Hedging and screening Flashcards
Taxus baccata (Common yew)
Evergreen
Formal hedge, can be trimmed and shaped when required
Leaves and fruit are toxic. Poisonous if ingested and can cause stomach upset and serious illness.
Formal garden
Full shade to full sun, well drained soil
Fagus sylvatica (common beech)
Deciduous but brown leaves tend to stay until spring
Leaves broadly elliptic, yellow-green in spring, rich russet-brown in autumn.
well-drained soil in sun or partial shade
Cotoneaster franchetii
Evergreen
3cm long, glossy grey-green leaves with white undersides, clusters of flowers in early summer which are white tinged outside with pink, followed by oblong orange-scarlet fruits; the flowers are attractive to bees and birds eat berries
Effective at soaking up pollution -> roadside hedge
Full sun or partial shade in any soil that is well-drained
Clematis armandii
Large, vigorous evergreen climber with leathery, dark glossy green trifoliate leaves up to 15cm long.
Single, fragrant creamy-white flowers in early to mid-spring
Can be grown on trellis as a screen
Warm south or south-west facing wall with protection from cold winds. Grow in any fertile, well-drained soil.
Buxus sempervirens (common box)
Evergreen shrub
Can be clipped in summer to form formal hedge
Grows best in well-drained soil in partial shade
Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine)
Vigorous medium-sized evergreen twining woody climber with glossy dark green, oval leaves 5-8cm in length and often turning deep red in winter; can be trained on trellis as screen
Clusters of very fragrant white flowers 2.5cm in width become cream with age in summer
Courtyard or city garden
Fertile well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade with shelter from cold winds;
Carpinus betulus (common hornbeam)
Deciduous
Leaves turn yellow in autumn.
Catkins in spring if left unclipped
Fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade
Ligustrum vulgare (wild privet)
Deciduous
Simple, entire leaves
Needs to be clipped twice a year
well-drained, or moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade
Crataegus monogyna (common hawthorn)
Deciduous
glossy, deeply lobed leaves and flat sprays of cream flowers, followed by dark red berries in autumn
Cattle-proof as has long thorns. Good for wildlife.
Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Alnus glutinosa (common alder)
Deciduous
Native to UK.
glossy, dark green foliage and brown catkins in the autumn
Full sun. Thrives in wet soil.
Names characteristics of plants suitable for screening
- dense growth of foliage and stem
- tall enough to screen the object
- Low maintenance i.e. not requiring frequent pruning
- decorative features e.g. flowers or foliage in keeping with design of garden
- grows quickly to establish but not too vigorous
- hardy and longevity
