Hedges and Natural Barriers

Trees and shrubs are an excellent way to screen for privacy, define an area, establish property lines, and provide shelter from sun and wind. The right plant to use will depend upon factors such as what the intended purpose will be, what the growing conditions are, and what appearance you’re looking to achieve.

Our nursery manager has put together a list of trees and shrubs that work well in different areas in your yard.

For a copy of this guide to download and keep please click here.

Quick Lists

Formal Sheared Hedges Deer Resistant Informal Natural Barriers
Arborvitae Boxwood Burning Bush
Beech Burning Bush Juniper
Boxwood Hornbeam Pyramidal Cap Yew
Burning Bush Juniper Spruce
Hemlock Privet Viburnum
Hornbeam Spruce Weeping Alaskan Cedar
Juniper
Privet

Yew
Great for Blocking Wind Works in Part to Full Shade Colorful or Flowers
Hornbeam Beech Beech
Juniper Boxwood Blue Spruce
Spruce Hemlock Burning Bush
Yew Viburnum

More Information– Ordered from tallest to shortest

Common Name Botanical name Spacing                                Minimum Annual Growth                                          Hedge (HxW) Characteristics
Canadian Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 6’ 8”-18” 6’-35’ x 6’ Shade tolerant. Needs protection from wind and drought. Shears well for a formal hedge.
Weeping Alaskan Cedar Chamaecyparis nootkatensis

‘Pendula’

 10′ 1-3′ 25′-35′ x 15′ Very distinct look. Evergreen. Deer resistant. Zone 5
Blue, Norway, and White Spruces Picea spp. 12′ 1-3′ 15′-40′ x 15′ Evergreen. Deer resistant and salt tolerant. Zone 3
Pyramidal Euopean Hornbeam Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ 10′ 1-2′ 15′-35′ x 6′ Shears well for formal hedge. Deer Resistant.

Zone 4.
Emerald Green  Pyramidal Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ 4′ 1-2′ 10′-25′ x 6-8′ Fast growing. Do not plant if deer are a problem. May need protection from winter wind. Zone 4
Green Giant Pyramidal Arborbitae Thuja x plicata

‘Green Giant’

 6′ 2-4′ 10′-25′ x 8-12′ Very fast growing. Partially deer resistant. May need protection from winter wind. Zone 5.
Columnar Beech Fagus sylvatica Dawyckii varieties, Red Oblisk 8′ 1′ 10′-35′ x 6′ Shears well for formal hedge. Slow growing. Red or gold color. Zone 4.
Rocky Mountain Upright Juniper Juniperous scopulorum ‘Moonglow’

‘Wichita’ and others

 4′-5′ 1′ 8-12′ x 4′-5′ Evergreen. Salt and wind tolerant. Deer resistant. Zone 3.
Fat Albert Blue Spruce Picea pungens

‘Fat Albert’

 6-8′ 6″-1′ 8-12′ x 8′ Evergreen. Salt and wind tolerant. Deer resistant. Smaller than regular Blue Spruce. Zone 3.
Pyramidal  Cap Yew Taxus capitata 4-5′ 6-12″ 8-20′ x 8′ Evergreen. Do not plant if deer are a problem. Shade tolerant. Zone 4.
Dwarf Burning Bush Euonymus alatus ‘Compacta’ 4′ 12-18″ 6-10′ x 5-10′ Fast growing. Bright red fall color. Shear or allow natural form. Zone 4.
Hatfield Yew Taxus media

‘Hatfield’

 3-4′ 6-10″ 6-12′ x 3-4′ Evergreen. Do not plant if deer are a problem. Shade tolerant. Zone 4.
Doublefile Viburnum Viburnum p. t. ‘Shasta’

‘Mariesii’ and others

 5-6′ 8-10″ 5-8′ x 6-8′ White flowers in spring. Red fall color and berries. Zone 5.
Seagreen Juniper Juniperus chinensis ‘Sea Green’ 4′ 6-10″ 4′-6′ x 4′-6′ Evergreen. Salt and wind tolerant. Deer resistant. Zone 3.
Privet spp. 3-4′ 1-2’ 4-12′ x 4′-6′ Very fast growing. Shears well. Tolerate some shade. Can be invasive.

Zone 4.
Densiformis Yew Taxus media ‘Densiformis’ 3′ 6-12″ 3′-4′ x 3′-5′ Evergreen. Do not plant if deer are a problem. Shade tolerant. Zone 4.
Green Mountain Boxwood Buxus x sempervirens ‘Green Mountain’ 24-36″ 3-4″ 3-5′ x 2-3′ Evergreen. Slow growing. Deer resistant. Zone 4.
Chicagoland Green Boxwood Buxus x sempervirens ‘Glenco’ 18″ 2-3″ 12-24″ x 12-24″ Evergreen. Slow growing. Deer resistant. Zone 4.

Not all varieties are available throughout the season so please call ahead to check current availability with our nursery.