[ally]

Hi, I want to divide part of my garden with a flowering evergreen hedge (I don't want bare branches through winter) the hedge will run east to west on one side we have established trees and shrubs but the roots appear to understand boundary 😊 there will be access for pruning so not adverse to fast growing but have enough patience if slow growing is ideal.   The divide is to hide my kids area .... And also to break up a 200' garden!  Hope that's enough info for advice on types of plants to grow. Cheers Ally

[Lesleyk]

A couple of options spring to mind; Hebe (shrubby Veronica) with large leaves makes a great evergreen hedge and grows very quickly - I started mine from cuttings three year's ago and it is now about 3' tall.  The flowers are purple and occur a few times in the summer,  particularly with regular clipping.  Also, Escallonia macrantha (Rubra) is a great, fast(ish) growing plant for hedging, with lovely red flowers in summer (there are also pink varieties) and shiny dark green leaves.  They are quite hardy too.  Hope this helps.

[Mrs Bee]

Osmanthus every time. Lovely tubular flowers about now, with the most amazing perfume.

[robinahood]

Ceanothus can make a fragrant and pretty evergreen hedge.

[ally]

Love these ideas. My girls like the look of the Osmanthus and I the Escallonia rubra.  Would they like to be grown in an informal mixed hedge together? They flower at different times so that will add colour most of the year round.

[Kristen]

I think most flowering hedge plants are scruffy, particularly Escallonia, and trimming the hedge can remove the flowering buds.  But I like a nicely clipped hedge so other folk will have different views.

An alternative might be a variegated evergreen? which will provide colour-interest through the year. Euonymous for example.

[Mrs Bee]

I agree about the escallonia being scruffy and have taken out a couple of overgrown woody specimens.

I like the Osmanthus as it can be trimmed, looks tidy and grows quite quickly.
The Euonymous would be good with a mixed hedge too.

[Goosegirl]

My neighbour has an Escallonia hedge that is surprisingly neat so it is a possibility. Other thoughts are Viburnum tinus and Fuschia magellanica.

[azubah]

  Would they like to be grown in an informal mixed hedge together? They flower at different times so that will add colour most of the year round.

They will grow at different rates and this can be messy if you want a level top.

[ally]

  Would they like to be grown in an informal mixed hedge together? They flower at different times so that will add colour most of the year round.

They will grow at different rates and this can be messy if you want a level top.

I thought that after some more research, thanks for confirming.  I'm not after a clipped hedge just a divide between the two levels (areas) that will now form a backdrop to a 4' deep bed, my garden is pretty bare and long I need colour, height to divide and plants that will attract bees, butterflies alike. Cheers

[ally]

Sorry to keep posting from looking at your suggestion I've come across Photina x fraseri and daisy bush.  Could these two be happy in a mixed hedge? Or am I better off with just one type of hedge? The hedge will be 8' then steps then another 8' I did want fuschsia but I'm not should on my scale its going to look right? Help ... Please 😐

[catllar]

Photinia is lovely and has quite pretty flowers - not sure if it won't somewhat outpace a daisy bush ( are you talking about cineraria?)

Consider viburnum - pretty flowers and then later berries. Euonymus is another one to think about.

I'd always plant a mixed hedge if only for the wildlife opportunities.

[strangerachael]

I may be a bit late but how about Berberis? Lovely orange or yellow flowers in spring. Or Pyrocanthus - berries in winter as well as summer flowers.

[Goosegirl]

Daisy bush is a shrub called Olearia. I have a Photinia but it can get a bit straggly and bare-branched below unless regularly trimmed. I'd go for either berberis or, better still, Viburnum tinus. I have one that I prune each year, sometimes quite hard, and it always responds well. It has a nice dense habit with white flowers late winter and onwards.

[ally]

Thank you for you advice. Its such a major choice to make ... Think I trip to the local nursery with a list of all your suggestions is needed.  One thing I know is I don't want bare branches in winter so whatever is decided has to be evergreen and able to attract bees and feed the birds so a shrub with berries is good. Cheers everyone!