Best hedging plants for shade

Discover six of the best hedging plants for shade, below.

Berberis

Brighten up a partially shady spot with berberis, which has yellow flowers in spring, red-tinged foliage and bright red berries in autumn. This shrub makes a good informal hedge and windbreak, and a useful barrier because of its thorns.

Flowers: April and May
Height x spread: 1.5m x 60cm

Holly

Virtually all hollies will grow in a little shade. Ilex altaclerensis makes up a group of hybrid hollies that are more robust than our native Ilex aquifolium and more tolerant. ‘Argentea Marginata’ (pictured) has dramatic, golden variegated foliage that will stand out in a border. Grow them in partial to full shade.

H x S: 2.4m x 1.2m

Camellia

The aristocrats of the early spring garden, camellias bring style and glamour at a time when it’s most unexpected. Shrugging off the winter cold, tough evergreen Camellia x williamsii thrives in quite deep shade and prefers acid soil.

Flowers: January to March
H x S: 5m x 2.5m

Yew

With clipped yew in your garden, you’re assured of year-round shape and form. Taxus baccata can be used as a hedging plant for shade, putting on about 30cm of growth a year, and will thrive in most soils, apart from soggy badly drained spots, and in all aspects including deep shade.

Video: How to plant a yew hedge

H x S: 10m x 6m

Euonymus fortunei

This handy evergreen shrub can be used to create a low hedge along boundaries in partial shade. There are many varieties of euonymus to choose from, including several variegated types, and it’s easy to clip into shape.

Flowers: May and June
H x S: 60cm x 90cm

Pyracantha

The vibrant berries of this evergreen shrub almost glow during autumn in a shady spot. Pyracanthas make attractive hedges, or they can be trained against a north-facing wall. Small white flowers in summer are followed by orange, red or yellow berries.

Flowers: June
H x S: 3m x 3m