The order of conifers, botanically Coniferales, includes all families of conifers. From the primeval sequoia to the spruce, from the thuja to the fir. They are all so-called gymnosperms and have evergreen needles. This makes them very attractive not only for hedge planting. Hedges with Thuja or Leylandii plants are so popular that the term conifer is often used synonymously for this type of hedge. Below is a look at the variety of shapes and the different growth behavior of the most important conifer families.
Coniferous trees
The conifers can be divided into conifers that bear cones, such as firs, pines, spruces, and trees that bear berries, such as cypresses, thuja and yews. The most popular species for an opaque hedge definitely come from the berry-bearing group.
Botanically, the order of conifers is divided into seven plant families. Representatives of these three families mainly play a role in our gardens in Central Europe:
- Yew family (Taxaceae)
- Pine family (Pinaceae)
- Cypress family (Cupressaceae)
Coniferous trees are further subdivided according to their height:
- Small trees: height up to 10 meters
- Medium-sized trees: between 10 and 20 meters
- Large trees: higher than 20 meters
How tall the tree or hedge ultimately becomes depends on the location, care and pruning. In most cases, growth heights of over 10 meters are hardly suitable for our gardens. Especially slow-growing species, such as creeping juniper and other dwarf forms, are perfect for bed design or for cultivation in planters.
Hedge plants
The genera and species of the cypress family are by far the most popular hedge plants. Here it is mainly the fast-growing, winter-hardy species. For example the false cypresses (Chamaecyparis), the bastard cypresses (Leylandii) and the arborvitae (Thuja). A look at the growth habit, height and growth rate of some popular hedge plants from the coniferous order.
Leyland cypresses (Cuprocyparis Leylandii)
The Leylandii can grow over 20 meters high under optimal conditions and without pruning. They grow particularly quickly. Therefore, with the appropriate pruning of the Leyland cypresses, you can quickly achieve an opaque and stately hedge.
- Annual growth: 50 cm to 1 m
- Height depending on location: 8 to 25 m
- Width: up to 4.50 m
Popular varieties of Leyland cypresses for hedge planting:
- Green Leyland cypress (green tree cypress, giant cypress): very fast growth
- Yellow Bastard Cypress (Cup. Leylandii Gold Rider): very fast growth
Cypresses (Chamaecyparis)
There is a wide range of species among false cypresses. Some of them tend to become bare from below, which is why Chamaecyparis hedges are usually cut narrower towards the top so that enough light gets to the foliage below.
- Annual growth: approx. 30 cm
- Height depending on species and location: 8 to 25 m
Popular varieties of false cypresses for hedge planting:
- Blue cone cypress 'Ellwoodii' (Chamaecyparis law. 'Ellwoodii'): feathery, blue-green needles
- Blue Cypress (Chamaecyparis law. 'Columnaris Glauca'): blue-green; slim growth
- Yellow columnar cypress (Chamaecyparis law.'Ivonne'): bright yellow; slim growth
- Steel blue false cypress (Chamaecyparis law. 'Alumii'): blue-gray to steel blue; slow growing
Tree of Life (Thuja)
Thujen are also often used for hedge planting. They don't grow quite as quickly as the Leylandii, but they are particularly dense. They grow narrow and usually columnar or slightly conical. In just four to five years you can grow a stately hedge of up to two meters from young plants.
- Annual growth: up to 40 cm
- Height: 10 to 30 m
- Width: 3 to 5 m
Popular thuja varieties for hedge planting:
- Thuja Brabant (Thuja occ. 'Brabant'): quite fast-growing; very robust
- Thuja Smaragd (Thuja occ. 'Smaragd'): slow-growing; grows densely and evenly
- Thuja Martin (Thuja plicata 'Martin'): very fast-growing; bright green to dark green; loose growth
Juniper (Juniperus)
The relatively fast-growing juniper not only forms a dense, high hedge. It can even offer protection from intruders with its sharp needles. However, juniper needs a sunny location. Some columnar varieties are particularly suitable for hedge planting.
- Annual growth: 15 cm
- Height: 4 to 6 m
- Width: up to 3 m
Popular juniper varieties for hedge planting:
- Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Obelisk'): for unformed and formed hedges; long pointed needles
- Common juniper (Juniperus communis 'Hibernica'): dense growth; pointed, blue-green needles
- Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket'): fast growing for tall hedges
Spruce (Picea)
Spruce trees can also be used to set dense, very high property boundaries. They look best when they are not trimmed and their natural shape is showcased. When planting, you should decide whether the border should grow dense or broken.
- Annual growth: up to 50 cm
- Height: over 50 m
- Width: up to 6 m
Popular varieties of spruce for hedge planting:
- Spruce (Picea abies): well suited for topiary; dense and fast-growing
- Serbian spruce (Picea omorica): for natural, unformed hedges, slim and compact
- Spruce (Picea pungens): for a dense hedge, trim the tips regularly
Yew (Taxus)
Species of the European yew (Taxus baccata) or hybrids of the Japanese and European yew are usually cultivated for solitary plantings and hedges. The yews tolerate pruning extremely well and produce a dense, elegant hedge. It grows relatively quickly when young and slows down as it gets older.
- Annual growth: approx. 20 cm
- Height: 10 m
- Width: 10 m
Popular varieties of yew for hedge planting:
- Fastigiata Yew (Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata'): for narrow hedges; slow growing, up to 2 m high
- Cup grater (Taxus media 'Hicksii'): for tall, free-growing and trimmed hedges
- Dwarf yew (Taxus cuspidata 'Nana'): for low hedges; extremely slow growing
Solitary trees
Many of the conifers that are used for hedge planting are also ideal for solitary planting. The natural growth form and the ultimately expected height play a decisive role here. Below are a few more suggestions for individual plantings.
Medium-sized, evergreen trees that can reach heights of up to 20 meters
- Blue spruce (Picea pungens 'Koster')
- Mane spruce (Picea breweriana)
- Breast pine (Pinus aristata)
Large evergreen coniferous plants over 20 meters high
- Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
- Spruce or Norway spruce (Picea abies)
- Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
- Scotch or red pine (Pinus sylvestris)
- White fir (Abies alba)
- Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca')
Tip:
In addition to the families mentioned here, there are also some exotic conifer families. They are rather unsuitable as hedges in our climate. However, as a solitary tree, e.g. For example, a Chilean Araucaria can be a real eye-catcher. The older she gets, the better she survives the German winter.
Dwarf forms
The slow-growing dwarf forms are best suited for small front gardens, for graves, as ground cover or for pot cultivation. Many of these cultivars only manage an annual growth of five centimeters. They reach a height of around 50 cm, some up to a meter.
Some well-known and charming varieties of coniferous dwarf forms are:
- Muscle cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis')
- Dwarf balsam fir (Abies balsamea 'Piccolo')
- Silver fir (Abies procera 'Blue Witch')
- Dwarf mountain pine (pinus mugo 'Carstens Wintergold')
- Dwarf pine (Pinus leucodermis 'Compact Gem')
- Sugarloaf spruce (Picea conica 'Sanders Blue')
Conclusion
Among the coniferous trees there is a large selection of easy-care species and varieties that create a dense, stately hedge relatively quickly. In addition to the ubiquitous thujas and cypresses, you can also find yew and spruce varieties. The faster the conifers grow, the easier they are to cut into shape and the denser they become. If you have a little more patience and are not so quickly dependent on privacy screens, you will find particularly attractive varieties among the slow-growing coniferous plants. For a hedge, it is best to choose evergreen and hardy conifer varieties.
