Native plant hedge? - Ask Extension
My yard faces a road that can get busy during rush hour. I want to put in plants that can develop into a barrier or hedge. Are there any native shrubs...
Knowledgebase
Native plant hedge? #857038
Asked January 05, 2024, 4:57 PM EST
My yard faces a road that can get busy during rush hour. I want to put in plants that can develop into a barrier or hedge. Are there any native shrubs and bushes you would recommend for that purpose? I would like to use plants that can grow tall enough and dense enough to block as much of the sight and sound of the cars as possible. I know people often turn to boxwoods or bamboo, but I want to use plants that are not invasive and are native to the area.
Thank you for your advice and recommendations!
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
More information about the site conditions can help us make some suggestions. For example, is the area fairly sunny during summer, or is it shaded by nearby tall trees or other structures? Does the soil there drain well, skew dry, or tend to stay wet after rain longer than other parts of the yard? Do deer regularly visit the yard to browse? What mature height and width, without relying on pruning, would the minimum and/or maximum the area can accommodate? And lastly, do you prefer the plants be evergreen, or are deciduous (or a mix of) species suitable? Maryland has very few mid-size (not tree-size, not low perennials/shrubs) evergreen native species, so including deciduous species would greatly expand your options.
Miri
Miri
Hello Miri,
I’m very open to deciduous options. The east side of the yard is in partial shade due to a nearby large walnut tree and other mature trees. The west side of the yard is mostly in sun. The ground is sloped with the slope running from east down to the west. The ground looks like it’s all fairly moist and not too badly compacted. I think there’s a good amount of clay. The area is close to Sligo creek so deer do move through the yard but we are also close to some other very busy roads and the beltway so we don’t have constant grazing pressure.
I would like pretty tall growth for the hedge. In many ways the higher it grows the better though I’d prefer it not form a canopy that would overshadow too much of the other growing space. I have a good amount of width to work with, at a minimum 10-15 feet.
I included a few pictures that I thought might be helpful.
Thank you for your help!
Kate
On Jan 8, 2024, at 12:17 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Hello Kate,
Thank you for the photos and information. We can list some ideas below (most locally native, a couple regionally native but not found wild in Maryland), with the default being those that prefer or tolerate full sun (or at least about 5-6 hours a day in summer) unless noted. All also require good drainage unless noted. It's not an exhaustive list, especially when taking into account some other native-but-not-local species, but it may help you to get started with candidates.
Using a mix of species is recommended for the best resiliency for the planting as a whole (since each species has different tolerances and vulnerabilities to stress), as well as to boost wildlife value, though that means the hedge will not have a uniform look (if that matters to you). To use a species mix with more uniformity, if desired, you can repeat patterns of alternating plants so that there is symmetry in the layout, even if each plant doesn't have the exact same growth habit as its neighbors.
Miri
Thank you for the photos and information. We can list some ideas below (most locally native, a couple regionally native but not found wild in Maryland), with the default being those that prefer or tolerate full sun (or at least about 5-6 hours a day in summer) unless noted. All also require good drainage unless noted. It's not an exhaustive list, especially when taking into account some other native-but-not-local species, but it may help you to get started with candidates.
Using a mix of species is recommended for the best resiliency for the planting as a whole (since each species has different tolerances and vulnerabilities to stress), as well as to boost wildlife value, though that means the hedge will not have a uniform look (if that matters to you). To use a species mix with more uniformity, if desired, you can repeat patterns of alternating plants so that there is symmetry in the layout, even if each plant doesn't have the exact same growth habit as its neighbors.
- Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)
Evergreen, though it's normal for this species of holly to develop bare lower branches with maturity, which pruning won't really correct. (Not a problem...just underplant with something to hide the bare area, like ferns if in semi-shade or shorter perennials if in sun.) Hollies only produce berries on female plants and require a male of the same species (not necessarily right next to them) to pollinate flowers in order for berry production. Inkberry berries are black and smaller than other holly fruits, but may be of interest to birds. A couple dwarf Inkberry cultivars exist, but for your purposes, you want a non-dwarf; plant catalogs may say they grow about 3 to 5 feet high, but they can definitely get closer to 7 feet or so if given enough time and not pruned. Tolerant of more evenly-moist soils or temporarily wet conditions (as in rain gardens). - Bayberry / Waxmyrtle (Myrica pensylvanica and/or Myrica cerifera; might be listed under Morella instead of Myrica)
Semi-evergreen foliage, meaning it can range from essentially deciduous to somewhat evergreen depending on the year's weather and the plant's genetics. Southern Bayberry (M. cerifera) tends to retain leaves more extensively than the other. Foliage is fragrant when rubbed, and like the holly above, female plants can produce tiny gray-blue berries if they are pollinated by a male. Heights vary from dwarf types to non-dwarf types. They prefer soil low in fertility, so don't fertilize. Cultivars exist but are sometimes hard to find. Tolerant of both fairly dry soils and those that become temporarily wet. - Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) - dwarf cultivar like 'Gray Owl' since the wild type gets much too large
Evergreen, and most dwarf forms are a blue-gray color. They don't get too large (maybe 3 to 4 feet high, but about 5 or 6 feet wide) but might be nice color or texture contrast or useful in an area you want better visibility (maybe the end of the row, if it's near a driveway). Good drought tolerance. - Fothergilla (Fothergilla major, F. gardenii, and F. x intermedia)
Deciduous and known for its rich fall foliage colors, especially when grown in semi-sun. Spring blooms have a slight scent. Growth is fairly slow but mature sizes may reach about 5 to 6 feet high and wide. There are a couple cultivars with more blue-green foliage (like some "blue" Hosta varieties). - Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Deciduous and known for its strong floral scent (sweet) in midsummer or so. Non-dwarf types grow fairly quickly and tend to get taller than wide. Tolerant of poorer drainage. - Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Deciduous and known for its rich fall foliage colors, especially when grown in semi-sun. Tolerant of poorer drainage. Might sucker a little, meaning roots may sprout new stems, widening the clump over time, though they are easily pruned off or mown-down if unwanted. Young stems can be burgundy-red in winter, and may be slow to drop their autumn leaves. - Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Deciduous. Best in damp soils and very tolerant of poor drainage. Growth can be fast but easily pruned if needed as height might reach 6 to 8 feet over time. Pollinators enjoy the round white flowers in summer and sometimes the shrubs develop showy fall foliage color. - Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Deciduous. Many cultivars exist, mainly with purplish or golden foliage, and a number of them are also compact or dwarf. Non-dwarf types reach about 6 to 8 feet in height and grow fairly quickly. Note that, when it comes to supporting insects that feed on foliage, purple-leaved Ninebarks might be not very useful to them since the leaf color discourages leaf feeding, though pollinators will still visit the flowers. Peeling bark on older stems is normal with age. - Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina) or Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris)
Deciduous, and thorny like most roses. Hips (the berry-like fruits that roses produce) can feed birds if not pruned off, and sometimes shrubs develop decent fall foliage color. Flowers will probably be scented but might not be as strong as some modern rose hybrids. Swamp Rose tolerates damp soils. - Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) or Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Deciduous, and can sucker. Red Chokeberry fruits tend to hang on a while as birds prefer other sources of food in early winter (and thus can be decorative for longer), but Black Chokeberry tends to get eaten more quickly once ripe. Known for showy fall foliage color. - White Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) or Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa)
Deciduous. Fairly slender compared to the other shrubs listed, but might be a nice filler with summer flowers. - Florida Leucothoe (Agarista populifolia)
Evergreen, though in a harsh winter it might develop some winterburn (which will shed and be replaced with new growth in spring in that case). Not locally native, but it is hardy here (the National Arboretum has several mature clumps) and it grows much larger than the other Leucothoe typically sold at area nurseries; might be harder to find. - Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
Deciduous. Young stems are colorful, either red, orange, or yellow in winter. Berries can be attractive to birds. Might sucker, and tolerant of damp soils. - Purple Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Deciduous, maturing in the neighborhood of 5 or 6 feet high. Neon purple berries in autumn, though they tend to not last long into winter due to weathering and birds. - Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) or Witherod Viburnum (Viburnum nudum)
Deciduous, with showy fall foliage color. Several cultivars of each exist; in order for berries to be produced, in most cases, a pairing of two different cultivars (or just any two plants of the wild type, as long as they're the same species) will cross-pollinate for fruit. Birds enjoy the berries.
Miri
This is a wonderful list and extremely helpful. I'm very excited to start sourcing and get planting. Thank you!
you're welcome!