Small hedges have been popular as a part of garden design for centuries, a low growing hedge can make a great garden dividers, borders or informal barrier of plants. Although many varieties can be contained to a low growing form by constant pruning, a better solution is to look for naturally lower growing plants.
Low Growing Hedge Plants first came into the repertoire of garden designers when they were widely used in Parterre Gardens, today they are borders along pathways and drives, around buildings and as a formal design element in gardens. Low growing Hedge plants such as Buxus or Box are well known, we list some of the best, and a few unusual low growing alternatives.
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List of Low growing Hedge Plants
BUXUS (Box)
Buxus sempervirens is perhaps the ‘classic’ low growing hedge. Buxus sempervirens responds well to regular trimming and makes a great formal low growing hedge
ACACIA
Acacia Cognata
Yes an acacia as a low growing native plant, dwarf acacias such as Acacia Cognata ‘little con’, ‘limelight’ and Acacia cognata ‘Lime Magic’ have soft weeping foliage, require little to no pruning and make a great informal hedge.
BERBERIS
Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea ‘Nana’ (Japanese barberry) A deciduous low growing plant, but great color.
DIOSMA
Another very popular plant for low hedge, and Golden Diosma (Coleonema pulchellum) is just bout everywhere, overused, or just a great low growing plant
NANDINA
Nandina domestica ‘Nana’ is the low growing form of the sacred bamboo, nice colour in winter as well, but it does not lose its foliage in winter.
PITTOSPORUM
Although widely seen as a taller plant some lower growing cultivars are available ‘Pittosporum Golf Ball’ is one
LAVENDULA
Lavender hedges have been around for many years, aromatic, respond well to pruning and a great display of flowers rise above the foliage in spring.
ROSMARINUS
Rosemary is another aromatic low growing plant, easy to keep in shape, flowers in spring and really a tough plant.Requires a well drained soil.
SANTOLINA
Santolina or ‘Lavender Cotton’, fairly unusual in Australia but gaining lots of admirers. Drought tolerant, pretty yellow flowers in spring to summer and can be kept to under .5m.
Santolina chamaecyparissus ‘Nana’ and Santolina pinnata neopolitana are two species. Perhaps a little slow, but great once it gets going.
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