A section of a low hedge of Begonia acutifolia in the garden of Janet and Lawrie Hayes in Sydney

It's always a joy to see new planting ideas, and last week a friend and I visited a garden where low hedges using unexpected species provided inspiration for us both. In the spacious front garden of Janet and Lawrie Hayes, magnificent established trees form a canopy below which the vertical lines of the trunks are balanced by the horizontal contours of plants massed into low, informal hedges at the front of garden beds. Lining the same plant up as a low hedge completely changes its character, allowing it to become part of the garden design. These hedges lead the eye, defining the edges of paths and the shape of garden beds (and also the lawn!), and providing a frame for the garden. Behind the hedges, a variety of different plants provides interest and diversity, but the low hedges give a a serene cohesiveness to the garden.

Foliage of Begonia acutifolia grown as a low hedge in a sunny spot in the garden of Janet and Lawrie Hayes in Sydney

Foliage of Begonia acutifolia grown as a low hedge in a sunny spot in the garden of Janet and Lawrie Hayes in Sydney

One standout used in this way was an unusual shrub-like Begonia that neither my friend nor I had seen before. It was massed in a long line along a garden edge, and apparently flowers pretty much all year round. The hedge needs occasional clipping but that's about it. This shrubby Begonia appears to be Begonia acutifolia (colloquially named the holly-leaf begonia) and is a most adaptable plant. It will grow in situations of full sun to full shade and grows about 1 m tall and rather wide. The flowers tend to be white in shade and can develop a pinkish tinge if grown in a sunny spot. The attractive foliage varies from mid-green in shade to almost bronze in a sunny area. In the Hayes's garden, one end of the hedge is in more sun, showing this intriguing variation, as seen in the photo above. Tip pruning the plant in its early stages will promote a compact habit. My friend and I were thrilled to receive some cuttings of the plant to grow in our own gardens.

Begonia arborescens var. oxyphylla can be used as a low hedge

Begonia arborescens var. oxyphylla can be used as a low hedge

A number of other shrub-like Begonia species can be used to form similar low hedges, and they are so useful for shaded spots in the garden. Begonia arborescens var. oxyphylla (ht 1 m) is one of the more commonly used specimens for this purpose. It has white flowers during the warmer months. Other suggestions include 'Island Gem' (lush green foliage and white flowers, pinkish in a brighter spot, ht 70 cm), Begonia cubensis (ht 50 cm, pink blooms), Begonia fuchsioides (small foliage and red fuchsia-like blooms, ht 1 m) and Begonia foliosa (fern-like foliage and white flowers, ht 50 cm). For a lower option, some of the robust rhizomatous Begonia, such as 'Immense', 'Erythrophylla' and 'Cleopatra', can be massed-planted along an edge to form a ribbon of interesting foliage and pretty blooms in spring, with very little work involved in maintaining them!

Iresine herbstii Brilliantissima in the garden of Janet and Lawrie Hayes

Iresine herbstii Brilliantissima in the garden of Janet and Lawrie Hayes

Other plants are also used in the Hayes's garden as low hedges. In a semi-shady area, I admired the use of both the yellow and the crimson forms of Iresine herbstii in the garden used as low hedges by clipping them to keep them compact. The leaves of these easy-going plants give constant bright colour, with the added bonus of doing well in shady spots - though they will also do well in sunnier positions.

Bergenia cordifolia edging a bed in the garden of Janet and Lawrie Hayes in Sydney

Bergenia cordifolia edging a bed in the garden of Janet and Lawrie Hayes in Sydney

The everblooming Euphorbia hypercifolia 'Diamond Frost' (ht 50 cm) is also used as a low hedge in the garden, running alongside the driveway. Its dainty white flowers provide a spangled effect, and the hedge just requires clipping every so often to keep it in good shape. This plant seems to flower even with some shade and is incredibly tough. A row of pretty New Guinea Impatiens is being established as another massed planting. For really low-growing edgings, the bold leaves of Bergenia cordifolia, Liriope and even some bold succulents are used in the garden.

Miniature form of Justicia brandegeeana grown as a low hedge in the garden of Carolyn Hughes in Sydney

Miniature form of Justicia brandegeeana grown as a low hedge in the garden of Carolyn Hughes in Sydney

Many other plants can potentially lend themselves to being grown as low hedges. The very compact form of the shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeeana, ht 20 cm) is wonderful in shade or sun; Cuphea hyssopifolia (ht 60cm) with its dainty purple or white flowers suits a sunny spot, as does burgundy-leaved Alternanthera dentata 'Little Ruby' (ht 30 cm). Nandina domestica 'Nana' (ht 45 cm, sacred bamboo) is another candidate: a tough plant with vaguely bamboo-like foliage, although it is no relation to real bamboo. It has brilliant lime new leaves in spring; some newer cultivars, such as 'Lemon Lime' have lime-coloured foliage almost all year round. A low-growing form of box - Buxus sinica var. koreana (ht 60 cm, known as Korean box) - has finer leaves than other forms of Buxus, and can be used for an informal or more formal clipped hedge. Both the Nandina and the Buxus will grow in part shade as well as in sun. I'd love to hear of more ideas for low hedges!

Many thanks to Janet and Lawrie for welcoming us to their garden; and to Margaret Chedra for helping to identify the Begonia seen there, and for suggesting other species of this genus to use as low hedges.