While I am not totally sure that there isn't some question about invasiveness with the English hollies in the PNW, the American holly cultivars should be just fine. If you want berries, you will need to plant male and females of the appropriate varieties - if you aren't too enamored of berries, then plant what you can find. If you don't want a "Great Wall" - depending on the length of ground you want to plant, then planting a mix of hollies and other evergreens would give a "Tapestry Hedge" effect. There are also madronas, ceanothus, etc., as well as California bay, but I have forgotten a lot of the plants I once knew - it's been almost 9 years now since I moved from San Francisco! If you want others, there are cedars, thujas, chaemacyparis, cryptomerias, clumping bamboos, camellias, Rhodies, loropetalums, possibly pittosporums, possibly podocarpus, and various viburnums (check as some have made the invasives listings in other parts of the country). 'Hope those give you a place to start looking. If you can plant a hedge of double or triple thickness, then the front row doesn't HAVE to be evergreen, and can include deciduous, flowering shrubs and trees, just to give additional interest. The Sunset Garden Book should have a listing of good, evergreen hedge plants (it's a very good book anyway, so you probably should have a copy if you don't already), and there should be any number of books available through your local library to look things up in. As well, here is always Google and the rest of the search engines. You can also try your local county extension agent, as he/she should know what will grow well in your area - try looking under gov't offices in the phone book - there should be an office in the county seat.

I also live in Virginia, and was thinking about the British hedge for privacy reasons. I took a roadtrip in the UK several years ago, and my first notice of hedgerows was while driving a one-lane country road in my car rental. The roads were extremely narrow, with little room for mistakes. Initially, I feared accidentally scratching the paint while maintaining the center of the lane. Then, my fear turned into terror when the hedgerows intermittently vanished in favor of a stone walls. It scared the crap out of me. Needless to say, the hedgerows return was a welcome sight. I know I am writing this well after the first post, but for anyone wanting a look at hedgerow building, you should check out Season 2, Episode 6 of Clarkson's Farm on Amazon Prime. As for the "Americans are lazy" comment.. Americans rank relatively high as one of hardest working people in the world, especially against most developed countries. I do think Americans wouldn't take the time to maintain a hedge, but I believe it is more about 'how' they prioritize their time. Even I have berated my brother on the amount of time he spends on his yard. I have commented to him that he spends more time on maintaining it, rather than enjoying it.

A foot wide planting area poses a multitude of problems. What ever vine you chose , that is the only thing you can plant in such a narrow area, will need tip pruning every year in order to maintain fullness. Rather than a living screen, how about a oriental looking fence with hanging pots attached in a staggered and asymmetrically arrangements.

Hello! I'm looking for a fast-growing, low-maintenance (preferably something that will thrive with moderate to little watering) hedge for the space between my sidewalk and front fence (about 3'). Native plants a plus. Purpose is to create an outdoor space in our front yard/create privacy from the lookie loos who walk in front of our house (we're near a commercial zone). I'm in zone 10b and do not have an irrigation system. I will however hand-water the hedge and have a gardener maintain it once a month. I'm thinking something like these two pics, but am open to any suggestions, of course! Thanks in advance.