Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam)

A very large, rounded, spreading tree with striking grey bark. Slightly crimped green leaves turn yellow & orange in autumn. Thrives on heavy, wet soil.

Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)

An upright, rounded, thorny, deciduous tree with glossy green leaves which is smothered with tiny white fragrant flowers in late spring followed by masses of red berries in autumn making it a popular tree for birds.

Cupressocyparis leylandii 'Castlewellan Gold'

A dense, fast growing columnar tree with golden young foliage which turns green. It is more slow-growing than the ordinary green variety but makes a good thick hedge or screen.

Cupressocyparis leylandii 'Excalibur Gold'

A fast-growing, conical, coniferous evergreen tree with golden leaves held in flat sprays. Height 20m (66ft), Spread 8m (26ft).

Cupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland Cypress)

An extremely fast-growing, large, evergreen coniferous tree. It has small, dark green, dense foliage and makes a good hedge so long as it is regulary trimmed to keep it under control.

Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'Compacta' (Oleaster)

An upright, bushy, evergreen shrub bearing elliptic, leathery, dark green leaves and small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers in autumn. Height 3m (10ft), Spread 2m (6ft).

Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'Limelight' (Oleaster)

A hardy evergreen shrub. The leaves start green and develop yellow and pale-green central blotches as they mature. Produces small white flowers in autumn and is good for winter colour. Height & Spread 3m (10ft).

Elaeagnus x ebbingei (Silverberry)

A large, dense, rounded to spreading, evergreen shrub with elliptic, leathery, dark or metallic sea-green leaves, silvery beneath, and pendent clusters of small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers in autumn.

Escallonia 'Edinensis'

An evergreen shrub with pendulous branches and dark green, glossy leaves. It bears saucer-shaped, pinkish-red flowers in early and mid-summer. Height 2m (6ft), Spread 3m (10ft).

Escallonia rubra var. macrantha

A vigorous, evergreen shrub. Tubular, dark, rose-crimson flowers are set amidst large, glossy, dark green leaves. Makes a wonderful dense hedge. Withstands sea gales. Height & Spread 4m (13ft).

Fagus sylvatica (Green Beech)

A large tree with beautiful glossy green leaves in spring which turn a beautiful bronze and yellow colour in the autumn. If it's grown as a hedge, the plant retains its brown leaves throughout winter.

Fuchsia magellanica 'Riccartonii' (Manx Fuchsia)

An upright, mid-sized, deciduous shrub with small, mid-green leaves. In summer & autumn it bears small, single flowers with crimson tube and sepals, and violet-purple petals. Can be used for hedging or as a specimen shrub.

Fuchsia magellanica (Magellan Fuchsia)

A deciduous hedging plant or specimen shrub with an upright habit with mid-green leaves. Produces masses of scarlet & violet flowers throughout summer and into autumn. Suitable for sun or shade.

Griselinia littoralis

A densely leafy, large, evergreen shrub with leathery, apple-green leaves. Forms a fantastically dense hedge. Succeeds in all type of fertile soil.

Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn)

A wind resistant, deciduous shrub with narrow, silvery foliage and thorns. Flowers are insignificant, and may be followed by orange berries. This is a good plant for coastal situations. Height & Spread 8m (26ft).

Ilex aquifolium (Common Holly)

A slow-growing, dense, evergreen hedging shrub with dark green, very spiny leaves. Female plants will produce berries provided there is a male nearby. Can be used as a shrub or a tree growing up to 6m (20ft).

Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum' (Golden Privet)

A large, evergreen shrub with a dense covering of shiny, oval, yellow leaves with a central green splodge. In summer, it bears small panicles of creamy-white flowers that may be followed by small black berries in autumn.

Ligustrum ovalifolium (Privet)

An evergreen, upright, bushy shrub with oval, green, glossy leaves and white flowers in the summer. It has small, black fruits in autumn. Height & Spread 3m (10ft).

Lonicera nitida (Wilson's Honeysuckle)

A dense, bushy, evergreen shrub with ovate to broadly ovate, glossy, dark green leaves, lighter beneath. Tubular, creamy white flowers borne in the leaf axils in spring are followed by glossy, purple-blue fruit.

Olearia macrodonta (Australian Holly)

An evergreen shrub with prickly, grey-green leaves that have white underneath & a profusion of large clusters of daisy-like, white flowers in summer. Excellent for screening or as a hedge shrub. Height & Spread 4m (13ft).

Olearia paniculata

A bushy shrub with attractive, light green wavy or crinkly foliage and very small, fragrant, white flowers. Good for coastal planting. Can be used for hedging and very easy to trim. Height 5m (16ft), Spread 3m (10ft).

Olearia traversii

A fast growing evergreen hedging shrub with leathery green leaves that are silvery grey on the underside. Particularily useful for coastal areas, even in exposed positions on poor, sandy soils.

Olearia virgata (Twiggy Tree Daisy)

A large, evergreen shrub with dark silvery grey-green leaves, densely white-felted beneath. Clusters of small, fragrant, daisy-like flowers bloom along the branches in summer. Excellent for hedging in coastal regions.

Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin' (Christmas Berry)

A spectacular evergreen shrub with bright red young leaves that turn green as they mature. Panicles of creamy-white flowers are produced in spring. Height & Spread 4m (13ft).

Pittosporum tenuifolium (Tawhiwhi)

A rounded, evergreen shrub that has glossy, green leaves with wavy margins. From late spring to early summer, it produces a scattering of small, fragrant maroon flowers.

Prunus laurocerasus (Laurel)

An upright, evergreen shrub with large glossy, dark green leaves and white flowers in spring, sometimes followed by cherry red berries. Height & Spread 10m (32ft).

Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn/Sloe)

A dense, small tree, commonly used for hedging. It's slender, spreading, spiny branches, clad in small flowers, make spidery trails of white blossom in March & April. Fruits are blue, then turning black.

Rosa canina (Dog Rose)

A scrambling, native rose shrub with stems covered with small, sharp, hooked spines and pale pink flowers with yellow stamens, followed by red-orange fruit in autumn. Height 4m (13ft), Spread 2.5m (8ft).

Sambucus nigra (Common Elder)

A large deciduous bush or small tree with rugged fissured bark, forming green leaflets and umbels of fragrant, white flat-topped flowers in summer followed by black fruit in autumn. Height 8m (26ft), Spread 4m (13ft).

Taxus baccata (English Yew)

A dense, medium-sized evergreen, coniferous tree with narrow, rich, dark green foliage. Grows well in shady sites. Annual growth rate of approximately 20cm (8in). Height 15m (49ft), Spread 12m (39ft).