Plant list: Hedging plants There are certain trees and shrubs that respond better to clipping into hedges than others. If you are planting a hedge as protection, ensure you choose a tough hedging plant.  Latin name: Carpinus betulus  Common name: Hornbeam  Type of plant: Tree  Hardiness: Hardy  Flower colour: Green  Leaf colour: Mid-green  Height and spread: 25m x 20m (83ft x 67ft)  Description: This deciduous shrub has mid-green leaves which turn coppery brown in autumn. Trim hedges in late summer.  Latin name: Ilex aquifolium  Common name: Holly  Type of plant: Tree  Hardiness: Hardy  Flower colour: White  Leaf colour: Dark green or varigated  Height and spread: 20m x 6m (67ft x 20ft)  Description: This tough, spiky evergreen makes a useful hedge for boundaries or polluted sites. Trim to shape in early spring.  Latin name: Rosa glauca  Common name: Shrub rose  Type of plant: Shrub  Hardiness: Hardy  Flower colour: White to pink to red  Leaf colour: Mid-green  Height and spread: 2.4m x 2.4m (7.9ft x 7.9ft)  Description: This tough, thorny rose is a good choice for boundaries. It copes well with difficult conditions, including dry soil. Large red fruit follows the flowers. Trim in autumn.  Latin name: Taxus baccata  Common name: Yew  Type of plant: Tree  Hardiness: Hardy  Flower colour: N/A  Leaf colour: Dark green  Height and spread: 22m x 9m (72.2ft x 30ft)  Description: This handsome evergreen responds well to pruning and grows back well even when cut hard back. It copes well with dry soil and pollution. Trim in summer and early autumn.  Latin name: Prunus lusitanica  Common name: Portugal laurel  Type of plant: Shrub  Hardiness: Hardy  Flower colour: White  Leaf colour: Dark green  Height and spread: 8m x 10m (27ft x 33ft)  Description: This dense evergreen has glossy leaves. It is best pruned with secateurs rather than a hedge trimmer to avoid messy, torn foliage. Trim in spring.

Related plant lists: Hedging plants Wind tolerant plants