The best hedge plants for privacy screening and garden borders are Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Yew (Taxus baccata), Photinia 'Red Robin', and Buxus (Box) — all fast-growing, dense, and low maintenance once established. Browse our hedge plant collection with delivery across Europe.

How Fast Do Hedge Plants Grow?

Growth rates vary significantly by species. Laurel and Leylandii grow fastest (30–60cm per year), reaching screening height (1.8m) in 3–5 years. Hornbeam and Beech grow at 20–40cm per year but are more ornamental and wildlife-friendly. Yew is slow (15–30cm per year) but forms the densest, most long-lived hedge — 500-year-old yew hedges exist at English country estates. Box (Buxus) is slowest (10–15cm/year) and best for formal low edging rather than tall screening.

Hedge Plants by Purpose

• Fast privacy screening — Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Photinia 'Red Robin'; evergreen, year-round coverage; 30–60cm/year
• Formal garden structure — Buxus, Yew (Taxus baccata), Ilex crenata; clip to any shape; holds form precisely
• Wildlife-friendly boundary — Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Holly; berries for birds; nesting cover; native species
• Informal flowering hedge — Escallonia, Forsythia, Viburnum; seasonal flowers; less clipping required

How to Plant a Hedge

For a dense, gapless hedge: plant in a single row for informal species, double staggered rows for formal screening. Spacing is 40–60cm apart for most species (30–40cm for Box). Prepare the planting trench with compost, stake if exposed to wind, water deeply weekly for the first season. In year 1, trim lightly to encourage branching; year 2 onwards, clip to shape.

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