Shrub hedge

[chickpea1982]

Hi Everyone,

I was hoping to get some inspiration for a shrub hedge. We've just had our front garden landscaped, and now have an 8.4 metre stretch ready for a hedge. I want to plant a variety of flowering shrubs for year-round interest rather than just the usual privet etc. The front garden is south-facing, and gets lots of sun. We are on heavy clay soil, but not too exposed to wind. The aim is partly privacy, but mainly a nice, pretty, interesting hedge.

Some ideas so far are:

• berberis
• flowering quince
• viburnum (either or both of an evergreen like viburnum tinus laurustinus plus a deciduous variety such as opulus roseum)
• escallonia
• ribes sanguineum
• osmanthus burkwoodii (but site may be too sunny)
• possibly a lilac

I'm aiming for the hedge to reach about 5-6 foot high at maturity, which will take several years.

Any other ideas? Or comments on the suggestions above?

Thanks in advance!

I’d chuck out the Berberis. A hedge without thorns is easier to deal with.

Thorns notwithstanding, if I had somewhere for a mixed hedge I think I'd want some Rosa rugosa in it.

Cyanothus?

I'm not sure Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' would be idea for a hedge, IME they get big with long shoots rather than 'bushy', and mine (well... DH planted it) gets infested with viburnum beetle and/or some sort of sawfly and looks a mess. And it's not scented. Other viburnums like tinus seem like a better bet to me.

Hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn would all be nice and have some seasonal interest. Pomona Fruits have some great sets of hedging, and I've been pleased with what I have bought from them.

I have a mixed shrub hedge planted in similar conditions to yours, must be well over 30 years old as it was mature when I bought the house. I have Japanese quince, couple of weigelas, Philadelphus, coloured stemmed cornus, deuzia, physocarpus, holly and a wild rose which seeded itself there. I love the look of it.
I would say though that if you want a straight sided hedge which you cut with a hedgetrimmer then don't go for those shrubs as you will spoil their natural shape and turn them into a congested twiggy block with few flowers, they need proper pruning with secateurs, the overall look is more informal.

Berberis is a complete bas..rd to trim/clear. Vastly painful and not worth it in my opinion.

Watch out for things that sucker - like quince and lilac.
I'm not keen on thorns (I've been prickled too many times!)
I don't like the smell of ribes.

Viburnum opulus, Guelder Rose, is a common constituent of mixe4d native hedges.

For those who don't like thorns, a pair of thornproof gloves is a game changer! You can grasp handfuls of spiky stems with no pain whatsoever.

Yes, guelder rose is lovely in a mixed hedge - prettier flowers imo than the snowballs (especially when they're discoloured and distorted by the wretched pests) and such gorgeous berries.

Yes, but also make sure your shoes have very solid soles if you have blackthorn!

And don't garden in your crocs if you have hawthorn.

Blackthorn is another one which can sucker.

Guelder rose (viburnum opulus) also has a fantastic leaf colour in the autumn. I really don't know why it isn't more popular. Native plant, good for wildlife and great to look at.

If you're thinking of a mixed native hedge Ashridge nursery website is great, buy barefooted in winter. 8.5,m will need up to 100 plants in zigzag double row. Underplant with snow drops, daffodils, foxgloves, common yarrow, Siberian yarrow etc.

Thanks everyone - much appreciated.

Right! I think I have a shortlist. The space is 8.4 metres long, and my shortlist is made up of 8 plants, which is possibly a bit too many so I might need to cut one (or two?) out. Here it is:

1. Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese Quince) - deciduous but red flowers from Feb
2. Choisya ternata - evergreen, flowers in May, but possibly a bit short
3. Escallonia Iveyi - evergreen, flowers June - Sept
4. Hibiscus - deciduous, flowers summer
5. Osmanthus burkwoodii - evergreen, flowers April - May
6. Ribes sanguineum - deciduous, red flowers in spring
7. Viburnum tinus laurustinus - evergreen, flowers late winter/spring
8. Viburnum opulus guelder rose - deciduous, flowers late spring/early summer

If I had to get rid of 2 of them I think it would be the choisya and the ribes. But I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

NB there will be another border of smaller shrubs in front of the hedge (eventually) including things like roses.

@chickpea1982 keen to hear what you went with. I'm looking for a flowering evergreen hedge for privacy and visual interest. Thank you.

@Pinkfizzed in the end I went with a mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs. The evergreen ones were: Pittosporum tenuifolium (variegated), escallonia iveyi, choisya tenata and viburnum tinus laurustinus. If you have room, I'd also consider osmanthus burkwoodii as it is evergreen and good for screening.