9 Best evergreen hedge plants for a lush garden

Thinking of replacing your outdoor fences with evergreen hedges? That’s a wonderful idea! Say hello to a more cost-effective garden that flourishes all year round.

Hedge plants are popular among homeowners in the UK, and there are plenty of reasons why, like how it’s a natural privacy wall with the ability to filter pollution. Plus, they’re so pretty!

The harder part is choosing which hedge plant to go with out of many options. But don’t worry! We’ve rounded up nine of the best evergreen hedge plants to help you decide which one to choose. 

1. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

Known for its striking combination of glossy dark green leaves and radiant maroon stems, the Portuguese Laurel is a type of evergreen hedge lauded for its resilience, beauty, and seasonal charms. Tiny fragrant white flowers bloom from the hedge in late spring or early summer, followed by smooth dark red berries in autumn. These fruits ripen to dark purple or black come wintertime.

2. English Yew (Taxus baccata)

Yew is a conifer-type of hedge plant, meaning it bears cones (albeit berry-shaped), and its leaves resemble needles. This elegant plant grows up to 40 centimetres per year relatively slowly, perfect for a low-maintenance garden. This dense evergreen is a top choice among homeowners and royalty alike, beautifying British homes and castles all year.

3. Leyland Cypress (Cuprocyparis leylandii)

Looking for the fastest-growing privacy hedge that won’t break the bank? Then the Leyland Cypress or Leylandii might be the one for you. This conifer hedge tree grows up to 1 metre at a vigorous rate every year, making it an adequately tall screen for the garden.

But you shouldn’t take the Leylandii’s growth speed and sheer size lightly. If left untrimmed, your neighbours may not be pleased with it! While no existing laws limit their height, local councils can step in should community problems arise from an unruly hedge. So, better be a good Leylandii owner!

4. Box (Buxus sempervirens)

Adorned with lustrous, tiny green leaves, the Box is considered an all-around hedging plant with a slow growth rate. Being one of the most common hedge plants out there, it is a shade-resistant evergreen that can be used as low borders, topiary plants, and walling for garden mazes and pathways.

If you see brown leaves, bare patches, and dieback on its stems, the hedge could be suffering from Box blight. Avoid similar problems such as Box rust and Box tree caterpillar by getting the help of a gardening expert.

5. Red Robin (Photinia)

Like true natural wonders, Red Robin evergreens have different colours as the season changes. In spring and summer, expect to see relatively large, coppery red leaves that stand out in any garden. When winter arrives, its bright foliage matures into a vivid, deep green colour.

6. English Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

Want a hedge that’ll contribute to your property’s security? Go for Holly’s prickly leaves, a feature that will drive robbers and trespassers away.

This fantastic evergreen hedge grows slowly, making it incredibly easy to maintain. And when winter comes, its polished, dark green foliage will be decorated with bright-red berries – a unique characteristic fitting Christmastime.

7. Green Bamboo (Phyllostachys bisseti)

With its tall, sturdy canes and thick foliage, the Green Bamboo is one of the best hedges for year-round privacy. It is a fast-growing, low-maintenance hedge plant, and it can grow up to 6 metres if cared for well. However, do note that bamboos tend to spread, so only pick this type if you have a spacious garden. 

8. California Lilac (Ceanothus)

The California Lilac is a flowering hedge plant or shrub with gorgeous blue blossoms. When in full bloom every spring and summer, these flowers look like fluffy clouds, making them lovely hedge plants to grow.

9. Griselinia (Griselinia littoralis)

If you live in a coastal area, your garden should be protected by a barrier that can tolerate salt. Griselinia is an evergreen hedge that can resist salt winds, cold temperatures, and strong gales from the sea. Aside from its protective benefit, it grows to be dense down to the ground and has oval-shaped apple green leaves that are stunning to look at.

Got hedging & gardening concerns? Taskers are ready to help!

Now that you know the best evergreen hedges, it’s time to take your pick. Make sure to enjoy the planting and growing process of your plants. Or, if you’d rather have someone more skilled to handle the job, there are gardening, hedge planting, and hedge trimming specialists on Airtasker eager to help you. Post a task today!