Flowering Hedge

We're considering changing our hedge at the front of our house - looking to end up with something about 1.5-2m tall, probably 6m wide, must have foliage year round, something that will flower or fruit up for a bit of interest, and can be cut back fairly easily (and drastically if necessary).

Any recommendations? And will it be expensive?

We could live for a season with something that was smallish but growing fast, but wouldn't really want to start with a bunch of shrubs that were 30cm tall as it faces onto the street.

Not sure what our current hedge is, but the small green leaves only seem to be right on the outer layer of the twigs and branches, so if we don't keep on top of the maintenance it can bulge outwards, and if we trim this back we end up with visible wood and no leaves, which we want to avoid.

 

Do you have a photo so it can be identified? It may be that a hard pruning is what it needs because it will force growth further down the plant, so it may soon bush out. You also need to ensure it's cut in a slight 'v' shape, so that its narrower at the top, which will permit the light to get down to the bottom of the hedge.

I like a privet hedge - sounds boring but if you leave it to flower, the smell is lovely.

Alternatively, try something like Eleagnus x ebbingei which has small but very fragrant flowers in autumn, or Viburnum Tinus.

 

Escallonia makes a nice hedge,needs trimming to keep in shape though

 

Hebe also.

 

Thanks for the suggestions - escallonia looks good, only seen it available in smaller (30-45cm) plants, are there places that sell larger shrubs to give us a start on a decent height hedge?

I've attached the existing hedge (or at least, a photo of it). If someone can identify it then at least we'll know how to cut it back. This was taken in the middle of last summer, so it's not quite as vibrant at the moment:

 

It's difficult to tell what the hedge is, we need a close up of the foliage please Twilkes.

Escallonia is a good, hardy hedge but it needs trimming at least twice a year and flowers tend to be cut off.





Larger shrubs are available but they will cost a lot more and probably better bought in the dormant season later in the year. At that time they will possibly be sold bare root and the cost will be less.

 

Thanks Sheal, the first photo is maybe what we want to avoid, as the long shoots are what bugs us about the current hedge.

This is the only closeup I have of the foliage, unfortunately it was photobombed by a nest of garden spiders:

 

Looks like privet. If allowed it will flower, but usually people cut it too soon. Why not keep most of it and interplant with a few different plants rather than change the whole hedge in one go?