Plant Type: Hedge or Screen

Leptospermum rupestre ‘Squiggly’, namadgiensis and ground cover is ‘Martha Ewan’ Arctostaphylos x media.

Screens and hedges are two different things but many of the same plants are applicable. A screen can be blocking one particular view or angle. At its best it is informal and grows quickly to its intended height. A hedge is inherently more formal. Often clipped or sheared it professes a uniformity that imbues structure and form into gardens. Hedges can delineate space in a natural way and they don’t have to be formal. Shrubs with a similar habit in a row can be just as pleasing.

Morella californica Pacific wax myrtle is a great evergreen native hedge or screen.

It pays dividends to treat these plants well from the beginning. Dig a large hole and develop a moat around each plant for irrigation. And absolutely mulch them. Treating a hedge well and uniformly affords you the best form and color and saves you the headache of having to replace a fallen soldier. We list screens and hedge plants varying in size. That gives the gardener as many applications as possible. One tip: When buying a row of hedge plants plant 1 or 2 more than you need in other parts of the garden, that way if one of them dies you’ll have a replacement of just the same size and you’ll save considerably too.

 

 

 

Climate adapted plants for gardeners in the PNW

Frangula (Rhamnus) californica ‘Leatherleaf’

A really cool version of California Coffeeberry which is also native to SW Oregon. Thick deep green rounded leaves clothe madder red stems densely on this large shrub that can achieve tree like status with time. Insignificant green flowers transform into brown then black berries eaten by wildlife. Incredibly drought adapted never needing ANY  supplemental water. Well drained soils in full sun. To 9′ x 9′ in 8 years. Pruning can keep it lower and it would make an admirable hedge. Cold hardy to near 0ºF. Often not bothered by deer and one of the best deer resistant hedges for rural area- put a test plant out first to see if your deer are different It grows quickly with little to no irrigation.

Oregon native plant

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Garrya x issaquahensis ‘Glasnevin Wine’

Large exceptional evergreen shrub that is a hybrid selection between two native west coast species. To 12′ tall and nearly as wide the merlot red stems support wavy deep green leaves. From December to April 3″ long wine red tassels are graceful and showy. Fast growing shrub for average to rich well drained sites in full sun to high overhead shade. Little water when established. Slightly hardier to cold than G. elliptical ‘James Roof’. Great low water hardy fast screening shrub. Easy to grow. Give it space to fill out. Prune AFTER flowering has ended in spring if needed. Appreciates good air circulation in an open exposure . A great shrub for the  high dry shade of native Oaks. The spent thread like flowers drop  from the plant in mid-spring. By summer its just a handsome green shrub. Very drought adapted.

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Hakea epiglottis

Beaked Hakea. Out of this world wiry shrub from Tasmania that forms nearly a tree with modified stems that serve as leaves. Fast growing see through plant that casts no shade for full sun and average to poor well drained soil. Proteaceous- avoid fertilizers and compost. Completely drought adapted needing no supplemental water once established.  Water regularly until new growth commences . Forms a large piece of architecture. In early spring tiny sulphur yellow flowers crowd the leaf axils and emit a sweet clove fragrance. Very easy to grow. Cold hardy to 5ºF but avoid blasting subfreezing winds from the gorge. Completely deer resistant. Very inviting  to small birds who will swarm the shrub to find protection in its wiry center- Bush tits adore this shrub To 8′ x 6′ in 5 years. Specimen, unusual hedgerow. Excellent cut material for groovy bouquets. Very fun to grow. Pronounced HAY-kee-uh.

 

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Hebe (Veronica) ‘Western Hills’

Fantastic Hebe that has stood the test of time. Large growing to 3′ x 3′ an upright shrub with fine silver/gray foliage held on black tinted stems. In summer spikes of white flowers appear. Cold hardy, low water, long lived Hebe that is a stunning focal point or even informal hedge. Moderately fast growing- about 6″- 10″ per year. Regular summer water speeds growth- low water when established. Full sun to light shade. A really pretty silver shrub that is elegant and easy to grow. Excellent performance at the Oregon coast- it tolerates strong winds well. Perfectly hardy to cold in Portland not bothered by temperatures near 5ºF- and it survived -2ºF at my parents house in December 2013 near Eugene. It was mangled but made a full recovery by late spring. Great texture that combines symmetry and silver.

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Hebe (Veronica) pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’

Indispensible alpine cold hardy Hebe with an astonishingly uniform dense habit. Rounded to 30″ tall and up to 4′ wide in time. Blue gray foliage is handsome at all times. In summer sporadic white flower spikes dot the plant. Full sun to light shade in average to rich well drained soil Light, but consistent summer irrigation. Especially important for it to be well hydrated before extreme heat (above 100ºF). Excellent hedge, massed as a tall ground cover. Very cold hardy- not bothered by our coldest winters and of alpine derivation in its home in New Zealand. Formerly known as Hebe sutherlandii. Excellent as low informal hedge or even massed as a symmetrical ground cover.This form has been consistently hardy down to 0ºF. Excellent performance in cold rural gardens. Tolerates some subfreezing wind.    Xera favorite shrub.

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Illicium floridanum ‘Pink Stars’

This form of the aromatic Florida Anise shrub which is native to the SE United states bears showy 2″, spidery star-like flowers of the palest pink. The entire large shrub displays these outward facing flowers in March to April and again in September to October. The flowers have an odd scent up close- mothballs or fish- but in our climate it blooms when it is cool and the odor does not carry. More importantly its a handsome broadleaf evergreen shrub with sharply pointed long leaves that have a sweet delicious anise flavor when bruised or brushed. Upright and then spreading shrub to 8′ x 6′ in 7 years. Best with light shade to shade for the deepest green foliage. Tolerates full sun as long as there is not the reflected heat of a wall. Flowers are showy from quite a distance. Excellent among rhododendrons, as an understory shrub for interest, joy. Very hardy to cold, enduring subzero readings with no damage. Nice hedge. Moderate deer resistance. Rare, cultivar. Light consistent summer moisture. Established plants are summer drought tolerant.  Easy.

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Illicium floridanum ‘Scarlet Skirts’

Florida Anise shrub is a cold hardy shade tolerant and aromatic broad leaved evergreen with exotic red flowers for long periods in spring and again in autumn.  To 8′ x 4′ in 7 years in rich to average well drained soil with regular summer water in full sun, drought tolerant in shade. Moderately fast growing and summer water speeds growth. Very hardy to cold native to SE United States. Highly deer resistant. Spidery black red flowers appear in early to mid spring and again in autumn. They turn into star shaped seed pods that become woody. Flowers have an odd scent which is barely detectable from a distance as it blooms here when the weather is cool. Hedges, specimens. Great companion for Rhododendrons in a woodland. A Xera Plants selection with larger, darker black/red flowers. Long lived.

Xera Plants Introduction.

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Jasminum x humile ‘Sunshine’

This form of Himalayan Jasmine we chose from seed after its incredibly fragrant yellow flowers drew our attention. Rather than cloying and sweet its a sophisticated aroma that is never over bearing. I always wish it was a bit stronger. Smaller leaves than the species and many, many more flowers in a huge display in late spring and sporadically until frost. Fast, large growing deciduous shrub that is incredibly tough and drought adapted. Takes any amount of pruning. May be trained as vine if you are diligent. To 9′ tall and 5′ wide quickly. Excellent plant for hedgerows and tough conditions out back. Black berries follow the flowers .Jasminum humile x jasminum wallachianum. Thousands of yellow stars.

Xera Plants Introduction.

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Lavandula angustifolia ‘Miss Katherine’

You don’t often think of lavender flowers in the color of pink, but this compact heavily flowering selection produces masses of clear pink flower spikes for months in summer. Mixed with purple and white flowered varieties and you get much more depth of contrast. The purple and white both look better. Compact gray foliaged shrub for average, well drained soil and light summer water. Full sun. To 2′ tall in bloom the foliage usually maxes out at a globe 14″ x 14″ . Cut back hard after blooming for a denser more compact plant. Fragrant flowers, foliage. Moderate deer resistance. Very easy to grow. Hedges, specimen. Etc.

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Lavandula angustifolia ‘Pastor’s Pride’

When you have a small garden you want to get as much bang for your buck as possible. Enter this great cultivar of English Lavender that blooms not just once but over and over again until frost. Medium lavender blue flowers cluster at the top of straight wiry stems to 10″ long. A naturally compact plant to about 2′ x 2′ ultimately. Silver evergreen aromatic foliage. Rich, to average well drained soil in full sun with light summer water. Somewhat drought adapted. Looks better , re-blooms better with light water. Saches, Lavender wands, potpourri- everblooming fragrant hedge. Very good Pastor. Very good.

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