate growth rate and will fill out soon enough. If you’re looking for small flowering hedge plants, there are dwarf lilac varieties available that might suit your needs.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Color Varieties: Lavender-blue, white, burgundy, deep purple, lilacSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Loamy soil with neutral pH
Rose of Sharon can be a fast-growing flowering hedge plant in conditions it likes. And if you allow it to self-seed, it can easily form a lush living wall. Pruning isn’t a major task, but you can clean up its shape and remove unwanted seedlings.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: White, red, lavender, or light blueSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Rich and moist
If you’re looking for some of the fastest growing flowering hedges, forsythia might be the choice for you. The larger varieties can gain a couple of feet per year. But there are small varieties too that might suit your needs if you’re looking for shorter flowering hedge plants.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: YellowSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained
In the right conditions, privets are fairly easy to grow. They should be watered regularly when they’re starting out, but then they can tolerate some drought. They also take well to heavy pruning, so you can shape them to suit your needs.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7Color Varieties: White flowersSun Exposure: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Tolerant of a variety of soil types
Make sure to check your individual variety’s growing needs. And provide your azalea with well-draining soil, or it might suffer.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Color Varieties: Red, orange, pink, white, yellow, purpleSun Exposure: Partial shadeSoil Needs: Fertile, well-drained, acidic, and kept evenly moist
Pruning needs are minimal, as they grow in a nice natural shape. But you can prune annually to clean up growth and remove any broken or dead portions.
USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7Sun Exposure: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Tolerates a range of soils but prefers moist well-drained loams
Canadian hemlocks do well with yearly pruning. But they don’t tolerate wind, drought, or high heat very well. Keep the soil moist, but ensure that it has good drainage.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Color Varieties: Small, yellow to light greenSun Exposure: Partial sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, acidic
Only minimal pruning is necessary just to clean up the lower branches. You can also pinch the tips of young plants as they grow to encourage a bushier form. In addition, it’s ideal to deadhead (remove the spent flowers) to encourage further blooming.
USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-draining
Ninebark can tolerate many different growing conditions, including clay and rocky soil along with drought. It’s best to prune out around a third of the older or damaged growth after the shrub flowers to improve air circulation and keep it vigorous.
USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 8Color Varieties: Pink, whiteSun Exposure: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Loamy, clay, acidic, well-drained
