Hedges and Screens

Description

One of the basic uses of plants is to enclose and define the boundaries of outdoor gardens and spaces. This is often achieved by planting hedges and screens to divide areas into rooms. Plants are planted side by side and clipped into natural or geometric shapes to function as a hedge. Many times the first idea is to achieve dense and total screening treatments. However, another strategy can also be effective. Plants are arranged in layers and left to grow natural and to varying heights until a separation is achieved. This separation does not have to be total; sometimes a partial view through a screen is more effective and enjoyable.

Screen planting is also done to improve the character of garden spaces space. The creation of privacy and blocking poor views of trash enclosures and utility poles are important visual improvements. From another perspective, hedges and screens can be strategically placed to frame and emphasize views as well as provide low boundaries to further define interior garden areas and circulation.

Hedge and screen plantings can often be efficiently watered with drip irrigation systems. Two to three rows of drip tubing can be placed along the sides of the plants to reduce runoff and provide moisture close to the roots. The drip tubing can be covered with organic mulch to hide the tubing and to keep the root zone of the shrubs cooler during the summer.

Plant List

Trees

Afrocarpus gracilior

Common Name: Fern pine
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 40 ft. - 60 ft. Width: 25 ft. - 40 ft.

Arbutus unedo

Common Name: Strawberry tree
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 15 ft. - 30 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 30 ft.

Callistemon citrinus

Common Name: Lemon bottlebrush
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 ft. - 25 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.

Cupressus arizonica + cvs

Common Name: Arizona cypress
Plant Type: Tree, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 35 ft. - 50 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 15 ft.

Cupressus forbesii

Common Name: Tecate cypress
Plant Type: Tree, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 20 ft. - 30 ft. Width: 12 ft. - 15 ft.

Cupressus sempervirens + cvs

Common Name: Italian cypress
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 40 ft. - 60 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 15 ft.

Laurus nobilis + cv

Common Name: Sweet bay
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 15 ft. - 25 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.

Podocarpus macrophyllus

Common Name: Yew pine
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 25 ft. - 50 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.

Umbellularia californica

Common Name: California bay
Plant Type: Tree, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, Partial sun
Height: 30 ft. - 50 ft. Width: 30 ft. - 50 ft.

Shrubs

Agonis flexuosa ‘Nana’

Common Name: Dwarf peppermint tree
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. Width: 10 ft.

Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta’

Common Name: Dwarf strawberry tree
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 8 ft. - 12 ft. Width: 8 ft. - 12 ft.

Arctostaphylos ‘Howard McMinn’

Common Name: McMinn manzanita
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 6 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 8 ft.

Arctostaphylos ‘Lester Rowntree’

Common Name: Lester Rowntree manzanita
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 8 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 15 ft.

Berberis ‘Golden Abundance’

Common Name: Golden Abundance barberry
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, Partial sun
Height: 6 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 10 ft.

Berberis nevinii

Common Name: Nevin's barberry
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 8 ft. - 12 ft. Width: 8 ft. - 12 ft.

Buddleja davidii + cvs

Common Name: Butterfly bush
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 8 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.

Callistemon ‘Little John’

Common Name: Dwarf bottlebrush
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 10 ft.

Cercocarpus betuloides

Common Name: Western mountain mahogany
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. - 15 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 15 ft.

Cistus x purpureus

Common Name: Orchid rockrose
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 8 ft.

Cordia parvifolia

Common Name: Little-leaf cordia
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 8 ft. - 12 ft. Width: 8 ft. - 12 ft.

Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’

Common Name: Purple hopseed bush
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 ft. - 18 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 12 ft.

Grevillea ‘Moonlight’

Common Name: Moonlight grevillea
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 5 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 7 ft.

Grevillea ‘Noellii’

Common Name: Noell's Grevillea
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Common Name: Toyon
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 12 ft. - 25 ft. Width: 12 ft. - 18 ft.

Hyptis emoryi

Common Name: Desert lavender
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: Width:

Lantana camara + cvs

Common Name: Lantana
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 8 ft.

Lavandula dentata + var

Common Name: French lavender
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Leptospermum scoparium + cvs

Common Name: New Zealand tea tree
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 12 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 12 ft.

Leucophyllum frutescens + cvs

Common Name: Texas ranger
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 5 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 8 ft.

Myrtus communis ‘Compacta’

Common Name: Dwarf myrtle
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 5 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 8 ft.

Olea europaea ‘Little Ollie’

Common Name: Dwarf olive
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 6 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 8 ft.

Osmanthus fragrans

Common Name: Sweet olive
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, Partial sun
Height: 12 ft. - 15 ft. Width: 8 ft. - 10 ft.

Plumbago auriculata

Common Name: Cape plumbago
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 6 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 8 ft. - 12 ft.

Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia

Common Name: Hollyleaf cherry
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Moderate shade, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 15 ft. - 30 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 30 ft.

Punica granatum + cvs

Common Name: Pomegranate
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. - 20 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 20 ft.

Rhamnus californica + cvs

Common Name: Coffeeberry
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 8 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 8 ft. - 10 ft.

Rhaphiolepis indica + cvs

Common Name: Indian hawthorn
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 6 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 8 ft.

Rhus integrifolia

Common Name: Lemonade berry
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 25 ft. Width: 25 ft.

Rhus ovata

Common Name: Sugar bush
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 8 ft. - 35 ft. Width: 20 ft. - 25 ft.

Rosa floribunda ‘Iceberg’

Common Name: White shrub rose
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 8 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.

Rosmarinus officinalis + cvs

Common Name: Rosemary
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 7 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 12 ft.

Simmondsia chinensis

Common Name: Jojoba, Goatnut
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 8 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 12 ft.

Sophora secundiflora

Common Name: Mescal bean
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 ft. - 20 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 15 ft.

Tecoma stans var. stans + cv

Common Name: Yellow bells
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. - 15 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 15 ft.

Teucrium fruticans

Common Name: Bush germander
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 8 ft. - 10 ft.

Westringia fruticosa

Common Name: Coast rosemary
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 8 ft.

Trees

Shrubs

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