A shrub is a woody, freestanding plant that naturally has multiple main stems.

Through pruning, many shrubs can be grown as a tree form with a single main trunk, and vice versa, many trees can be pruned & trimmed into a shrubby form, which is how hedges are made.

Rose bushes are natural shrubs that can be grafted as a tree stem "lollipop rose", and even low shrubs with thin, weak wood like lavender can be pruned as little "trees", we don't sell those, you see them at the front in Morrisons and Lidl. Both of these unnatural shrub-into-tree shapes need a stake for support.

If a plant does not have woody stems and dies back in winter, then it's either a herbaceous perennial if it lives for over 3 years, or an annual / biennial plant that dies after flowering.

What's the Difference Between Ornamental Shrubs and Hedging?

The distinction between ornamental shrubs and hedging plants comes down to breeding and intended use. People generally call cultivated varieties ornamental shrubs and their wild species hedging plants.

Plant breeding: Named varieties like Viburnum 'Dawn' or 'Black Lace' Elder are considered ornamental shrubs, while their wild relatives like Viburnum opulus, Guelder Rose, or native elderflower are hedge plants.

Garden design role: Ornamental shrubs look good on their own or in clumps in your borders, while hedging is planted in bulk, close together at 3 plants per metre, so the overall effect frames and divides your garden.

How they're grown: Hedging plants are cheaper because they're field grown at a larger scale from seed, usually delivered bareroot in winter for the best value. Ornamental shrubs are grown from cuttings in pots on a nursery, which is more expensive.

You are free to make a luxurious hedge with most ornamental shrubs: it's your choice.

Dogwood: A Perfect Example

Dogwood demonstrates this distinction perfectly. Common hedge species like Cornus sanguinea for native hedges, or Cornus alba otherwise, are only delivered bareroot in winter.

Ornamental forms like Midwinter Fire, Spaethii, or Elegantissima are usually hard pruned to a low stool each year to showcase their colourful bark. They're so popular that they're sold both bareroot in winter and potted year round.

Why you might not use ornamental dogwoods as hedging: The hard pruning regimes that bring out plentiful new bark from ground level are not suitable for a secure or tidy hedge. Some ornamental shrubs shine as specimens with space to spread, which is lost when clipped as a true hedge. We don't sell it, but Pagoda Dogwood, the Wedding Cake Tree, is a good example.

Why you might not hard prune wild dogwood in your border: While you could hard prune wild Cornus alba in your border, these species lack the striking bark colours that make the ornamental varieties worth the annual work.