Looking for a way to create privacy while keeping your garden fresh and inviting? Hedge plants are the answer. These natural screens provide shade, reduce noise, and protect your home from curious eyes, all while adding beauty to your yard.
Unlike hard fences, hedges grow into soft, vibrant walls that blend with the landscape. Many hedge plants also produce colorful flowers, glossy foliage, or even fruit, giving you more reasons to grow them.
Explore these 15 fantastic hedge plants that will turn your garden into a private retreat.
#1 Boxwood
Boxwood is a classic hedge choice, prized for its dense, evergreen foliage that can be trimmed into crisp shapes. It thrives in zones 5 to 8, though some varieties grow well in warmer regions.
Smaller types stay compact around 3 feet tall, while others can reach 12 feet if left untrimmed. Plant boxwood in well-drained soil with partial to full sun for best results.
Regular pruning helps maintain its neat, formal look, but it also works well left slightly natural. This plant is ideal for creating elegant borders or low privacy hedges.
#2 Gardenia
Gardenia hedges offer both beauty and fragrance, with glossy green leaves and sweet-smelling white flowers in late spring and early summer. They thrive in zones 7 to 10 and can grow about 3 to 4 feet tall.
These evergreens love warm climates and slightly acidic soil. Water them regularly, especially during dry periods, to keep their foliage lush.
Place them in partial shade if summers are too hot, as excessive heat can damage their blooms. Gardenias create hedges that look refined and fill the air with a lovely scent.
#3 Allamanda Bush
Allamanda Bush is a tropical hedge option known for its bold yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers with orange throats. It thrives in zones 10 and 11, growing best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
This fast-growing shrub produces flowers from early summer until fall. Prune it regularly to encourage compact growth and more blooms.
Allamanda hedges add a burst of color and a tropical vibe to patios, driveways, or garden borders. With their cheerful flowers, they brighten up any outdoor space.
#4 Cherry Hedge
Cherry Hedge is a sun-loving shrub that grows around 3 to 4 feet tall and provides year-round greenery. In spring, it produces clusters of creamy white flowers with a sweet fragrance.
By midsummer, these blooms turn into small black fruits that attract birds. Plant it in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight to keep it thriving.
Trim occasionally to maintain shape and encourage dense growth. Cherry hedges not only provide privacy but also add seasonal interest with flowers and fruit.
#5 Indian Hawthorn
Indian Hawthorn is a compact evergreen shrub that grows up to 5 feet tall in zones 8 to 10. In spring, it bursts with clusters of delicate white flowers, followed by bluish-black berries that wildlife enjoys.
Its dark, leathery leaves stay attractive all year long. Indian Hawthorn is drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal care.
Plant it in full sun to light shade for the best display of blooms. This plant makes a tidy, low-maintenance hedge for borders and pathways.
#6 Copperleaf
Copperleaf is an eye-catching hedge plant with vibrant foliage in shades of red, pink, and bronze. Thriving in zone 10, it prefers full sun and warm temperatures. While it does produce catkins in spring, its colorful leaves are the main attraction.
Regular watering and occasional trimming will keep it healthy and full. Copperleaf is excellent for adding a bold pop of color to garden edges. This plant is perfect if you want a hedge that stands out instead of blending in.
#7 Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a striking hedge plant that showcases large, showy flowers in shades of red, pink, yellow, and white. Growing 4 to 7 feet tall, it thrives in zones 5 to 9 with plenty of sun and moist soil.
Its blooms appear in midsummer and last until fall, creating a long season of color. Hibiscus prefers regular watering during hot spells to maintain its lush growth.
Trim lightly after flowering to encourage new shoots. A hibiscus hedge creates a tropical, vibrant boundary for your garden.
#8 Arborvitae
Arborvitae is one of the most popular choices for tall privacy hedges. It thrives in zones 2 to 8, growing anywhere from 8 to 25 feet depending on the variety. Its dense evergreen foliage makes it an excellent windbreak and noise barrier.
Plant arborvitae in full sun and water regularly until established. Minimal pruning is needed, though you can shape it if desired. With its fast growth and natural screening ability, arborvitae is perfect for creating living green walls.
#9 Croton
Croton hedges bring a splash of tropical color with their multicolored leaves in red, orange, yellow, and green. Best suited for zones 11 and 12, they grow up to 5 feet tall in partial shade.
Croton produces small flowers in spring, but its foliage is the real showpiece. Water consistently and protect it from cold drafts to keep its leaves vibrant.
Regular pruning will encourage bushier growth. Croton makes a dazzling hedge that doubles as a decorative focal point.
#10 Crossandra
Crossandra, also called the firecracker flower, is a small shrub with orange, yellow, or red blossoms. It thrives in zones 10 and 11 and reaches about 3 feet tall. This plant blooms freely throughout the year, adding constant color to your hedge line.
Crossandra grows best in moist, well-drained soil and partial to full sun. Water frequently and feed with a balanced fertilizer to support continuous flowering. Its compact size makes it an excellent choice for colorful low hedges.
#11 Jasmine
Jasmine hedges are both beautiful and fragrant, with their star-shaped white flowers blooming from late winter into spring. Growing up to 4 feet tall, they do well in zones 6 to 10 in sun or partial shade.
Jasmine can be used as a hedge or even as ground cover if left untrimmed. Plant it in well-drained soil and water regularly during the blooming season.
Its scent is especially appealing near windows or patios. Jasmine hedges combine privacy with a delightful fragrance.
#12 Bottlebrush
Bottlebrush shrubs are distinctive with their cylindrical, brush-like flowers in red, yellow, or cream. They thrive in full sun and are hardy up to zone 11. Growing to about 8 to 12 feet, they make excellent medium-sized hedges.
Their blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies, adding life to your garden. Bottlebrush prefers well-drained soil and occasional pruning after flowering. A hedge of these shrubs provides both privacy and bold color.
#13 Ixora
Ixora is a tropical shrub with dense clusters of small flowers in shades of red, yellow, or pink. It grows happily in zones 10 to 12 and can reach up to 8 feet wide. This plant thrives in full sun and moist conditions, so water regularly during dry periods.
Fertilize every few weeks to promote continuous blooming. Ixora hedges bring a tropical charm with their compact growth and vibrant blossoms. They are ideal for brightening up patios and walkways.
#14 Areca Palm
Areca Palm is a tall, graceful hedge option that adds a tropical feel to any space. Growing 12 to 30 feet tall, it thrives in zones 10 and 11. This palm requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for healthy growth.
After flowering, it produces small yellow-orange fruits that eventually turn black. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. An Areca Palm hedge creates privacy while adding an elegant, resort-like atmosphere to your garden.
#15 Clusia
Clusia, also called the autograph tree, is a hardy evergreen shrub perfect for thick hedges. It grows up to 8 feet tall in zones 11 and 12. This plant produces small pink and red flowers throughout the year, adding subtle beauty to its dense foliage.
Clusia tolerates salty air, making it a good choice for coastal gardens. Plant it in well-drained soil and water moderately to establish growth. Its tough, leathery leaves form a lush wall of greenery for natural privacy.