What Is Used as a Shrub for Hedges in North Carolina?

Smaller Hedges

• Low-growing hedges help guide garden visitors along pathways and define areas within your North Carolina garden without blocking views or creating a closed-in feeling. Choices include the glossy abelia (Abelia grandiflora), a 6-foot-tall, 5-foot-wide evergreen with dark, lustrous foliage. This shrub grows best in moist, well-draining sites in sun to partial shade. The inkberry (Ilex glabra) grows to 8 feet tall and wide and and thrives in sunny sites. A member of the holly family, the inkberry blooms with white summer flowers, followed by black berries. The glossy abelia and the inkberry are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 8, making them suitable hedge choices state-wide.

Taller Hedges

• For the utmost in privacy screens or simply to block an unattractive view, choose shrubs that grow to 20 feet tall or more. For dense, evergreen foliage, plant a Fortune's osmanthus (Osmanthus x fortunei). This 20-foot-tall hedge has glossy dark leaves with spiny margins. Fortune's osmanthus tolerates sun or shade but grows best in moist, acidic and rich soil. It's hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10 and is a good choice for the coastal region. The "Nellie Stevens" holly (Ilex x. "Nellie R. Stevens") grows to 35 feet tall and has toothed, lustrous leaves offset by white spring flowers and red berries. This evergreen is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9 and grows well in sun or partial shade.

For Flowers

• For color and fragrance, choose shrubs that bloom. Light up the fall landscape with a sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua). This evergreen blooms with red, pink and white single or double flowers in autumn atop glossy, dark foliage. This 10-foot-tall shrub is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and grows best in moist, acidic soil. Varieties appropriate for hedges include "Kanjiro" and "Setsugekka." For blossoms late winter through spring, plant Laurustinus viburnum (Viburnum tinus). A 12-foot-tall evergreen, this drought-tolerant shrub blooms with aromatic pink-white flowers, followed by long-lasting blue-black fruits. It's hardy in USDA zones 7b to 10 and prefers moist, well-draining soil. The Laurustinus virburnum tolerates salty conditions, making it a good choice for coastal gardens.

For Quick Screens

• Create a hedge in a hurry with quick-growing shrubs such as the "Chindo" viburnum (Viburnum awabuki "Chindo"). This evergreen grows rapidly, reaching heights of 12 feet. Hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, "Chindo" tolerates drought and blooms with white flowers, followed by clusters of bright red berries. The wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) is native to North Carolina and tolerates a range of site conditions, from sun to shade and wet to dry soil. This evergreen has aromatic, shiny foliage and reaches heights to 15 feet. The wax myrtle is hardy in USDA zones 7b to 11. The fast-growing thorny elaegnus (Elaeagnus pungens) reaches heights of 15 feet and tolerates drought and salt spray. Hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, this dense, silver-green shrub grows across the state and thrives in a variety of site conditions.