The humble hedge can be an important garden feature, creating privacy, defining boundaries, and providing more benefits to wildlife than a fence or wall. Many traditional options create an effective block of green but can be somewhat dull, so if you're on the lookout for a new leafy barrier, why not consider a variety that's a little lesser-known?
There are plenty of underrated plants perfect for backyards, including ones suitable for hedges. As well as a botanical screen, these bring interest to the garden with the likes of fragrant flowers or colorful foliage, so it's a wonder why they don't always get the love that they deserve.
Below, you'll find seven underrated hedge plants recommended by gardening experts. If you're looking for something a bit different from our roundup of best hedge plants, these are definitely worth adding to your shortlist.
7 underrated hedge plants for your yard
From flowering shrubs to hedges that are great for wildlife, it's difficult to choose between these top planting contenders.
1. Chinese fringe flower
The evergreen Chinese fringe flower, or Loropetalum, makes a real statement. Horticulturist Gail Pabst particularly recommends the 'Jazz Hands Bold®' variety, highlighting its large flowers and brilliant dark burgundy-black foliage.
It grows to five to six feet tall and wide in USDA zones 7-9, she says, plus, it makes an easy-to-maintain hedge. 'This plant will grow in full to part sun and doesn't require pruning.'
Nikki Bruner of Perfect Plants Nursery also recommends Loropetalum, suggesting the taller 'Zhuzhou' variety, which you can buy from My Perfect Plants. It quickly reaches up to 10-15 feet tall, she says. 'Few plants can offer this year-round color, and it can break up normal evergreen borders with vibrant purple and pink hues.'
2. Waxleaf ligustrum
Waxleaf ligustrum (Ligustrum japonicum), available from Perfect Plants Nursery, is Nikki's top choice for an underrated hedge plant. 'Waxleaf ligustrum is tough, evergreen, and has fragrant white flowers in spring,' she says. 'The blooms are highly fragrant and attract pollinators.'
This underrated evergreen will create a large, leafy screen quickly – Nikki says its grows to 15 feet tall, with a growth rate of up to one to two feet per year. In terms of pruning, it can be shaped tightly or left untamed, she adds. It also happens to be drought-tolerant once established.
Note that waxleaf ligustrum is considered an invasive plant in parts of the US, so double-check whether this applies to your region before you add it to your yard. You may also want to look for the 'Kindly®' variety, which, according to Gail, is the first-ever non-invasive Ligustrum japonicum.
3. Sweet gale
Anna Ohler, the owner of Bright Lane Gardens nursery, recommends sweet gale, otherwise known as Myrica gale, for our list. 'This one’s ideal for wetter spots where other shrubs struggle,' she says. Because of this, it makes a great plant for a rain garden.
'It has fragrant foliage, supports native pollinators, and fixes nitrogen in the soil, making it great for low-maintenance spots,' she continues. 'It’s happy in full sun and doesn’t need much pruning, just let it do its thing.'
4. American beautyberry
Callicarpa americana, or the American beautyberry, is a gorgeous shrub with fall berries. Kelly Funk, the CEO of Jackson & Perkins, recommends the 'Pearl Glam®' variety as an underrated hedging plant.
'Beautyberry is an underused gem with striking clusters of vibrant purple berries that persist into winter, providing a vital food source for birds,' she says. 'This easy-going native does best in full sun to part shade and average, well-draining soil. It grows quickly, so prune in late winter to maintain shape.'
To create an informal screen, she recommends spacing the plants four to six feet apart.
5. Virginia sweetspire
Virginia sweetspire, or Itea virginica, is another option to consider – particularly the 'Fizzy Mizzy™' variety, as Kelly suggests. 'Virginia sweetspire is a versatile native shrub known for its fragrant white flower spikes in early summer, which attract butterflies and bees,' she says. 'In fall, the foliage turns bright red, often holding its color well into winter.'
She recommends planting it in full sun for best flowering ('though it also can survive in part shade'), and in moist, slightly acidic soil. 'Space three to four feet apart for a thick hedge, and prune lightly after flowering.'
6. American plum
Another flowering beauty is the American plum (Prunus americana), which Anna adds to our list. 'It’s not a typical choice for hedging, but it forms dense thickets, puts on a gorgeous spring flower show, and has great fall color,' she says.
'Birds love the small plums, and pollinators flock to the blooms. It grows well in full sun, handles different soils, and just needs a little pruning to keep it in shape.'
7. Fothergilla
Kelly also recommends the 'Mount Airy' Fothergilla. 'Fothergilla is a native deciduous shrub that offers something in every season: honey-scented white bottlebrush flowers in spring (a magnet for bees and early pollinators), rich green summer foliage, and spectacular autumn color in shades of orange, red, and yellow,' she says. 'Its adaptability makes it a standout for mixed native hedges that support wildlife.'
She advises planting it in full sun to part shade in acidic, well-draining soil. 'Fothergilla prefers consistent moisture but tolerates short dry spells once established.'
FAQs
What is an underrated hedge plant with variegated leaves?
Try Euonymus 'Silver King', an underrated plant recommended by Gail. 'This adaptable hedge plant offers unique color and texture with its glossy green leaves featuring silvery-white margins, tolerates poor soils and heat, and grows to a size of six feet tall by three feet wide in USDA zones 6-9,' she says.
How can I keep my hedge plants healthy?
The first crucial step in keeping hedges healthy is planting them in the right way and at the right time. To keep yours in shape, you'll also need to read up on how and when to prune it – bearing in mind that this can differ between varieties. Frequent watering is also beneficial as hedges get established, even if they are considered drought-tolerant plants.
If you want more options to consider before settling on your hedge plant of choice, our lists of low-maintenance hedge plants and fragrant hedge plants are also well worth a look.
After all, hedges can be quite an investment, so it's important to pick one you truly love. And once you've decided, why not take a look at our guide on underrated ground cover plants, too, to add even more color and texture to your yard?
