I have Lonicera Baggesen's Gold as a very dwarf hedge here, but it will do 4ft (I gave a cutting to my Dad and he had it as a clipped specimen at about that height). It seems pretty hardy to me.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
@Ditsy Our Lonicera is not a hedge, it is two shrubs, but you can see from the photo that they can be very neatly shaped to form. They are about 3-4 ft high.
We have a variegated Privet (L. argenteum) in a large trough, and this would make a nice hedge too. It grows quickly, but so does Lonicera. It's the central plant below, and the plant alone is about 4ft high.
That is a Cotoneaster. It’s not a hedge. It is planted on the top terrace and has grown down over the railway sleepers that are holding the terrace back.
This thread has been really helpful, thank you to everyone that has replied. I am now trying to decide between Lonicera Gold or Silver Privet. Silver privet does seem to be either out of stock or very expensive though.
Hi @Ditsy, we've got a 5' high Lonicera nitida hedge (the green version) which we planted 25 years ago. Very hardy up here in Cheshire and a great screen. And not too much hassle to trim. You can see it in these photos.
The only real issue we've had is that it doesn't really have any structural rigidity. We found this out when some kids or drunken pranksters decided to fall into it. It left a bare 'hole' which has taken several years to recover its shape.
If I was starting out again though I would plant Yew without a doubt.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
@LunarSea Thank you for the pics, what a pretty garden you have. The hedge looks great. Yes I did think about yew and wondered why nobody else had mentioned it. I think it may be too big for my spot.
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We have a variegated Privet (L. argenteum) in a large trough, and this would make a nice hedge too. It grows quickly, but so does Lonicera. It's the central plant below, and the plant alone is about 4ft high.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I am now trying to decide between Lonicera Gold or Silver Privet. Silver privet does seem to be either out of stock or very expensive though.
The only real issue we've had is that it doesn't really have any structural rigidity. We found this out when some kids or drunken pranksters decided to fall into it. It left a bare 'hole' which has taken several years to recover its shape.
If I was starting out again though I would plant Yew without a doubt.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful