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Best-Selling Hedges See All
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Beech
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is green in summer, with foliage turning gold and copper in fall. The rust-colored leaves then cling to the branches through winter providing year-round screening. It grows well in full sun to nearly full shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.
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Green Mountain
Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus x ‘Green Mountain’) is an extremely popular boxwood. It has great cold tolerance and is one of the most naturally resistant to Boxwood Blight. It is deer and rabbit resistant and grows well in full sun to shade. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.
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Green Giant
Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja x ‘Green Giant’) is a hybrid with extreme vigor! It is the fastest-growing hedge that we offer, making it ideal for large privacy hedges. It has some deer-resistance, grows well in full sun to part shade, and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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Schip
Schip laurel (P. laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is excellent for partial shade locations. It grows quickly with a narrow habit. It has dark evergreen leaves and is deer-resistant. It is drought tolerant once established. Schip laurel is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Hick's Yew
Hicks Yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) is the best hedge for deep shade locations, although it also thrives in full sun. This is a naturally narrow plant, so it is good for small spaces. It has evergreen needles and bright red fruits. Hicks Yew is hardy to USDA Zones 5-8.
Top Deciduous Hedges
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Flame Maple
Flame Maple (Acer ginnala ‘Flame’) is a deciduous hedge with lush, green foliage in summer and blazing orange fall color, a naturally multi-stemmed and grows quickly into an effective privacy screen. Prefers full sun to shade and is hardy to USDA Zones 3-8.
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Beech
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is green in summer, with foliage turning gold and copper in fall. The rust-colored leaves then cling to the branches through winter providing year-round screening. It grows well in full sun to nearly full shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.
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Mixed Beech
Mixed Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a mix of green and purple beech seedlings, grown together into a striking tapestry of a hedge. These have excellent winter leaf retention for year-round screening. It grows well in full sun to shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.
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Hornbeam
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a popular deciduous hedge that is extremely versatile. It tolerates full sun to nearly full shade and a range of soil conditions. It holds its brown leaves into part of the winter for added screening. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.
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Royal Star Magnolia
Royal Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’) is a deciduous hedge that is covered with large, fragrant, pale pink flowers in late winter. In summer, lush green foliage develops. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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Cornelian cherry
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is a deciduous hedge with ornamental and edible fruit in summer. The fruits are also enjoyed by birds. It also boasts striking yellow flowers in early spring. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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Viburnum
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is a North American native plant with pollinator-friendly flowers in spring and small blue fruits later in summer. It is extremely deer-resistant and cold-hardy and grows well in full sun to partial shade. It is hardy in USDA Zones 2-8.
Arborvitae Compare
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Green Giant
Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja x ‘Green Giant’) is a hybrid with extreme vigor! It is the fastest-growing hedge that we offer, making it ideal for large privacy hedges. It has some deer-resistance, grows well in full sun to part shade, and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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American
American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) is a fast-growing evergreen hedge with feathery foliage. It grows best in full sun and is very cold hardy. It’s a great choice for a privacy hedge. American Arborvitae is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
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Emerald Green
Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) is a dense, columnar evergreen that is very popular for privacy hedges due to its consistent green color, natural thickness, and low-maintenance habit. It does best in full sun and is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
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Virescens
Virescens Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata ‘Virescens’) is a fast-growing evergreen with a fairly narrow habit making it easy to maintain. It is brilliant green all year and is deer-resistant. It grows well in full sun to partial shade. Virescens is hardy to USDA Zone 5-9.
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Little Simon
Little Simon Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Little Simon’) is a dwarf selection of Emerald Green that only reaches 3-4’ tall. It is a great boxwood substitute for colder regions and blight-susceptible areas. It grows best in full sun and is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
Boxwood & Boxwood Substitutes Compare
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Green Mountain
Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus x ‘Green Mountain’) is an extremely popular boxwood. It has great cold tolerance and is one of the most naturally resistant to Boxwood Blight. It is deer and rabbit resistant and grows well in full sun to shade. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.
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Schmidt
Schmidt Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Schmidt’) is a lesser-known boxwood variety but has a desirable tall and narrow growth habit making it great for hedging. It is deer resistant and grows in full sun to partial shade. It is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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Box Honeysuckle
Box Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) is lovely hedge in its own right but also makes a great boxwood substitute for areas with Boxwood Blight. The foliage is evergreen and very similar to boxwood. It is deer resistant, takes full sun to full shade, and grows in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Hick's Yew
Hicks Yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) is the best hedge for deep shade locations, although it also thrives in full sun. This is a naturally narrow plant, so it is good for small spaces. It has evergreen needles and bright red fruits. Hicks Yew is hardy to USDA Zones 5-8.
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Little Simon
Little Simon Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Little Simon’) is a dwarf selection of Emerald Green that only reaches 3-4’ tall. It is a great boxwood substitute for colder regions and blight-susceptible areas. It grows best in full sun and is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
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Teton Firethorn
Teton Firethorn (Pyracantha ‘Teton’) is an evergreen hedge that boasts billows of white flowers in spring, followed by bright orange fruits that feed birds through winter. Sharp thorns keep deer away. It grows well in full sun to shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
Laurels Compare
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English
English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a popular fast-growing evergreen hedge for privacy. It has large, glossy leaves and is deer-resistant. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and is quite drought tolerant once established. English laurel is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Schip
Schip laurel (P. laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is excellent for partial shade locations. It grows quickly with a narrow habit. It has dark evergreen leaves and is deer-resistant. It is drought tolerant once established. Schip laurel is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Portuguese
Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) is great for warm, coastal climates but does equally well in other temperate areas. It is very drought tolerant once established. It grows in full sun to partial shade and is deer resistant. Portuguese laurel is hardy in USDA Zones 6b-9b.
More Evergreens See All
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Hick's Yew
Hicks Yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) is the best hedge for deep shade locations, although it also thrives in full sun. This is a naturally narrow plant, so it is good for small spaces. It has evergreen needles and bright red fruits. Hicks Yew is hardy to USDA Zones 5-8.
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Juniper
Wichita Blue Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Wichita Blue’) has brilliant blue foliage to make a colorful year-round statement in the landscape. It is deer resistant and grows best in full sun. Once established it is highly drought-tolerant. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-7.
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Teton Firethorn
Teton Firethorn (Pyracantha ‘Teton’) is an evergreen hedge that boasts billows of white flowers in spring, followed by bright orange fruits that feed birds through winter. Sharp thorns keep deer away. It grows well in full sun to shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Laurel hedges

Home> Laurel hedges
Laurel hedges2019-10-30T11:57:52+00:00

Laurel Hedges are a unique group of plants, and they are particularly well-suited to hedging. They are technically in the Prunus genus and they are not “true” laurels at all! This may be why they are often called “Cherry laurels” –cherries and plums are also Prunus species.

laurel plants are broad-leafed evergreens, meaning they have wide, leathery leaves that stay on the plant all year long. This makes them ideal for privacy hedges, along with the fact that they are very fast growers. They are also highly drought-and heat-tolerant.

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Types of Laurel Hedge

3 Varieties of Laurel

Prunus Laurocerasus English Laurel Hedge
English Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus

Prunus l Schipkaensis Cherry Laurel Hedge Plant
Cherry Laurel

Prunus L. 'Schipkaensis'

Prunus Lusitanica Portuguese Laurel Hedge
Portuguese Laurel

Prunus Lusitanica

Types of Laurel Hedge

3 Varieties of Laurel

laurel hedge plants

English Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus

Laurel hedges

Cherry Laurel

Prunus L. ‘Schipkaensis’

laurel hedge plants

Portuguese Laurel

Prunus Lusitanica

A Laurel Plant By Any Other Name

Despite not being true laurels (true laurels would be in the Laurus genus, i.e. Laurus nobilis, Bay Laurel), their leathery evergreen leaves do bear some resemblance to their namesake. For our purposes, when we say “laurel”, we mean “cherry laurel”.

There are several types of laurels that have great commercial value and are very popular for landscaping. Some of the most popular are the English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Schip laurel(Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’, also known as the Skip or Schipka laurel plant), and the Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica). The main differences between them are their hardiness zones, growth rates, growth habits, and foliage appearance. You can also check out other hedge types.

laurel shrub

Hardiness

Laurel hedge plants grow in a lot of regions, and they are a great option for warmer areas. We at InstantHedge are always on the lookout for the best hedge varieties to grow, and we recently began production on a laurel that is hardy to Zone 5!

Laurel Plant growing conditions

English Laurel

(Prunus laurocerasus) aka English laurel thrives in moderate to warm climates. It is smog tolerant and grows well in a wide range of soil types. It is drought tolerant once established.

laurel plant

Schip Laurel

(Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’)  is tough. It does extremely well in the winter, so much so that you can sometimes get away with it in warmer parts of Zone 5. It tolerates a wide range of soils and is drought tolerant once established.

Laurel shrub growing region

Portuguese Laurel

(Prunus lusitanica) also called Portuguese laurel is great choice for warmer climates. It is smog, salt, and drought tolerant, and grows well in all kinds of soil. Excellent for coastal areas.

laurel hedge growth rate

Laurels generally grow very quickly, making them ideal for fast-growing screens.

English Cherry Laurel Plant Growth Rate

English laurels and Schip laurels grow very fast, increasing by 1-2 feet per year in the right growing conditions. The main difference is that English laurel plant will grow up and out rapidly, while the Schip laurel grows mainly straight up and stays quite narrow.

laurel shrub growth rate

Portuguese laurels grow quite fast as well, putting on about 1 foot of growth per year in the right conditions. The growth is a little tighter on this

laurel hedges

Growth Habit

Looking at the natural growth habit of the different types of laurels is helpful when deciding which is the best choice for a certain location. You can see from the diagram below that the Schip laurel and Portuguese laurel will require a lot less pruning to maintain a narrow profile than the English laurel, but the English laurel will reach the tallest height the fastest. Types of Laurels will be better suited to different spaces.

Types of laurel

Prunus laurocerasus

English Laurel