Create a Little Privacy with Evergreen Hedges

When the chill of winter arrives, long after the leaves have fallen from the trees, our beloved deciduous trees and shrubs are reduced to their mere framework. Although there is new beauty to be found in the absence of greener days, the sparseness can leave many gardens feeling open and exposed.

 

The solution to this problem is to incorporate evergreens into your gardens. There are many fantastic varieties of evergreen shrubs that will provide year round privacy. Here are some of our favorites, even some you may not have thought of using but are wonderful options in place of more common evergreens. In addition to providing evergreen privacy, some of the plants on the list offer the additional bonus of seasonal blooms.

 

Soft creamy white blossoms erupt from this resilient hedge beginning in late winter and continuing through early summer. Blue-black berries follow shortly and provide a feast for the birds. This specimen displays stately dark green foliage year round and withstands a substantial amount of sunshine. It matures at 10-12 feet in height and 8 feet in width. Tolerance of heavy pruning makes this shrub an ideal choice for every gardener.

 

White star shaped flowers give birth to a delectable aroma amidst the spring and late summer air. The “orange” in Mexican Orange is derived from the perfume emitted by the crushing of its foliage.   With the capacity to flourish in full sun or partial shade, this shrub embodies the meaning of versatility. Mexican orange has a moderate growth rate maturing at 6-8 feel in height and width. Lustrous green-yellow foliage dresses naturalized barrier throughout the seasons.

 

Rich rosy red blossoms blanket this upright grower from early spring into late fall. Polished emerald leaves cover this shrub year round. Don’t be timid with your tool’ this ravishing bush takes will to hard pruning. Placing Pink Princess escallonia in a sunny afternoon situation will likely guarantee a mature height and width of 5 to 6 feet. Coast dwellers take note; this hedge thrives wonderfully in your climate.

 

Luscious emerald green foliage envelops this velvety specimen from the Cupressaceae family. Practically maintenance free, this sun lover will slowly grow to 12 to 14 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in width. Year round foliage can be topped to create a thicker more full-bodied look but if you’d prefer a more slender profile, just let the arborvitae grow naturally. A tight cylindrical growing habit makes this arborvitae an excellent choice for the purpose of privacy screening.

 

Richly textured bark sheathes this slow growing native from Turkey, Ireland and Lebanon. In mid October the show begins, when petite urn shaped flowers of white and pink shower the gnarled branches of this self-fertile species. By Christmas time the blossoms are replaced by effervescent berries in tones of yellows and oranges. Prune annually to retain tree form to show off the Madrone like bark at its best. An extensive sized tap root enables this plant to thrive in the dry season. Evergreen leaves closely resemble those of laurel and provide superior organic coverage from close quartered neighbors.

 

Rosy reds, candy pinks, and star lit whites hem the eye catching yellow centers of these stylish and aristocratic blossoms in the garden. The cool air of fall signals this shrub to begin its annual efforts of reproduction and it is soon ablaze with blossoms. Varieties do range in size, some as little as 2 feet high and wide and others as large as 15 feet high and wide. Broken shade is preferred to the plant can tolerate full sun as long as adequate water is provided. The Sansanqua can take a light pruning as well as being espaliered, but it is best to do any pruning or training before buds form. A hedge or screen of Camellia Sananqua in addition to providing the privacy of glossy green leaves also provides a beautiful show of blossoms.

 

Vivid red berries peek from the depths of the female plant during the fall, winter and spring if she is accompanied by her male counterpart. The male produces a small insignificant purple flower and will not produce berries. This robust evergreen shrub withstands air pollution, salt spray, transplanting, and occasional neglect. The simple lustrous leathery leaves come in shades of dark green and yellow.   Thriving in deeply shaded areas this plant will slowly grow to 6 to 10 feet tall, and 4 to 6 feet wide. With a dense, upright and rounded growing habit this specimen will make a complimentary addition to any garden.

 

Maroon flower buds cascade down the stems of this evergreen shrub throughout the winter. In late March and early April the red buds pop open into bell shaped pink, white or purplish-pink blossoms. Foliage is bronze when first emerging, then changes to chartreuse, and eventually matures into a dark green. This broad leafed evergreen is a slow grower maturing at 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Pieris is a shade loving species and tends to spread and mound making it an excellent choice for any entryway or walkway border. 

 

Fragrant white flower clusters expanding to 4 inches wide develop in early spring on this wintry favorite. Shortly afterward, showy red berries appear and ripen into a deep black. The juvenile foliage is intense red, and soon matures into a dark rubbery green. Quickly growing to a mature height and width of 10 to 15 feet, Photinia is an outstanding choice as a sun loving sheared hedge or screen.

 

In 1888 a Monterey Cypress and an Alaskan Cedar were successfully crossed to produce a symmetrical, upright, columnar shaped conifer, the Leyland Cypress. Growing vigorously to about 60 feet in height and 25 feet in width this specimen is ideal for flawless full sun screening. The exact shape of the Leyland Cypress varies; many specimens are tall and slender while others are squat and rounded. The Leyland Cypress is useful for windbreaks and tolerant of salty air, and therefore is a valuable tree for planting in Coastal regions.