Many plants love the sun. Which hedge plants are suitable for gardens that are very shady? We present twelve suitable varieties for the shade hedge.

In a nutshell

  • Hedges can be used as privacy screens or to limit paths
  • not all species suitable for shade
  • flowering hedges bring color to shady places
  • Shade hedge as a valuable habitat for small animals and insects
  • Birds prefer hedge breeding sites with little sun

Ivy (Hedera)

If you plant ivy and provide it with a climbing aid, you can quickly enjoy a dense, green hedge. The plant does well in spots with a lot or little sun. It is undemanding and robust.

Hedera helix
  • Growth height: 2 to 10 meters
  • Growth rate: 50 centimeters per year
  • flowers: yellow
  • Flowering time: September to October
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: dark green
  • Soil: calcareous, moist
  • Care: undemanding

Single Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

The single-winged hawthorn impresses with its dense growth. It thrives in sunny and shady locations alike. The hardy hedge plants were once used as an impenetrable fence around farms.

Flowering hawthorn hedge
  • Growth height: 2 to 5 meters
  • Growth rate: 25 centimeters per year
  • Flowers: white, umbel-shaped, strongly scented
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: dark green
  • Soil: calcareous, humic
  • Care: undemanding, tolerates pruning well

Notice: A shade hedge is much more than a design element in the garden. It protects against prying eyes and keeps wind, dust and noise away.

Common yew (Taxus baccata)

Yew love it in the shade. They grow slowly and are excellent for topiary. The red berries that appear in autumn are a beautiful ornament.

Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Robusta'
  • Growth height: 3 to 4 meters
  • Growth rate: 15 centimeters per year
  • flowers: yellow, spherical
  • Flowering time: March to April
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: dark green needles
  • Soil: calcareous, loamy, permeable
  • Care: undemanding, tolerates pruning well

Common Buckthorn (Frangula alnus)

Whether there is a lot or little sun, the common buckthorn grows everywhere and quickly forms dense hedges.

Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) with unripe fruits
  • Growth height: 2 to 7 meters
  • Growth rate: 30 centimeters per year
  • flowers: white, in clusters
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: light green, attractive autumn color
  • Soil: moist, fresh, slightly acidic
  • Care: easy to care for, add compost in spring

Notice: The common alder buckthorn got its name from the slightly putrid smell of its bark.

Common privet (Ligustrum vulgare)

Privet hedges are popular as flowering property borders. The attractive shady hedge offers birds a sheltered place to breed.

  • Growth height: 3 to 4 meters
  • Growth rate: 15 centimeters per year
  • flowers: yellow, spherical
  • Flowering time: March to April
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: dark green needles
  • Soil: normal garden soil
  • Care: undemanding, tolerates pruning well

Notice: Privet is slightly poisonous in all parts of the plant. The berries in particular can be tempting for young children. In this case, it is best to look for planting alternatives.

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

The hornbeam is one of the most popular hedge plants. It is excellent as a shade hedge in gardens with little sun. As a native tree, the hornbeam hedge is perfectly adapted to the climatic conditions.

  • Growth height: 3 to 13 meters
  • Growth rate: 30 centimeters per year
  • Flowers: light green, pendulous catkins
  • Flowering time: April to May
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: green, attractive golden yellow autumn colour
  • Soil: rich in nutrients, humic
  • Care: easy to care for, tolerates pruning well

Currant (Ribes)

Currants are not only tasty and healthy, they also quickly form compact hedges in the shade.

  • Growth height: 0.5 to 2 meters
  • Growth rate: 30 centimeters per year
  • flowers: yellow-green
  • Flowering time: April to May
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: green, yellow autumn colour
  • Soil: nutrient-rich, calcareous
  • Care: easy to care for, robust

Tip: Unlike many other shade hedges on this list, snacking is expressly allowed here!

Bay Cherry (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry laurel is popular as a hedge plant. The evergreen hedge plant grows quickly and forms dense hedges. The hardy plant feels at home where it is shady.

  • Growth height: 2 to 4 meters
  • Growth rate: 30 centimeters per year
  • Flowers: white, fragrant flower clusters
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: dark green, leathery leaves Soil: rich in nutrients
  • Care: compost in spring, cut in June after flowering

Portuguese cherry laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

The Portuguese cherry laurel impresses during the flowering period with white flower umbels that smell delicately of honey. It is evergreen and a real gem in the garden thanks to its attractive foliage. Plant the attractive hedge plant in a sheltered spot with little sun.

  • Growth height: 5 to 20 meters
  • Growth rate: 40 centimeters per year
  • Flowers: white, fragrant flower clusters
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: Dark green, leathery leaves, dark red petioles
  • Soil: sandy, loamy, humic
  • Care: undemanding, cut in June after flowering

European beech (Fagus sylvatica)

The common beech is popular as a domestic hedge tree, above all because of its dense growth and attractive foliage colour. It also grows where there is shade. It does not tolerate prolonged drought. Popular varieties of red beech are copper beeches and Süntel beeches.

Copper beech hedge (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea)
  • Growth height: 20 to 30 meters
  • Growth rate: 40 centimeters per year
  • Flowers: light green, inconspicuous clusters
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: green, impressive copper-red autumn colour
  • Soil: rich in nutrients, humic, moist
  • Care: easy to care for, tolerates pruning well

Notice: Beech trees grow very quickly and densely. In the region around Monschau, the so-called Monschauer Heckenland, you can see impressive red beech hedges as high as a house.

Black honeysuckle (Lonicera nigra)

Even if it is shady on your property, the black honeysuckle quickly forms a dense shade hedge.

You should definitely keep your hands off the inedible fruits of the honeysuckle.
  • Growth height: 0.5 to 2 meters
  • Growth rate: 10 centimeters per year
  • Flowers: pink
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: green, glossy
  • Soil: rich in nutrients, poor in lime
  • Care: easy care

Grape elder (Sambucus racemosa)

A grape elder hedge not only looks adorable. Their berries form the basis for tasty jam. However, you have to be careful that the birds don't get ahead of you!

Red elderberry fruits (Sambucus racemosa)
  • Growth height: 2 to 4 meters
  • Growth rate: 30 centimeters per year
  • Flowers: yellow-green panicle flowers
  • Flowering time: April to May
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaves: dull green
  • Soil: humic, low in lime, permeable
  • Care: Cut back worn fruit shoots in late winter

Notice: When planting a shade hedge, pay attention to the border to the neighboring property. The neighboring laws of the federal states contain regulations on the minimum distance.

frequently asked Questions

When can you cut hedges?

Birds like to build their nests in dense hedges. To protect breeding birds, it is forbidden to erect hedges or cut them back heavily between March 1st and September 30th. Grooming or shaping cuts are allowed.

When is the best time to plant a hedge?

The best dates for planting hedges are between February and March and between October and November. Deciduous species are planted in autumn whenever possible. Evergreen hedge plants do better when planted in spring.

How do hedges get nice and tight?

Cut back the long, unbranched shoots regularly. This is how you stimulate growth. The pruned plants form dense branches.

Category:

Garden design