{"id":611977003334,"date":"2025-10-16T16:41:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T16:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/uncategorized\/shrubs-difference-ornamental-wild-hedging\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T08:40:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T08:40:55","slug":"shrubs-difference-ornamental-wild-hedging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/garden-plants\/shrubs-difference-ornamental-wild-hedging\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Shrubs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\u00a0shrub<\/a> is a woody, freestanding plant<\/strong> that naturally has multiple main stems<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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

Rose bushes<\/a> are natural shrubs that can be grafted as a tree stem “lollipop rose”, and even low shrubs with thin, weak wood like lavender<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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

What’s the Difference Between Ornamental Shrubs and Hedging?<\/h3>\n

The distinction between ornamental shrubs<\/a> and hedging plants<\/a> comes down to breeding and intended use<\/strong>. People generally call cultivated varieties<\/strong> ornamental shrubs and their wild species<\/strong> hedging plants.<\/p>\n

Plant breeding:<\/strong> Named varieties like Viburnum ‘Dawn’<\/a> or ‘Black Lace’ Elder<\/a> are considered ornamental shrubs, while their wild relatives like Viburnum opulus, Guelder Rose<\/a>, or native elderflower<\/a> are hedge plants.<\/p>\n

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

How they’re grown:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

You are free to make a luxurious hedge with most ornamental shrubs: it’s your choice.<\/p>\n

Dogwood: A Perfect Example<\/h3>\n

Dogwood demonstrates this distinction perfectly. Common hedge species like Cornus sanguinea<\/a> for native hedges, or Cornus alba<\/a> otherwise, are only delivered bareroot in winter.<\/p>\n

Ornamental forms like Midwinter Fire<\/a>, Spaethii<\/a>, or Elegantissima<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Why you might not use ornamental dogwoods as hedging:<\/strong> 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<\/a>, the Wedding Cake Tree, is a good example.<\/p>\n

Why you might not hard prune wild dogwood in your border:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n

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