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| Hi everyone! I will be planting a long formal hedge here in central North Carolina. Here are the parameters:
Dense
I have considered the below plants (but the slow growth rates of some would be a problem): Ligustrum ovalifolium (privet)
I am open to any & all suggestions, of specific cultivars please. Kind thanks! Caroline |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 29, 11 at 12:35
| how long is long???.. and why not diversify??? ken |
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| And how tall? |
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- Posted by star_stuff NC 7 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 29, 11 at 15:30
| It will be approximately 180 feet long and approximately five feet tall. We need a very traditional formally pruned hedge to act as a fence. An evergreen ground cover will be planted on the outer side of the hedge to spill over the small slope which runs in front of the entire length of the hedge. Everything will be regularly pruned. It will have an iron gate at the entrance which opens to a long brick or stone path. The soil for the whole thing is rock-hard solid red clay. I live in a historic 160-year-old Greek Revival/Italianate home. Traditional Boxwood is our first choice if it wasn't such a slow grower. Many thanks! |
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- Posted by mad_gallica Z5 Eastern NY (My Page) on Wed, Jun 29, 11 at 19:29
| Objectively define what is 'slow growing' then look again at the boxwood. Even here, in a fairly boxwood unfriendly zone, something like Green Mountain isn't at all out of the question. Yew, OTOH, can grow like a weed once established. |
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- Posted by viburnumvalley z5/6 KY (My Page) on Wed, Jun 29, 11 at 23:56
| Viburnum x pragense will do what you request, though you will be challenged to restrict it to five feet tall. |
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| Why not Ilex crenata (small-leaved japanese holly)? |
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- Posted by star_stuff NC 7 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 17:51
| Some good suggestions, thank you. In addition to growth rate, the other major concern is cost. We need something very economical. We're leaning towards ilex or ligustrum, but not sure about specific varieties. Still researching... |
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| Ligustrum is listed as an invasive plant in NC so it would nice to add any more to the inventory. Of course I know you intend to prune it so that would theoretically keep the berries off (which is the invasive issue), but you never know what the next owner would do. Ilex handles hedging very well, especially Ilex crenata (like 'Helleri'). |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 30, 11 at 20:03
| link to musser forests page for plants by use ... you want a fast.. 180 foot hedge.. for little or no money.. that stays within a restricted size .. lol ... good luck with that.. lol start small ... and dont forget to diversify ... there is no reason you have to have 180 feet of one plant .. no matter what kind of house it is ... and technically.. 'hedge' means nothing in the plant world... you are wanting a screen ... in other words.. check the further link to deciduous screens ... unless you want evergreen etc ... ken |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
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| Would Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price' grow in your area? If trimmed correctly you would also get winter flowers and dark blue berries later on. Same goes for Pyracantha -both are used for evergreen formal hedging here. |
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| I second the suggestion on Ilex crenata--it really looks like boxwood and is easily trimmed. I find it's growth moderate. I have one large specimen and it seems always to need a haircut. There are other species of Ilex (Holly). Some of them native to your area (Ilex vomitoria)--but not sure of its growth rate. Photinia "red tip" grows very fast but I understand they suffer some kind of fungal problems in the South--especially when grown close together. I'm sure there are many possibilities for plants but the ones I have used for formal hedges include azaleas, Photinias, holly, boxwood, and Euonymous japonica. |
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- Posted by dave_in_nova VA zone 7a (My Page) on Fri, Jul 8, 11 at 10:59
| Will this get full sun? Dwarf Burford Holly is the first thing that comes to my mind. It's cheap, cheap at Home Depot or Lowes. Berries are a plus. It's tough and can take heat. It will take a while before it reaches 5 feet, but it will become very dense. Also consider Fortune's Osthmanthus or Golden Euonymus or Goldspot Euonymus (deer will eat them). Are deer an issue at all? Both are rather spiny though. |
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- Posted by gardener365 IL 5/6 (My Page) on Sun, Jul 10, 11 at 8:49
| I have a good suggestion for you: Fontanesia fortunei Dax |
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- Posted by gardener365 IL 5/6 (My Page) on Sun, Jul 10, 11 at 9:04
| I see Fontanesia fortunei isn't readily available, however, you could contact these folks at the link below to see if they will be offering it again, soon. And, the right price. Dax |
Here is a link that might be useful: Reeseville Ridge Nursery
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| I think Illex crenata, 'Convexa' would make a nice choice if you can find a good price buying in quantity. It takes to trimming very well and will give you the formal look you are looking for. Here's some in my garden. Bo  Something bit off a few of Aero's toes. I don't know what it was, but it was BIG! Bo and Aero |
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