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Beech
Fagus sylvatica | Potentially a large tree, it can grow to 120ft (36m), it is too tall to be grown as a specimen tree in the average garden.
However, it forms an excellent hedge as it can be clipped closely. The leaves turn russet-brown in winter and will remain over winter if pruned in midsummer. It thrives in a wide variety of soils and will tolerate shade.
When grown as a tree the wood is quite pale and has a delicate figure. It is used extensively in furntiure manufacture.
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Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa | Native throughout the British Isles, it grows to around13ft (4m). It's white flowers appear from March onwards before it comes into leaf.
It forms a dense hedge - and can be quite invasive as it spreads by suckers. Many birds nest among its branches and it's fruit - sloe's- are made into jam wine and used for flavouring Gin.
Whilst it forms an excellent security hedge, care should be taken where young children are around as it produces strong thorns which can cause injury.
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Cherry Plum
Prunus myrobalana | 25ft (7m).
Spreads by suckering - ideal for hedging.
Thorny twigs make it an effective barrier.
Resembles Blackthorn but it blooms earlier (March) and foliage is not as thick. Fruits pale green in summer turn the colour or ripe tomatoes. |  |
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Common Privet
Ligustrum vulgare | It will reach a height of 10ft (3m) if left untrimmed. Despite it's name this is not the universal hedging plant. It is so called due to the fact it is a native of Britain, occurring chiefly in chalk areas.
The leaves are lance-shaped and dark green, and the off-white strongly scented, tubular summer flowers are followed by long clusters of particularly conspicuous, round black fruits int the autumn, making it a popular plant for game cover in woodland areas.
It makes a dense hedge if clipped, but will not retain much leaf cover except in the mildest of winter |  |
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Copper Beech
Fagus sylvatica atropurpureum | Potentially a large tree, it can grow to 120ft (36m), it is too tall to be grown as a specimen tree in the average garden.
However, it forms an excellent hedge as it can be clipped closely. The characteristic dark purple leaves turn russet-brown in winter and will remain over winter if pruned in mid-summer. It thrives in a wide variety of soils and will tolerate shade - although under shade the full depth of purple colour is not always evident. |  |
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Cotoneaster franchettii
Cotoneaster franchetii | A medium sized semi evergreen shrub, growing to 3ft (1m).
Small white flowers appear in early summer followed by deep orange berries.
It will grow almost anywhere and needs no attention apart from occasional cutting bac |  |
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Cotoneaster lacteus
Cotoneaster lacteus | A medium sized evergreen shrub, growing to 3ft (1m).
It has small white flowers appear in early summer followed by red berries. The berries will last well into winter.
It will grow almost anywhere and requires only occasional cutting back.
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Dog Rose
Rosa canina | A native rose of hedgebanks and downland, it forms a medium sized to large shrub with strong prickly stems and leaves (5-7leaflets).
The flowers have are white or pink with a delicate scent.
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Field Maple
Acer campestre | Native to southern England , a small tree which if left to grow will reach a height of 85ft (26m).
Makes an excellent dense deciduous hedge if regularly clipped. Trim in July.
Prefers sun or partial shade.
The leaves turn yellow and flush red in the Autumn.
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Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna | Native throughout the British Isles, it grows to around 45ft(14m) if left untrimmed.
Also known as Quickthorn, Quick, or Maythorn it is the commonest hedgerow plant, forming a dense inpenetrable hedge. It's white flowers appear from May onwards with the characteristic red berries (Haws) providing feed for birds in autumn and early winter. |  |
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Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus | Native to most of Europe, it grows to around 100 ft (30m), if left untrimmed.
If clipped it forms a dense screen which will retain some brown leaves in the autumn.
It tolerates shade and is more suited to wet soils than the visually similar Beech.
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Lavender 'Hidcote'
Lavandula ang.Hidcote | A compact shrub with narrow, grey-green leaves and stems 60-80cm (24-32in) high.
The violet flowers are produced in dense spikes, appearing in early summer.
It is frequently used to form a "cottage garden" dwarf hedge.
It succeeds in all typesof well drained soils and does particularly well in coastal regions.
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Ramanus Rose
Rosa rugosa | A strong growing perpetual flowering shrub with stout densly prickly stems.
The flowers are fragrant and purplish in colour and are followed by bright red, tomato shaped hips.
It's vigorous suckering habit enables it to form dense thickets and it is an excellent hedge plant.
It can be found near sea shores. |  |
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Snowberry
Symphoricarpus alba | Growing to aournd 6ft (2m), it suckers freely and forms dense, tangled thickets unless regularly pruned. The pink bell-shaped flowers appear from June to September, attracting bees. The long-lasting white berries make it a popular shrub in gardens.
It forms a dense hedge, but requires regular clippin |  |
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Berberis
Berberis gagnepainii | Forms an impenetrable evergreen hedge. If left to grow it can reach a height of 8ft (2m).
Produces rich yellow or orange flowers April and May, followed by blue berries. Prune after flowering (May/June).
Whilst it forms an excellent security hedge, care should be taken where young children are around as it produces strong thorns which can cause injury.
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Box
Buxus sempervirens | Slow growing evergreen shrub which will exceed 10ft if left untrimmed. Ideally suited for hedging as it forms a very dense screen which can be regularly clipped.
If left untrimmed will exceed 10ft(3m).
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Darwins Barberry
Berberis darwinii | If left to grow it can reach a height of 8ft (2m).
It has holly like leaves and produces rich yellow or orange flowers April and May, followed by blue berries. It will form a thick evergreen hedge - clip after flowering (May/June).
Whilst it forms an excellent security hedge, care should be taken where young children are around as it produces strong thorns which can cause injury. |  |
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Holly
Ilex aquifolium | Native throughout the British Isles, it grows to around 65ft (20m) if left untrimmed.
It forms an excellent evergreen hedge, growing everywhere except on wet soils. It will generally tolerate conditions that would be too harsh for other trees.
The wood is used for carving, inlay work and woodcuts.
Birds feast on the berries in winter providing for a pre Christmas race with those of us wishing to decorate their homes. The plants are single sex with only female trees bearing berries. A mix of male and female plants is therefore required to obtain winter berries. |  |
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Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla | It grows to 115ft (35m) in Britain. It's down turned branch tips and shoots give the whole tree a delicate drooping appearance thus making it one of the most attractive conifers.
It can be grown on a wide variety of soils except those containing chalk. It grows rapidly and regenerates easily producing many seedlings. Young trees require shady moist conditions and it is therefore useful for planting under other tree crops. |  |
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Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata | It grows rapidly in damp cool areas reaching a height of 83ft (25m) in 30 years.
The single upright leading shoot at the top of the tree distinguishes it from the cypresses that it otherwise resembles.
Being shade tolerant it is planted under other trees and can be used as a a nurse crop to shelter young slow growing broadleaves such as Oak - its branches do not spread and damage the surrouding trees. In parks and gardens the Western Red Cedar makes an attractive ornamental tree or hedge - and an admirable substitute for the otherwise ubiquitous "Leylandii" |  |
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Wintergreen Barberry
Berberis julianae | If left to grow it can reach a height of 8ft (2m).
The leaves turn bright red in autumn.
Whilst it forms an impenetrable evergreen hedge, care should be taken where young children are around as it produces strong thorns which can cause injury.
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Yew
Taxus baccata | Reaching around 50ft (15m), this round headed tree with dark foliage often has many trunks.
Yews grow especially well on chalk. They resist pollution well and can flourish in the shade of taller trees but little will grow in the shade they themselves cast.
When planted as a hedge and clipped, the Yew forms one of the most distinguished of screens.
The bark is poisonous and so is the cut foliage though horses and cattle can sometimes graze on living yew boughs without ill effect. The scarlet berries are harmless but their seeds are poisonous. |  |
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