Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Box hedge alternative

HortusHortus Posts: 43
in Plants
My small box hedge has been decimated by box hedge caterpillar so it is coming out. I have looked at several alternatives according to the RHS website most of them are toxic to pets and wildlife. These include yew, Japanese holly and the normal alternatives. I have thought of a dwarf lavender instead but I am not sure. Does anyone have any good alternatives please. I have attached a photo showing the hedge a year ago so you can see the approximate size and setting. 
«1

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Shrubby honeysuckle - lonicera. Several types, but all can be clipped and kept low. Quicker growing than box, but pretty indestructible. 
    The variegated Euonymous fortuneii varieties can also be used as low hedging. Some are less tough than others so it will depend whereabouts you are in the country. 
    Some Hebes are also good, although best trimmed as balls. Many varieties are naturally that shape.  
    The other  plants you mention might technically be toxic, but are grown in thousands of gardens without any problem. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • HortusHortus Posts: 43
    Fairygirl said:
    Shrubby honeysuckle - lonicera. Several types, but all can be clipped and kept low. Quicker growing than box, but pretty indestructible. 
    The variegated Euonymous fortuneii varieties can also be used as low hedging. Some are less tough than others so it will depend whereabouts you are in the country. 
    Some Hebes are also good, although best trimmed as balls. Many varieties are naturally that shape.  
    The other  plants you mention might technically be toxic, but are grown in thousands of gardens without any problem. 
    Thank you for these suggestions, I will look into them. Thank you
  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 946
    edited September 2021


    Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Spire’ or ‘Jean Hugues’

    Cambridgeshire, UK
  • HortusHortus Posts: 43
    Athelas said:
    Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Spire’ or ‘Jean Hugues’


  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    Ilex Crenata - nice but can be expensive.
    Euonymus 'Jean Hughues' would be my choice - it's my 'go to' for small clipped hedges.

    I wouldn't overly worry about the 'toxic to pets ' tag either.  Many plants in a garden are 'toxic' (I have 4 Brugmansias in pots) - however it's the dose that makes them so. In other words ones pet would often need to eat quite a bit to become sick. My dog eats all sorts of stuff in the garden not to mention drinking pond water - he'll throw it up once in a while but he's just turned 17 so it can't be that big a hazard. 
    Ask yourself how often you hear of pet fatalities due to eating a garden plant?
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Chris-P-Bacon said:
    ...
    Ask yourself how often you hear of pet fatalities due to eating a garden plant?

    The only case I've heard of was a dog chewing on roots of Aconitum napellus that had been dug up to split and replant.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    I second Euonymus Green Spire, it looks and acts very much like Box.  Lonicera maigrun is being touted by our local nursery is the "new" Box.  It looks very good, nice dense, small foliage, but I haven't grown it.

    Our dog does nibble on plants, but nothing to worry about, and certainly not the types of shrubs you are considering.  We only got rid of two very toxic plants (Cycas palms, and Ricinus Communis), but I almost regret that now.  They don't tend to make a meal of anything in the garden.
  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,851

    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
  • agoodrumagoodrum Posts: 39
    Lonicera baggesen's gold.  Wonderful light green colour, easy to trim and as Fairygirl said, quite tough and indestructible.
  • gondorgondor Posts: 135
    I'm not sure I understand the point of this hedge. Is it to stop people climbing in the window?
Sign In or Register to comment.