Hedge vs. Bush: What’s the Difference?

The most successful yards and gardens blend form and function, offering year-round visual interest while enhancing your ability to enjoy the space. But when are hedges the right choice, and when should bushes be planted instead? Below, our hedge vs. bush guide explains the key differences between these two landscape features. Keep reading to learn which one is right for your yard. 

Hedge vs. Bush: Key Differences

While overlap exists between hedges and bushes (and some plants can be used as both), in general, hedges are larger, reaching heights of 15 feet or more in the right conditions. Often, multiple plants of similar size are planted in a row; over time, they intertwine, forming sizable barriers for privacy, protection from wind, and the like. Bushes, meanwhile, tend to be planted individually and used ornamentally to fill bare spots. Bushes tend to be lower to the ground than hedges and come in a wider variety of colors, textures, and shapes. 

What Is a Hedge?

The formal hedge has many purposes in landscaping, serving as a windbreak, a privacy screen, a pleasing backdrop to a garden, a welcome wall of shade, a living alternative to a fence, and much more. Hedges are typically linear and favor small-leaved plants with branches that are tightly knit. Hedges can range from a few feet high to 15 feet or higher, depending on the species and purpose, and they can be sculpted in many ways.

Best for:

• A living fence

• Creating a windbreak

• Creating a privacy screen

• Marking the edge of property

• A precise, sculpted look

Pros of a Hedge

• Adds order and structure to a landscape

• Provides shade and privacy

• Blocks wind and helps muffle ambient noise

• Serves as a habitat for birds, critters, and other wildlife

Cons of a Hedge

• Requires regular trimming to maintain a clean look

• Not all plant species grow together easily

• Many popular hedge species such as privets are invasive

• A number of common hedge species like yew, privet, laurel, boxwood, and holly are toxic to pets

What Is a Bush?

A bush is an ornamental plant that’s typically taller than flowers or ground cover but significantly smaller than a tree. Bushes are used to add visual interest and fill in spaces in a landscape. Often planted independently, bushes come in many shapes, colors, and textures. Sometimes people will plant a row of the same kind of bush, but the intent isn’t to create a barrier the way that hedges do. 

Best for:

• Spot planting to fill in corners, berms, edges, and more

• Introducing color and texture to a landscape

• Softening areas near fences, walls, or foundations that lack greenery

Pros of a Bush

• Highly versatile 

• Easier to find beneficial native species

• Flowering bushes can attract pollinators

• Suitable for container gardens

Cons of a Bush

• Can outgrow tight places

• Lack the utility and height that hedges provide

• Rates of growth can vary drastically between species

Hedge vs. Bush

Let’s put these two landscaping options head to head and see how they really match up with each other. 

Design Options: Bushes

If you’re looking to introduce more color and visual interest to your yard, then bushes are the best option. There’s plenty to choose from, including stately rhododendrons that promise bright splashes of flowering color every year, and reliable spirea with its close-growing greenery. Hedge options are generally more limited, since greater focus is placed on tight-knit growth, smaller leaves, and uniform plant structure. You’ll have options, but they won’t be as diverse.

Usefulness: Hedges

While bushes are certainly versatile, there’s no beating the functionality of hedges. They can act as windbreaks in gusty areas of your yard or help prevent erosion next to sloping hills. A thick, tall hedge offers great privacy too, acting as a green, living fence that will grow for decades.

Cost: Bushes

Hedges cost an estimated $10 to $45 per linear foot depending on the species chosen and how close you need to place each plant. Bushes, meanwhile, cost about $20-$80 each (larger, more established plants are the most expensive). The key difference in cost between bushes and hedges is that people usually buy bushes individually and plant them separately, while multiple plants are often needed to create a hedge. 

Care and Upkeep: Bushes

Maintenance needs like watering, fertilizing, and mulching are consistent for both bushes and hedges. But hedges require more regular pruning, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional landscaping service near you. This is especially true if you’ve selected a fast-growing variety for your hedge or you want them sculpted into precise shapes. 

Lifespan: Hedges

Standalone bushes typically last up to 15 years or so. Many bush species are smaller and more delicate than hedge picks, which can translate to a shorter lifespan. People often select hedge plants for longevity, meanwhile. Popular species like privet can last for up to 40 years with proper care. There are hedges in the world that have lasted for centuries through care and careful replanting with the same species when a portion is damaged. 

Sustainability: Bushes

Species like privets and barberry that traditionally make great hedges can also be very invasive in certain parts of North America, especially southern states. They can spread easily and choke out native growth. The broader number of bush choices makes it easier to find a native or environmentally-friendly choice.