Choosing the right hedging plant is one of the most important decisions you will make in your garden. Get it right, and you will have a perimeter that looks well, grows strong, and suits your garden for decades. Get it wrong, and you could end up with a hedge that outgrows its space, looks bare in winter, or simply does not thrive in the Irish climate.
We have been planting and maintaining hedges across Dundalk and County Louth for over 35 years. In that time, we have seen what works, what struggles, and what surprises people. Here is our honest guide to the 10 best hedging plants for Irish gardens, with real-world advice on growth rates, costs, and which one is right for your situation.
What to Consider Before Choosing a Hedging Plant
Before you pick a species, ask yourself a few practical questions:
- What is the hedge for? Privacy, wind protection, a perimeter marker, or something decorative?
- How much space do you have? Some hedges can grow 3-4 metres wide if left unchecked.
- Evergreen or deciduous? Do you need year-round cover, or are you happy with bare branches in winter?
- Exposure and soil? Coastal gardens, heavy clay, or shallow soil all affect what will thrive.
- How much maintenance are you willing to do? Some hedges need trimming two or three times a year, others just once.
Once you have your answers, matching them to the right plant becomes a lot simpler.
The 10 Best Hedging Plants for Irish Gardens
1. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Cherry laurel is probably the most popular hedging plant in Ireland today, and for good reason. It is evergreen, grows quickly (around 40-60cm per year), and produces a dense, glossy hedge that gives excellent privacy. It handles most soil types and copes well with shade.
- Growth rate: Fast (40-60cm/year)
- Trimming: Once or twice a year
- Cost: Around EUR 8-15 per bare-root plant
- Best for: Privacy screening, larger gardens
One thing to note: laurel should be pruned with secateurs rather than a hedge trimmer, as the trimmer shreds the large leaves and leaves the hedge looking ragged. For more on this, check out our guide on how to trim a hedge.
2. Griselinia (Griselinia littoralis)
Griselinia is a fantastic choice for Irish gardens, especially near the coast. It is evergreen, with attractive apple-green leaves, and it tolerates salt spray and wind far better than most hedging plants. It grows at a moderate pace and forms a neat, dense hedge.
- Growth rate: Moderate (30-40cm/year)
- Trimming: Once a year
- Cost: Around EUR 6-12 per plant
- Best for: Coastal gardens, exposed sites, neat boundaries
3. Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Beech is technically deciduous, but it has a brilliant trick: if trimmed properly, it holds its copper-brown leaves right through winter. That means you get the fresh green of spring and summer, the golden brown of autumn, and the warm rustling leaves clinging on through the coldest months. It is a genuinely beautiful hedge.
- Growth rate: Moderate (30-40cm/year)
- Trimming: Once a year (late summer)
- Cost: Around EUR 2-5 per bare-root whip
- Best for: Rural settings, traditional gardens, budget-friendly hedging
4. Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium)
Privet is the classic suburban hedge. It is semi-evergreen in Ireland (it holds most of its leaves in mild winters), grows quickly, and responds well to regular clipping. The downside is that it needs cutting two or three times a year to keep it looking sharp.
- Growth rate: Fast (30-50cm/year)
- Trimming: Two to three times per year
- Cost: Around EUR 2-4 per bare-root plant
- Best for: Formal hedges, front gardens, budget hedging
5. Escallonia
If you want a hedge that flowers, escallonia is a superb option. It produces masses of small pink, red, or white flowers in summer and is evergreen. It does particularly well in coastal areas and is very popular in gardens around Dundalk, Blackrock, and along the Cooley Peninsula.
- Growth rate: Moderate (20-30cm/year)
- Trimming: Once a year after flowering
- Cost: Around EUR 6-10 per plant
- Best for: Coastal gardens, colourful boundaries, wildlife-friendly gardens
6. Yew (Taxus baccata)
Yew is the king of formal hedging. It grows slowly, but it produces an incredibly dense, dark green hedge that looks distinguished and lasts for centuries. Many of the finest hedges in Ireland are yew. The downside is patience: it takes several years to establish.
- Growth rate: Slow (15-25cm/year)
- Trimming: Once a year
- Cost: Around EUR 8-15 per plant
- Best for: Formal gardens, long-term planting, heritage properties
7. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Hawthorn is the backbone of Irish hedgerows. It is native, thorny, and wildlife-friendly. It produces white blossom in spring and red berries in autumn. If you are looking for a traditional rural hedge or want to support native biodiversity, hawthorn is hard to beat.
- Growth rate: Moderate (30-40cm/year)
- Trimming: Once a year (winter)
- Cost: Around EUR 1-3 per bare-root whip
- Best for: Rural boundaries, native hedgerows, wildlife gardens
8. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Hornbeam is similar to beech in many ways. It holds its leaves in winter, produces a dense hedge, and looks well in both formal and informal settings. Where it has the edge over beech is in heavier, wetter soils. If your garden has clay soil or poor drainage, hornbeam is the better choice.
- Growth rate: Moderate (30-40cm/year)
- Trimming: Once a year
- Cost: Around EUR 2-5 per bare-root whip
- Best for: Heavy or wet soils, formal hedges, alternatives to beech
9. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)
Portuguese laurel is the more refined cousin of cherry laurel. It has smaller, darker leaves with distinctive red stems and produces fragrant white flowers in early summer. It grows a bit slower than cherry laurel but makes a more elegant hedge. It is hardier than many people expect and does well right across County Louth.
- Growth rate: Moderate (30-40cm/year)
- Trimming: Once a year
- Cost: Around EUR 10-18 per plant
- Best for: Elegant screening, smaller gardens (easier to keep compact), formal hedging
10. Leylandii (Cupressocyparis leylandii)
We would not be honest if we left leylandii off the list. It is the fastest-growing hedging conifer available, and it does provide rapid screening. However, it comes with a serious health warning: if you do not keep on top of it, leylandii quickly becomes a monster. It can grow over a metre per year and has been the source of more neighbour disputes than any other plant in Ireland.
- Growth rate: Very fast (60-100cm/year)
- Trimming: Two to three times per year
- Cost: Around EUR 5-10 per plant
- Best for: Rapid screening (only if you commit to regular trimming)
Evergreen vs Deciduous: Which Is Better?
There is no single right answer here. Evergreen hedges like laurel, griselinia, and escallonia give year-round privacy and green colour. Deciduous hedges like beech and hornbeam offer seasonal interest and, when trimmed, retain their leaves through winter anyway.
For front gardens where you want consistent privacy, evergreen is usually the better call. For rural boundaries or larger gardens, deciduous species like beech or hawthorn often look more natural and suit the landscape better.
Cost Comparison Per Metre
Here is a rough guide to what you might spend per metre of hedge, using bare-root plants at typical spacing:
- Hawthorn: EUR 5-10 per metre
- Beech/Hornbeam: EUR 8-15 per metre
- Privet: EUR 8-12 per metre
- Griselinia: EUR 15-25 per metre
- Cherry Laurel: EUR 20-35 per metre
- Yew: EUR 25-40 per metre
These costs are for plants only. If you need us to supply and plant a hedge for you, we are happy to provide a free quote for anywhere in the Dundalk area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest-growing hedge in Ireland?
Leylandii is the fastest, growing up to a metre per year. However, for a more manageable fast-growing hedge, cherry laurel (40-60cm/year) or privet (30-50cm/year) are better choices that will not cause problems down the line.
What is the best low-maintenance hedge for Ireland?
Griselinia and beech are both excellent low-maintenance options. They only need trimming once a year and are very tolerant of Irish weather conditions. Yew is also very low-maintenance once established, though it takes longer to reach full size.
When is the best time to plant a hedge in Ireland?
The bare-root planting season runs from November to March, and this is the cheapest and most effective time to plant. Container-grown plants can be planted at any time of year, but they cost more and still establish best during the cooler months.
Can I mix different species in a hedge?
Absolutely, and it is a great idea for wildlife. A mixed native hedge of hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, and hazel is a traditional Irish hedgerow and supports a huge range of birds, insects, and small mammals. For a more formal look, stick to a single species for a cleaner line.
Ready to Plant or Maintain a Hedge?
If you are thinking about planting a new hedge, or your existing hedge needs a good hedge trimming, give Pete or Seamus a call on 085 168 5170. With over 35 years of experience working in gardens across Dundalk and County Louth, we can advise on the best hedging plant for your situation and handle the planting, trimming, or renovation. No job is too big or too small.
