Gardener and author Sarah Raven wants to put shrubs and hedges back on the map as it's become an 'overlooked' design consideration in the garden.
Evergreen and flowering shrubs are the ideal low-maintenance way to provide your garden with year-round interest and structure. Hedges similarly offer structure, as well as privacy – and there are plenty more benefits to be had.
Shrubs and hedges create a safe nesting habitat for local wildlife, providing a source of food for bees, hedgehogs, and birds. Hedging also offers shelter from the wind and is a great way to control the risk of floods affecting gardens.
Sarah, who champions beautiful self-sustaining gardens that are easy to care for and offer vast environmental benefits, has planted roughly 750 metres of hedging at her garden at Perch Hill, East Sussex, since moving there in 1994. Over the next few years she plans to add an additional 3,000 metres to support biodiversity and visiting wildlife.
'Hedges and shrubs are often overlooked, but I think it's time they became a priority,' says Sarah. 'I like to use scented, long-lasting, and hardy shrubs to elevate outside spaces, and find that they can help create a truly lived-in look and feel. So, whether they're pollinator-friendly, compact, or colourful, introducing shrubs is an easy way to elevate your garden.'
Not sure where to start? Sarah shares her recommendations below.
Sarah Raven's top shrubs and hedges
An extravagant and strong winter shrub that makes a welcome addition to a variety of gardens.
'I love the spicy fragrance that emerges from the masses of long-lasting delicate blooms, and as a strong hybrid, this shrub takes on the powerful scent and durability of two different types. It's an absolute must-have,' she says.
This is a classic all-rounder and a popular hedging variety ideal for clipping and keeping in shape. Sarah says it's ideal for providing a wildlife-safe site for shelter and nesting, and perfect for smaller gardens too.
'One of my favourite shrubs for spring is viburnum opulus – of which there are two main types. The first, produces an abundance of red berries in July and August, while the second produces the most beautiful green pom poms,' Sarah explains.
Elegant and sweetly perfumed, this is a great plant for biodiversity and is always popular with pollinators throughout the summer.
'I like to grow this on the north side of a sunny wall in the herb and rose garden at Perch Hill,' says Sarah.
'An offspring from the classic "Annabelle", loved for its larger heads and stronger necks, to keep its vast pompoms looking perky and upstanding. If you have a moist, shady garden, this is the perfect shrub for you.'
