Article by Sigrie Kendrick and Mark Godlewski

This is the second in a pair of blog articles discussing appropriate hedge choices for the Okanagan. This article will address non-native options.

European Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is a good candidate for a hedge in our valley. It has been used extensively in the UK since Victorian times. Given its’ frequent use in rainy Britain people often do not realize that it is actually very drought tolerant. Privet is a fast-growing hedge that can reach up to 12 feet high with a spread of 10 feet. It takes pruning very well so it can be kept to a much smaller size. How frequently it needs to be pruned depends on whether you are looking for a traditional clipped hedge or a more casual natural look. The clipped hedge will likely require two or more clippings per year. Once established, Privet will require supplementary irrigation only in the hottest Okanagan summer months.

Fig. 1 – European Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), Mark Godlewski

Mugo pines (Pinus mugo) can make an excellent evergreen hedge. There are many cultivars of Mugo pine available, from dwarf to those which can reach a height and spread of 15 feet or more. The cultivar ‘ Columnaris’ slowly reaches a height of 10 feet, spreading 3-4 feet and as such it is perfectly suited for use as a drought-tolerant hedge. It can be successfully grown in an area of full to part-sun and once established will only require minimal water. Pinus mugo ‘Columnaris’ has finely textured foliage and produces small ornamental cones. It is not bothered by deer.

Amur maple, (Acer ginnala), is another option for a large hedge. It is really a small tree, but it can be pruned to a large multi-stemmed shrub suitable for use as a hedge in full sun or part sun, reaching up to 20 feet. Amur maples feature early-season yellowish-green flowers followed by red-winged samaras. The glossy, green-lobed leaves of Amur maples turn shades of yellow, red, and purple as the days cool in the Autumn.

Fig. 2  – Amur maple (Acer ginnala), Mark Godlewski

Hedge Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lucidus) should also be considered, especially for smaller spaces. Native to Siberia and China, Cotoneaster lucidus is well adapted to the cold Okanagan winter and can eventually grow to 8 ft in both width and height. However, it responds very well to pruning, and can easily be kept to less than half of this maximum. The plant has small pink spring flowers transitioning to black fruit in the fall. It features stunning fall foliage in shades of orange and red. Flowering is best in full sun but Cotoneaster lucidus will tolerate partial shade, poor soil, and windy locations.

Fig. 3  – Cotoneaster lucidis, Mark Godlewski

Fig. 4  – Cotoneaster lucidis late fall, Mark Godlewski

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) can make an admirably attractive hedge if you are content with its natural dimensions of 6 feet by 6 feet. It certainly discourages through traffic with its thorns. There are several shorter varieties if you are looking for a shorter hedge. Barberry hedges are often best pruned only occasionally which is a relief because it can be a painful experience.

Fig. 5  – Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii), Mark Godlewski

Dwarf Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus ‘compactus’) and Golden Currant (Ribes aureum) are two other deciduous shrubs that can make excellent hedges. You can look up their attributes on the OXA Plant Database.

Or, if you are looking for a more modern-looking line of plants to delineate your property, why not consider a grouping of one of the many ornamental grasses on the market? A favorite is Andropogon gerardii or Big Bluestem. This is a warm season grass, meaning it will not offer you early-season privacy, but by midsummer the foliage will reach 5 feet and the attractive late season flowers extend another 2 feet on top of this. The foliage that starts out bluey-green, and transitions through the season to end with russet tones. If you want a grass that starts out early in the spring, you should consider Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’. Most ornamental grasses are not bothered by deer and their extensive root systems makes them good candidates for erosion control on many of our sloped Okanagan properties.

Whatever you choose to plant it is important to have a definite long-term strategy for pruning. The strategy will depend on the type of plant you are using and the maximum dimensions you want. Many homeowners plant and forget – until it is too late. All hedges need to be pruned regularly and some, conifers especially, respond very badly to heavy deep pruning. Some other hedges (e.g., Privet, Amur maple, Golden Currant) are prone to getting leggy if they are not pruned heavily sometime around their third year of growth after transplant. Hard pruning should be done in the late winter or early spring.

Article by Sigrie Kendrick

Cedar hedges carved into vase shapes by neighbourhood deer are a common sight in the Okanagan, as are the burned and blackened silhouettes of cedars. Cedars can even draw wildfire to the flammable siding of a home. A brown pyramid cedar amongst the green ones, where the drip irrigation has become blocked, leaving one in a hedge dead for lack of water, is also not uncommon.

Cedars are naturally found in damp areas and as such are a poor hedging choice for the semi-arid Okanagan Valley. They are heavy water consumers and are likely to be early casualties of water restrictions during a drought.

There are many drought-tolerant hedge options available that offer food for pollinators while being deer and fire-resistant—both native and non-native options. This blog entry will focus on native options, with a follow-up blog item looking at non-native options as alternatives to cedar hedges.

Fig. 1 – Mock Orange, Philadelphus lewisii, Judie Steeves

One of our most stunning native shrubs is Philadelphus lewisii, commonly known as Mock Orange. This shrub has it all, from fragrant creamy white spring flowers to interesting peeling bark during the winter season, and everything in between. Blooming in profusion in June this shrub features fragrant white flowers which are loved by all sorts of pollinators. Philadelphus lewisii is extremely drought-tolerant once established and is not prone to pests or disease. The common name ‘Mock-Orange refers to the spring blooms which fill the air with a warm orange-blossom scent, absolutely unmistakable. The leaves and flowers were traditionally used throughout the Okanagan Valley for soap and the hard wood was used for a variety of implements from primitive tools to arrows.

Mock Orange is a sprawling shrub reaching nine feet by nine feet, but as it is such a popular shrub, breeders have been focused on offering homeowners smaller cultivars, many of which are available at local nurseries. One of the smallest on offer is Philadelphus ‘Snowbelle’ at only three feet high and wide, so it is easily included in smaller gardens. A grouping of these shrubs makes a wonderful hedge which will delight all and offer an important source of food for early pollinators and later snacking birds.

Philadelphus lewisii blooms on old wood, the previous year’s growth, so it is best to trim your hedge just after its Spring bloom or you may jeopardize the future year’s blooms.

Fig. 2  – Saskatoon, Amelanchier alnifolia, Judie Steeves 

Another option is Amelanchier alnifolia, which is commonly known as Saskatoon or Serviceberry, and requires little if any supplemental water once established. It provides early food for pollinators with white showy flowers in spring followed by purple or almost black fruit for birds in the summer and fall.

The berries of Amelanchier alnifolia featured heavily in native culture, being consumed both fresh or dried and they were an important trade item. Amelanchier alnifolia has a long life, up to 60 years in an ideal location here in the Okanagan, and they are fast-growing, reaching six feet in as many years. This shrub can reach 15 feet and can be pruned in late winter or early spring, prior to new growth, in order to adapt to its location.

The cultivar ‘Regent’ is smaller in stature, reaching six feet high and wide. Amelanchier alnifolia offers multiple seasons of interest and as such is an excellent hedging option, both drought-tolerant and Firesmart. This shrub is featured in our Native Garden at the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.

Fig. 3  – Oregon Grape, Berberis aquifolium, Mark Godlewski

Another Okanagan native option for hedging could include what was known as Mahonia aquifolium but has recently been renamed Berberis aquifolium, commonly known as Tall Oregon Grape. This evergreen features shiny leaves with spiny teeth, similar to holly, with bright yellow spring flowers, loved by hungry pollinators, followed by blue berries which attract birds later in the season.

This shrub can grow up to eight feet with a spread of three to six feet and performs well in both full sun and partial shade. The vast root system makes it an excellent choice for erosion control on sloped properties common throughout the Okanagan Valley. If sited in an irrigated location these roots may be an issue and a root barrier should be used.

The spiny leaves are not a favourite of browsing deer and can be pruned as desired. This native was traditionally used culinarily by cooking up the berries to make a tart jam to accompany meats and the yellow pigment was extracted from the stems to use as a dye.

Fig. 4 – Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus Scopulorum), Mark Godlewski

Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) is another candidate for evergreen hedges. It is native to our region and consequently admirably adapted. The striking blue foliage makes a nice contrast to other plants in the garden. There are many cultivars of this species some of them relatively narrow which can make them easier to work with as a hedge.