Top Hedge Maze Plants
Boxwood (Buxus)
The classic maze hedge
★★★★★
Popularity
The gold standard for formal hedge mazes. Dense, small leaves create perfect geometric shapes. Used in famous mazes like those at Versailles and Chatsworth.
Advantages:
- • Dense, compact growth
- • Excellent for topiary
- • Long-lived (100+ years)
- • Takes pruning well
Considerations:
- • Slow growing
- • Needs regular feeding
- • Can suffer in extreme cold
- • Higher maintenance cost
Partial sun
Regular water
Height: 2-8 feet
Yew (Taxus)
The traditional English choice
★★★★☆
Durability
Hardy evergreen with dark green needles. The historic choice for English hedge mazes, including the famous Hampton Court maze (though that's actually hornbeam now).
Advantages:
- • Extremely hardy
- • Dense growth pattern
- • Tolerates heavy pruning
- • Long-lived (centuries)
Considerations:
- • Toxic if ingested
- • Slow to establish
- • Can be expensive
- • Needs good drainage
Privet (Ligustrum)
Fast-growing and affordable
★★★☆☆
Low maintenance
Quick-growing hedge that's perfect for temporary mazes or budget-conscious projects. Creates dense barriers quickly but requires frequent trimming.
Advantages:
- • Fast growing
- • Inexpensive
- • Very hardy
- • Quick establishment
Considerations:
- • Needs frequent trimming
- • Can become invasive
- • Less formal appearance
- • May lose leaves in cold
Planting & Care Tips
Planting Guidelines
- • Spacing: 12-18 inches apart for dense hedges
- • Depth: Same as container depth
- • Soil: Well-draining, slightly acidic
- • Timing: Early spring or fall
Maintenance Schedule
- • Trimming: 2-3 times per year
- • Watering: Deep, infrequent watering
- • Feeding: Slow-release fertilizer in spring
- • Mulching: 2-3 inches around base