Gardeners have been trimming box plants into weird and wonderful shapes for centuries, right back to Roman times! Box (Buxus sempervirens) was a must-have for Tudor palace gardens and is still one of the best-known hedging plants. Sadly, in recent years, the box has struggled in our gardens, first with box blight and then the arrival of the box tree caterpillar, which can quickly defoliate entire plants. Unwilling to give up their neatly trimmed hedges, gardeners have gone on the hunt for alternatives to box hedging, and here are five of the best.
Top 5 alternatives to box hedging
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Yew (Taxus baccata) is one of the best alternatives to box, and has been a popular choice for topiary for centuries. It’s dense and bushy and can be trimmed to shape. It’s also one of the few conifers that will grow back when cut back into old wood, making it possible to renovate plants that have got out of control. The new leaves are bright green, contrasting strongly with the darker green mature foliage. Yew grows in sun or shade and in any soil that isn’t waterlogged. Trim it in spring and autumn to keep it looking neat.
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Lavender, scientifically known as Lavandula, is a flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region but is cultivated and cherished worldwide for its aromatic properties. The lavender plant is characterized by slender, silvery-green leaves and spikes of small, fragrant flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, or white. It is widely valued for its soothing and calming fragrance, often described as floral, herbaceous, and slightly sweet.
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Lonicera nitida (shrubby honeysuckle) is a good substitute for box, with very similar small green leaves. It grows into a dense shrub and can be trimmed to shape. Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, it will grow well in sun or part shade. Lonicera nitida ‘May Green’ has deep green foliage, but yellow-leaved or silver-variegated varieties are also available.
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Ilex Crenata is for those daring to be more experimental with their hedging. It is widely recognised for its holly features and is most prominent in the winter when berries will begin growing on them. It is hardier than other plants on the list, but it should be pruned to keep it at a low depth of 1 – 1 ½ metres tall. If you are interested in adding more diversity to your garden, then Ilex is great alternative to box hedging to consider.
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Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) is robust and quick-growing, coping well with most soil conditions and happy in sun or part shade. It’s also tolerant of pollution, making it a good choice for urban gardens. Privet forms a dense shrub which can easily be pruned to shape, although this does mean losing the sprays of white flowers which appear in summer. Trim in May and August to keep it looking neat.
If your box hedge has had its day, come in and see us! With our extensive range of hedging plants, we’re sure you’ll find the perfect alternative.
