Any hedges which have reflective properties in car headlights?

gregsparker198167174 · November 2023

Hello, I would like to plant a hedge in front of my property which is by the roadside. I wondered if there where any hedges with colours that are more visible in the dark when car lights shine upon them? Maybe a daft question. But thought I would ask.

Thankyou

Plantminded · November 2023

Variegated forms of privet or Griselinia might work but they are slower growing than the plain green forms due to their variegation.

GardenerSuze · November 2023

@gregsparker198167174 Not sure it is really a hedging plant very thorny, Rubus thibetanus.Also known as Ghost Bramble really depends on the situation as it gets big and needs thinning out in spring.It seems to glow under a street light.

Obelixx · November 2023

I rather like the ghost bramble plant and know it glows in many winter gardens planted for winter interest. I'm going to assume the main need for this is after dark in winter but, if it's for all year, I'd just pick a hedging plant I lke and that suits the local conditions - soil, climate, aspect - and then string a row of old CDs in front of it.

They'll reflect headlights I think.

Lizzie27 · November 2023

That strikes me as being a possible hazard for the drivers.

A row of discreet fairy lights in the hedge might do the job better.

Plantminded · November 2023

Thinking about this further, I’m intrigued to know why this is needed. Is your garden really close to the road with no pavement to act as a barrier? Also, the headlights in cars these days are like search lights and will give adequate cover for roadside obstacles.

Fairygirl · November 2023

That's my thinking too @Plantminded.
If there's a problem with the visibility of the site - like the property being on a sharp bend on a narrow, unlit road, or similar, there are better ways of addressing it's visibility - posts with reflective strips, or painted white etc. I'm assuming this is to prevent anyone ending up in the garden of the property itself by going through it's boundaries?

Frankly, if people can't see a hedge when they have headlights on, they really shouldn't be driving at all.

Obelixx · November 2023

Maybe a row of reflective strips on short posts would be safer - the sort of thing you can get for bicycles wouldn't break the bank and wouldn't be lit all night and thus interfere with nocturnal wildlife.

The posts could be painted white too for extra visibility but, frankly, it's the job of the police and the local council to manage dangerous bends and stupid drivers and they should be consulted first to make sure there is nothing they can do and, more importantly, that putting up your own reflectors or lights won't be an infraction in itself.

GardenerSuze · November 2023

I was fed up with someone who thought it was ok to run over my garden on more than one occasion and flatten my plants. I decided that it was time to let them know exactly where the garden edge was, white the last colour to disappear at night was my thought.

Three large Ghost Brambles gave the garden a wonderful spooky look lite by street light. A seven foot Miscanthus and a flowering Mahonia Charity were also part of the winter planting scheme. Large thorny plants the trick, the garden was fine and if cars wanted to run over it a scratchy white plant seemed the perfect choice.

Ergates · November 2023

Large stones painted white seem to be the preferred choice around our village, mainly to stop people parking on verges and obstructing the view from driveway entrances.

rowlandscastle444 · November 2023

I have pyracantha, which at this time of year, has large bundles of bright berries, which show up well in headlights - particularly the orange ones, but the yellow would work well too. Red berries aren't much help

Of course, the berries are not there all year round.

We do have a low wall, about one foot high, which will prevent most vehicles from actually driving across the garden.

Any hedges which have reflective properties in car headlights?

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