| Description | Strelitzia nicolai
Often confused with the banana palm, Giant Bird of Paradise are a gorgeous, tropical looking perennial shrub that creates the tropical look even in cool climates!
• Grows tall and narrow, often used indoors and out.
• White and black bird like flowers
• Tolerates poor soils, drought, coastal conditions and light frost | Prunus lusitanica
If you're looking for a really classy, deep green foliage hedge then buy Portuguese Laurels.
• Perfect for dense or pleached hedging and large standard topiary
• Long, elegant white flowers bloom in the warmer months
• Tolerates most soil conditions, full sun to part shade | Hebe
Hebe Emerald Green is a small, evergreen shrub. This beautiful plant is self shaping and forms a small bright green bun-shape with it's teeny tiny leaves. Emerald Green Hebe makes an excellent border shrub which also looks good in pots.
They prefer full sun with good watering during the warmer months.
Grows approximately between 40-60cm tall and wide |
| Content | | For a hardy classic hedge or topiary you can't go past the Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusticana). Portugal Laurel or Portuguese Laurel is a large evergreen bushy shrub that makes a very effective hedge or screen when kept clipped from 1-4 metres. With an inoffensive root system, frost hardy foliage and the ability to withstand harsh dry conditions, it the perfect plant for any troublesome garden.
One of the best reasons to buy Portuguese Laurels to create a medium to large hedge is that almost nothing eats it! No hideous bites will be taken out of the leaves from nasty little garden pests as the leaves have a rather sour taste, so many insects and animals are reluctant to have a nibble.
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Ideal for: Hedge, Screen or Pleached hedge
Growth Rate: Moderate- 30-60cm per year
Maintain at a Height of: 1-5m tall
Maximum Height: 4-8m depending on conditions
Soil Requirements: Quite tolerant of most soils, but if you want to pamper it, it enjoys slightly acidic, moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils.
Maintenance: Low. Twice yearly trimming to keep it neat. Can produce berries that may need cleaning up.
Planting Distance: 60-90cm
Portuguese Laurels adds class and character to the formal or Hampton style garden. Also a popular choice in rural areas due to its hardiness. They like good drainage (find out more about drainage if you're unsure whether you should buy Portuguese Laurels here), otherwise they are very hardy, versatile and easy to shape and maintain.
When buying Portuguese Laurels for hedging and screening, you'll need about three for every two metres of hedge you want to create.
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