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Back to Key. Next (A).. (B).. (C).. (D-F).. (G-I).. (L-O).. (P).. (Q-R).. (S).. (T-Z).

Checklist of plants suitable for hedging and windbreaks: G - I

Botanical name Common name Deciduous/ Evergreen Height Growth rate Hardiness Wind Notes
Garrya elliptica   E M-T M 8 M Most well drained soils, not rich. Resents root disturbance. Grey to black dye, medicinal.
Gaultheria mucronata   E S M 6   Light peaty acid soil, sunny position. Edible fruit?
Genista hispanica Spanish gorse D S M 6   Sunny position in dry not rich soils. Resents root disturbance.
Griselinia littoralis   E M-T M 7 M Light rich soil, chalk tolerant. Edible fruit with a bitter flavour.
Hakea sericea   E M M 9 W Moist well drained soil. Gum-similar to gum tragacanth.
Hebe brachysiphon   E S-M M 7   Sunny, well drained.
Hebe dieffenbachii   E S-M M 9   Sunny, well drained.
Hebe x franciscana   E S-M M 7 M Light well drained soil on poor side, chalk tolerant.
Hebe speciosa   E S-M M 7 M As above.
Helichrysum italicum Curry plant E S M 8 W Well drained soil, sunny position. Leaves a flavouring.
Hibiscus syriacus Mallow D M M 5   Most well drained soils, sunny position. Edible leaves, flowers, oil.Tea, fibre, hair shampoo.
Hippophae rhamnoides Sea buckthorn D M-T M 3 M Most soils,sunny position. Fixes nitrogen. Edible fruit, very acid. Dyes, medicinal.
Hydrangea macrophylla Hydrangea D M M 5   Well drained moist soil.
Hydrangea serrata Hydrangea D M M 6   Well drained moist soil. Edible leaves, sweet in ssp. amagiana and thunbergii.
Hymenanthera dentata   E M-T M 9   Well drained. Purple dye.
Hypericum forrestii   D S-M M 5   Most soils.
Hypericum patulum   E S M 6   Most soils.
Hyssopus officinalis Hyssop E S M 3   Prefers light dry calcareous soil and a sunny position. Flavouring. Tea, medicinal.
Ilex x altaclarensis Holly E M-T S 6 M Most soils.
Ilex aquifolium Holly E M-T S 6 M Most soils, not dry. Full sun to heavy shade. Medicinal.

 

D = Deciduous E = Evergreen

Height:- S = Small (to 4ft for hedges, 20ft for trees.) M = Medium (to 6ft for hedges, 50ft for trees.) T = Tall (over 6ft for hedges, over 50ft for trees.)

Rate of Growth:- S = Slow M = Medium F = Fast

Wind Resistance:- W = tolerates Windy sites M = tolerates Maritime exposure

Hardiness zones 1(hardiest) to 10:- most of Britain is in zone 7 or 8 with some upland and northern areas being colder whilst western and southern coastal areas are milder.

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

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