If you are looking for a natural privacy screen or a lively alternative to a garden fence, you will usually end up with thuja or hornbeam. But there are also real beauties among the hedge plants that set wonderful accents in the garden once a year: flowering hedge plants. In this article we have put together for you which flowering shrubs are suitable as hedge plants.
plant selection
There is a whole range of flowering shrubs to choose from that are suitable for the design of hedges. When choosing a tree, the most important thing is what function the flowering hedge should fulfil. With low variants of the hedge plants, for example, beds can be marked off or paths can be bordered. High hedges with dense foliage provide good privacy. While some plants enchant the viewer with their blooms in spring, others bloom in summer or even in the winter months. Some also bear fruit, bringing color back into the garden in late fall.
The following factors are important for the selection:
- growth height
- flower color
- location
- soil condition
- compatibility with each other
Anyone who chooses a flowering hedge in the garden should be aware that these hedge plants cannot be trimmed very accurately and narrowly. Their growth is therefore rather loose. Most flowering shrubs also shed their leaves in autumn, but there are also a few evergreen species that provide year-round privacy.
garden area
planting time
Both spring and autumn are suitable for planting flowering hedges. However, you should keep in mind that most shrubs only develop their full blooms in the second year after planting. To keep the hedge easy to care for, you should use shrubs that are hardy.
planting distance
Measure the distances between the individual hedge plants so generously that the flowering shrubs do not hinder each other's growth. If you choose trees with a similar growth height, the care measures are made much easier.
- taller hedge plants: about 1 m apart
- low hedges: about 50 to 70 cm
- Hedges planted in zigzag: 70 cm
Flowering hedge plants
From B to D
Peasant jasmine (Philadelphus coronarius)
This hardy ornamental shrub is a fast-growing woody plant that produces full, snow-white osmanthus flowers in early summer. The farmer's jasmine is very undemanding and grows easily in almost any location and soil.
- white, double flowers in June and July (smell pleasantly)
- Growth: 30-50 cm per year
- Growth height: 2 to 3 m
- tolerates all soils with even moisture
- tolerates pruning well, hardy
Peasant jasmine, Philadelphus coronarius
Bloodcurrant (Ribes sanguineum)
The bloodcurrant grows as a squat shrub with numerous basal shoots. Since the flowering ornamental shrub is densely branched, it is also ideal as a privacy screen. Its pure red flowers appear before the leaves sprout in spring.
- dark red, pendulous flower clusters in April to May
- Soil: fresh, humic
- Growth: 10-15 cm per year
- Growth height: up to 2 m
Currants in the garden bed
Bride's Spiraea/White Panicle Spiraea (Spiraea cinerea)
The early bridal spiers, also known as white panicle spiers or snow spiers, are very popular in our gardens. This is not least due to their rich flowering. The individual flowers are small, but they are densely packed on elongated umbels, which overhang like arches in older plants.
- white umbels of flowers in April to May
- Location: sun
- Soil: thrives in almost any soil type
- Growth: 15-40 cm per year
- Growth height: 1.5 to 2 m
Bridal piers in the garden
Boxleaf barberry (Berberis buxifolia 'Nana')
As the name buxifolia suggests, its leaves are similar to boxwood. Just like the boxwood, the barberry has dark green, ovate leaves and is evergreen. The flowering dwarf shrub grows to a maximum height of one meter. The long shoots are slightly thorny and are therefore not only suitable as a good privacy screen, but also protect against unwanted entry into the garden. In addition, this hedge can also be cut very narrow.
- golden yellow flowers in May
- Soil: permeable, otherwise undemanding
- Growth: about 5 to 10 cm per year
- Growth height: 50 to 80 cm
- evergreen
- good pruning tolerance and winter hardiness
Barberry has very sharp thorns
Deutzia / Mayflower (Deutzia scabra or magnifica)
Filled species of Deutzia in particular are attractive as hedge plants, as the flowers are particularly intense. In early summer, the mayflower bush forms white or pale pink umbels of flowers that grow up to 12 cm long and are densely packed.
- white or light pink umbels of flowers in May to June
- Growth: 20-40 cm per year
- Growth height: 3 to 4 m
- grows in all normal garden soils
Star bush, Deutzia magnifica
From F to G
Forsythia (Forsythia)
Forsythia, also known as goldbells, is one of the classic flowering hedge plants. The shoots of the medium-tall shrub arch over when they are old if they are not pruned. Even before the fresh green leaves sprout, strong yellow flowers form distributed over the entire branch from March to April.
- bright yellow flowers in March to April
- Soil: normal garden soil
- Growth: 20-35 cm per year
- Growth height: 2 to 3 m
Forsythia with many yellow flowers
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
The most well-known scented shrub in our gardens is the lilac. With its large panicles of flowers, it exudes an intense, intoxicating smell. Lilac is one of the typical spring bloomers in May. In addition to the various varieties of common lilac, which grow over three meters high, there are also dwarf varieties.
- intensely fragrant flowers in white, purple and rarely pink tones
- Growth: 20-40 cm per year (dwarf varieties less)
- Height of growth: depending on the species, very tolerant of pruning
- Location: sunny to off-sun
- Soil: sandy, humic
Lilac bush with lush flowers
Photinia fraseri
The 'Red Robin' variety is one of the most beautiful medlars. In the spring it sprout bright red and thus provides colorful accents in the garden. Before the leaves turn green in summer, the numerous umbels of flowers appear in May to June, which form a beautiful contrast to the red leaves.
- evergreen
- Flowers in red or white from May to June
- Growth: 30 to 50 cm per year, fast growing
- Growth height: 3 to 5 m
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Soil: humic and rich in nutrients
- only conditionally hardy in cold areas
photinia 'Red Robin'
From L to S
Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
The true beauty of the privet is often not shown to advantage because it is strictly trimmed as a hedge. If left to grow freely, it develops into a loose shrub with an upright habit that forms long, white umbels of flowers.
- white umbels of flowers in June/July
- some species are evergreen
- also available with variegated leaves
- Growth: 40-100 cm per year, very fast growth
- Growth height: 3-4 m
- Location and soil: undemanding
- good hardy
privet hedge
Mother of pearl bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
The mother-of-pearl shrub, also called Kolkwitzia, sets romantic accents in the garden with its flowers. In autumn, the leaves turn mainly brown and light orange and red tones.
- pink to red-white flowers in May to June
- Growth rate: 20-50 cm per year (fast growing)
- Growth height: 2.0 to 3.5 m
Linnaea amabilis, Kolkwitzia, mother-of-pearl shrub
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
The sloe, also called hedge thorn or blackthorn, belongs to the stone fruit family. They are thorny shrubs that are covered in white flowers in early spring before the foliage sprout. The shrub is a native plant and is very undemanding.
- numerous white flowers in April and May
- blue fruits (sloes) in autumn
- Soil: sandy, preferably calcareous
- Growth: 20-30 cm per year
- Growth height: 2-3 m
- tolerates pruning well and is winter hardy
Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa
Snowball (Viburnum varieties)
The snowball is a native wild tree with white, fragrant umbrella flowers that form a beautiful contrast to the bright green leaves. The leaves of the stiff, upright shrub look similar to those of the maple. In autumn the foliage turns orange-red to wine-red. Palm-sized umbels of fruit develop from the white flowers, initially with yellow, later red fruits, which look very decorative in autumn and winter.
- white or light pink umbrella flowers from May to June
- Growth: 15-40 cm per year
- Growth height: up to 4 m
- Evergreen varieties available
- Location: sun to shade
- Soil: loamy-humic, likes chalky
Snowball, Viburnum opulus
Snow forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum)
The snow forsythia is one of the real rarities. In mild areas, the shrub flowers from January, otherwise from March. Reddish buds open into numerous bell-shaped, white flowers with an almond-like scent.
- white flowers in winter to spring
- Growth: 20-30 cm per year
- Growth height: up to 1.5 m
- sheltered location in rough areas
- Soil: nutritious and loose
From T to W
Devil's bush/red pheasant's spar (Physocarpus opulifolius)
The blood-red foliage color of the shrub, also known as Dark Red Bladder Spire Diabolo, contrasts nicely with the pink-white flowers, which appear in rounded umbels in June. The flowers mature into red follicles with a blister-like appearance.
- white to pink umbels of flowers in June
- Growth: fast growing (30-50 cm per year)
- Growth height: 2.0 to 2.5 m
- dark red foliage
Physocarpus opulifolius, bladder spar
Weigela (Weigelia)
The Weigela is a low-maintenance flowering shrub with funnel-shaped or bell-shaped flowers that appear immediately after the lilac blooms. Some varieties grow over three meters high, while others only reach a height of just under a meter. In good years there is a second flowering in autumn.
- pink, red, yellowish or white flowers in June and July
- Growth: fast growing (30-50 cm per year)
- Growth height: depending on the variety
- overhanging in old age
Weigela in full bloom
Wild rose/sand rose (Rosa mollis)
The wild or sand rose grows excellently on sandy soil and is therefore also suitable for locations where hedges are otherwise difficult to cultivate. Fragrant light pink flowers adorn the shrub in early summer. From September, the red rose hips will ripen and remain on the plant throughout the winter. From October, the sand rose shows itself in a yellow to orange-red autumn dress.
- large pink flowers in June and July
- Growth: 20-40 cm per year
- Growth height: 1.5 to 2 m
- Location: sunny
- good hardy
Wild rose, Rosa mollis
Winter flowering (Chimonanthus praecox)
Not only the flowers, which appear on the bush in mild locations as early as December, otherwise from March, are fragrant, but also the bark and leaves.
- creamy yellow with a reddish center in the winter months
- Growth: 10-20 cm per year
- Growth height: up to 3 m
- Location: sheltered from the wind
- Soil: rich in nutrients
- young plants need winter protection
Winter flowering, Chimonanthus
Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera x purpusii)
This rare honeysuckle species produces white flowers from December with a delicate scent of violets. Depending on the weather conditions, the bloom lasts until April. The branches hang over elegantly.
- white flowers from December, fragrant
- Growth height: up to 2 m
- Soil: slightly damp
Winter scented honeysuckle, Lonicera x purpusii
planting plan
If you would like to plant a colourful, flowering hedge from different trees, you should ensure similar growth heights and speeds so that the weaker plant is not suppressed. We have put together for you a few ideal combinations for a garden hedge that has flowers for months of the year. This basic stock of hedge plants can be repeated as often as you like according to the planting plan, so that a correspondingly long, flowering hedge is formed from it.
Colorful mix
The flowering hedge reaches a maximum height of about 2 to 2.5 meters. Of course, it can also be kept shorter by cutting measures. It is usually sufficient to prune the shrubs once a year, preferably after flowering.
- Forsythia: yellow flowers in April/March
- Farmer's jasmine: white osmanthus flowers in June/July
- Blood currant: red flowers in April/May
- White panicle: white flowers in April/May
- Double Deutzia: white or light pink in May/June
laburnum, forsythia
Flowering hedge plants with fruit for sandy soils
This trio of flowering hedge plants is not only easy to care for and enchants with an extraordinary abundance of flowers, the shrubs also produce colorful fruits that shine in the garden in autumn and provide food for birds. In addition, they are very undemanding in terms of location and soil conditions, so they also grow in gardens with rather sandy soil.
- Snowball: white flowers in May/June
- Sand rose: pink flowers in June/July
- Sloe: white flowers in April/May
Flowering scented hedge
There are some shrubs that not only produce beautiful flowers, but also spoil you with a delicate fragrance. It is best to plant these shrubs as a hedge in a high-traffic area (e.g. along the driveway) so that you can enjoy the scent as often as possible.
- Winter honeysuckle: white flowers, depending on the weather between December and April
- Common lilac: white or lilac flower umbels in May
- Winter flowering: creamy yellow flowers between December and March
- Privet: white umbels of flowers in June/July
- Snow Forsythia: white flowers in the winter months
- Farmer's jasmine: white osmanthus flowers in June/July
Lilac tree, lilac, syringa with white color of flowers
Evergreen flowering hedge
Planting a hedge that is not only evergreen but also flowers is the dream of many garden owners. In addition to an expansive flowering hedge of rhododendrons, combinations of the following hedge plants that are evergreen are also possible.
- Privet (evergreen varieties): white flowers in June/July
- Boxleaf barberry: golden yellow flowers in May
- Photinus: red or white flowers in May to June
- Evergreen viburnum: pink-white cymes in June
privet hedge
Combination in pink
If you want to use different plants that are similar in flower color, you can of course fall back on countless white flowering shrubs. A romantic soft pink combination consists of the following plants.
- Deutzia: light pink (May/June)
- Snow forsythia: soft pink (in the winter months)
- Weigela: pink (June/July)
- Mother-of-pearl shrub: pink (May/June)
weigela