Mid-size hedges would utilize shrubs such as Abelia, Barberry, Inkberry and Yew. Informal screens could use the Hollies, Aucuba (in shade), Hibiscus or Rhododendrons. Pampas grass, Pieris, Viburnum and Mahonia could be strong accent plants because of their individual form, texture and plume or berry features. Mass plantings are easily accomplished by using the flowering shrubs, Kalmia, Azaleas, Weigila and Rhododendron.
The plants listed below vary quite drastically in their individual characteristics, but the one common denominator is that they can all be kept in a size range of 4-8' in height or smaller.
BOTANICAL NAME: Abelia grandiflora
COMMON NAME: GLOSSY ABELIA
HARDINESS ZONE:6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun or shade
TEXTURE: medium to fine
FORM: semi-global
HEIGHT: 4-6Õ
SPREAD: 3-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Tolerant of adverse conditions, good low hedge
plant
BOTANICAL NAME: Aucuba japonica
COMMON NAME: AUCUBA JAPONICA
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: irregular upright
HEIGHT: 4-5'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Varigata' is a favorite for shaded areas
BOTANICAL NAME: Berberis julianae
COMMON NAME: WINTERGREEN BARBERRY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine to medium
FORM: rounded/oval
HEIGHT: 5-6Õ
SPREAD: 3-5Õ
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Thorns, glossy green foliage, hardiest of
evergreen barberries
BOTANICAL NAME: Buxus sempervirens
COMMON NAME: AMERICAN BOXWOOD
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: part shade, shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: global
HEIGHT: 5-8'
SPREAD: 6-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Used in formal designs - requires pruning to
keep in bounds
BOTANICAL NAME: Cortaderia selloana
COMMON NAME: PAMPAS GRASS
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: open, grass-like
HEIGHT: 6-8'
SPREAD: 6-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Valued for fall plumes. Should be pruned in
spring.
BOTANICAL NAME: Euonymus kiautschovicus
COMMON NAME: SPREADING EUONYMUS
HARDINESS ZONE:6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun or shade
TEXTURE: medium to coarse
FORM: open broad spread
HEIGHT: 5-8'
SPREAD: 4-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Do not use near patios - Not as susceptible to
scale as other E. species
BOTANICAL NAME: Fatsia japonica
COMMON NAME: JAPANESE FATSIA
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: rapide
EXPOSURE: semi-shade, shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: irregular
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 4-6'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Useful in eastern N.C. as specimen plant
BOTANICAL NAME: Forsythia intermedia
COMMON NAME: BORDER FORSYTHIA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: erect with arching branches
HEIGHT: 6-8'
SPREAD: 6-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Valued for early spring flowers, several
cultivars available
BOTANICAL NAME: Gardenia jasminoides
COMMON NAME: CAPE-JASMINE
HARDINESS ZONE: 8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun, part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 4-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Fragrant white flowers. Is not cold hardy.
BOTANICAL NAME: Hibiscus syriacus
COMMON NAME: SHRUB ALTHEA-ROSE OF SHARON
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright
HEIGHT: 6-8'
SPREAD: 7-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Showy summer flowers
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex cornuta
COMMON NAME: DWARF BURFORD HOLLY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 4-6'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Burfordi nana'
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex crenata
COMMON NAME: JAPANESE HOLLY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium to coarse
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 3-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Hetzi', 'Rotundifolia'
BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex glabra
COMMON NAME: INKBERRY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 6-8'
SPREAD: 6-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Excellent for foundation, "naturalistic"
planting
BOTANICAL NAME: Kalmia latifolia
COMMON NAME: MOUNTAIN LAUREL
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: semi-shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 3-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Native to many areas of N.C. Good for
"naturalizing"
BOTANICAL NAME: Lonicera nitida
COMMON NAME: BOX HONEYSUCKLE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: oval rounded
HEIGHT: 5-6Õ
SPREAD: 3-4Õ
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Beautiful foliage-Several cultivars have
pendulating branches
BOTANICAL NAME: Mahonia bealei
COMMON NAME: LEATHERLEAF MAHONIA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: semi-shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: upright
HEIGHT: 6-7'
SPREAD: 2-3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Good when used in contemporary designs
BOTANICAL NAME: Mahonia pinnata
COMMON NAME: CALIFORNIA HOLLY GRAPE
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow to moderate
EXPOSURE: part shade
TEXTURE: medium to coarse
FORM: upright branches
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 2-3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Excellent specimen
BOTANICAL NAME: Nandina domistica
COMMON NAME: NANDINA
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate to fast
EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade
TEXTURE: medium to fine
FORM: upright
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 2-3'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Produces beautiful clusters of berries in
winter
BOTANICAL NAME: Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Varigatus'
COMMON NAME: VARIGATED FALSE HOLLY
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: semi-shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 4-5'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Good shrub for color contrast
BOTANICAL NAME: Pieris floribunda
COMMON NAME: MOUNTAIN ANDROMEDA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: oval habit
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Very cold hardy. Nice specimen plant
BOTANICAL NAME: Pieris japonica
COMMON NAME: JAPANESE ANDROMEDA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: shade to part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright, tight habit
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 4-6'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Several cultivars available
BOTANICAL NAME: Raphiolepis umbellata
COMMON NAME: YEDDO-HAWTHORN
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: medium to coarse
FORM: upright open
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 5-6'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Rather open appearance-Good for coastal areas
of N.C.
BOTANICAL NAME: Rhododendron calendulaceum
COMMON NAME: FLAME AZALEA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: semi-shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: upright
HEIGHT: 4-8'
SPREAD: 8-10'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Excellent for naturalistic setting-Native to
western N.C.
BOTANICAL NAME: Rhododendron carolinianum
COMMON NAME: CAROLINA RHODODENDRON
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: semi-shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: rounded
HEIGHT: 4-8'
SPREAD: 5-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Good for mass planting. 'Album'-white flowers
BOTANICAL NAME: Rhododendron catawbiense
COMMON NAME: CATAWBA RHODODENDRON
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: semi-shade
TEXTURE: medium to coarse
FORM: upright branching
HEIGHT: 6-8'
SPREAD: 4-6'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Often becomes leggy when grown in unfavorable
locations. Many cultivars available.
BOTANICAL NAME: Spirea cantoniensis
COMMON NAME: REEVES SPIREA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun, part shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright branches, pendulating foliage
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 3-5
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Excellent spirea
BOTANICAL NAME: Spirea thunbergii
COMMON NAME: THUNBERG SPIREA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: rapid
EXPOSURE: sun, part shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: upright branches, pendulating foliage
HEIGHT: 3-5'
SPREAD: 3-4'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Very graceful in appearance
BOTANICAL NAME: Taxus cuspidata
COMMON NAME: JAPANESE YEW
HARDINESS ZONE: 6, 7
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: part shade
TEXTURE: fine
FORM: vase-shaped
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 5-7'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Tolerant of urban conditions. Very cold hardy.
BOTANICAL NAME: Viburnum suspensum
COMMON NAME: SANDANKWA VIBURNUM
HARDINESS ZONE: 8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun or shade
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: erect with arching limbs
HEIGHT: 4-6'
SPREAD: 4-6'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Excellent for coastal mass plantings
BOTANICAL NAME: Viburnum x burkwoodii
COMMON NAME: BURKWOOD VIBURNUM
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun or semi-shade
TEXTURE: medium
FORM: upright multi-stem
HEIGHT: 6-8'
SPREAD: 5-6Õ
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Many cultivars available with fragrant flowers
BOTANICAL NAME: Weigela florida
COMMON NAME: WEIGILA
HARDINESS ZONE: 6,7,8
GROUP: D
GROWTH RATE: moderate
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: erect with spreading branches
HEIGHT: 6-8'
SPREAD: 6-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Good border plant with flowers
BOTANICAL NAME: Yucca gloriosa
COMMON NAME: MOUND-LILY YUCCA or SPANISH DAGGER
HARDINESS ZONE: 7,8
GROUP: E
GROWTH RATE: slow
EXPOSURE: sun
TEXTURE: coarse
FORM: erect
HEIGHT: 6-8'
SPREAD: 6-8'
LANDSCAPE REMARKS: Gray-green foliage spine-tipped leaves