× Cuprocyparis leylandii
£2.75 per plant
- UK Nursery Grown
- Grow Guarantee
Green Leylandii Hedge Plants (Pot Grown)
× Cuprocyparis leylandii
£2.75 per plant
Green Leylandii grows vigorously, producing upright stems covered in soft, dark green foliage. Planted in a row, it can form a tall evergreen screen, provided the sides are trimmed from an early stage. It suits boundaries where height and privacy are priorities, provided you can trim it regularly. Choose a pot-grown size to plant at any time the soil is workable.
- Fast, dense evergreen screening
- Soft dark green foliage
- Thrives in sun or partial shade
1. How would you like it supplied?
Grown and sent in a pot, so you can plant it in any month when the soil is not frozen or waterlogged. Ask us a question
Pots, bare root and rootball
- Bare root
- Arrives with bare roots and little soil. Keep them damp and plant while the weather is cool.
- Rootball
- Arrives with soil wrapped around the roots. Lift it by the soil ball rather than the stems and plant as directed.
- Potted
- Comes in a nursery pot. Each option shows the pot size and the height you will receive.
2. Pick your plant
Not sure which shrub to pick?Tell us about your garden and we will help you choose
Position
Sun or partial shade
Soil
Well-drained soil; avoid waterlogging
Supplied size
40-60cm, 9cm pot
Ordering
Minimum order 10
Description
Green Leylandii Hedge Plants (Pot Grown)
What are leylandii hedge plants?
Green Leylandii is a vigorous evergreen conifer that quickly forms a tall, dense screen. It has soft sprays of dark green foliage and a naturally upright shape. Leylandii hedging plants are popular where a fast-growing boundary is needed, but they do require regular trimming to keep them at a manageable size.
Because it grows so strongly, Leylandii is best suited to larger gardens or open positions where you can reach both sides for cutting. A narrow gap beside a path, or a boundary you cannot access for trimming, may suit a slower-growing evergreen instead. Pot-grown Green Leylandii can be planted whenever the soil is workable. Watering during establishment and regular side trimming help develop the dense growth needed for a windbreak or privacy screen.
Why choose Green Leylandii for hedging?
Green Leylandii commonly produces 60 to 90cm of new growth annually once established, so a young hedge can gain height quickly. It is useful where you need height quickly, perhaps to screen an overlooked garden or to soften a new-build plot. The dark green foliage stays dense all year, creating a solid backdrop for planting or a neat boundary line.
You do need to commit to trimming it within the green growth. Once a hedge becomes too wide, cutting it back into leafless brown wood is unlikely to produce fresh shoots. Keeping a young hedge in shape is much easier than trying to reduce an overgrown one later. If you prefer golden foliage, our Castlewellan Gold offers a similar habit with a brighter colour.
How tall and wide does a Leylandii hedge grow?
Left unpruned, Green Leylandii can eventually reach 20 to 30 metres tall and 5 to 8 metres wide. As a managed hedge, it is sensible to keep it between 2 and 5 metres high and around 1 to 1.5 metres wide. Growth rates of 60 to 90cm per year are common once the roots are established.
Regular trimming from a young age helps you control both height and spread. Aim to shape the sides so the base is slightly wider than the top, which lets light reach the lower branches and keeps the hedge dense from the ground up.
Where can I use Leylandii in the garden?
Leylandii is useful for tall boundary screens and windbreaks. Its dense foliage may soften some traffic noise, although it should not be relied upon as a sound barrier. It works well in family gardens where a quick, private space is wanted, or to hide an unsightly view. The fine foliage also makes a neat backdrop for mixed borders.
Avoid planting it where the shade it casts will cause problems for neighbours or your own beds. It is not suited to small town gardens unless you can keep it tightly clipped. For pots on a patio, a slower conifer or a compact shrub is a better long-term choice.
Choosing a size of pot-grown Green Leylandii
The five pot-grown options start with 40-60cm plants in 9cm pots and extend to 150cm plants in 5 litre pots. Smaller plants cost less to use across a long hedge run, while taller plants give more initial height. Even the 150cm option needs time for neighbouring branches to meet and form a continuous screen. All are grown in pots, so you can plant them whenever the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
The table below helps you pick the right starting size for your hedge.
| Option | Supplied size | Pot size | Best for | Plants per metre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40-60cm | 40-60cm | 9cm pot | Economical planting of long runs | 3 to 4 |
| 60-90cm | 60-90cm | 2 litre pot | Good balance of size and value | 3 to 4 |
| 90-120cm | 90-120cm | 2 litre pot | Quicker screen on a budget | 2 to 3 |
| 120-150cm | 120-150cm | 5 litre pot | More starting height for earlier screening | 2 |
| 150cm | 150cm | 5 litre pot | Tallest starting option for boundary screening | 2 |
What are the disadvantages of Leylandii trees?
The main drawback is the need for regular trimming, often two or three times a year for a vigorous hedge. If you neglect this, Leylandii can quickly become too tall and wide, and it does not regrow reliably from old brown wood. It can also cast heavy shade and dry out the soil nearby.
In very dry summers, the roots compete strongly for moisture, which can affect neighbouring plants. Some gardeners find the rapid growth more work than they expected, so it is worth being honest about the maintenance before you plant.
Growing and care
Planting and looking after it
When and how do I plant a Leylandii hedge?
Pot-grown Green Leylandii can be planted at any time of year, as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged. Autumn and spring are ideal, giving roots time to settle before summer heat or winter cold. Prepare the planting line by clearing weeds and digging over a strip at least 60cm wide.
Water the pots thoroughly before planting. Set each plant at the same depth it was in the pot, firm the soil gently and water well. Keep the root zone moist during dry spells for the first full growing season.
How many leylandii hedge plants do I need?
Spacing depends on the size you start with and how quickly you want a solid screen. For most pot-grown sizes, 3 plants per metre in a single row gives good coverage. Larger plants at 120cm and above can be spaced at 2 per metre.
The table below shows the number of plants needed for common hedge lengths.
| Hedge length | 2 plants per metre | 3 plants per metre | 4 plants per metre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 metres | 10 | 15 | 20 |
| 10 metres | 20 | 30 | 40 |
| 20 metres | 40 | 60 | 80 |
Watering, feeding and aftercare
Water slowly and deeply along the root zone, especially in the first two summers. A thorough soak once or twice a week is better than a daily sprinkle. Keep a 60cm strip weed-free around the base to reduce competition.
Feed with a general-purpose granular fertiliser in early spring, and mulch with well-rotted compost to hold moisture. Avoid piling mulch against the stems.
When to trim Leylandii and how often
Trim between April and the end of August, as growth requires. An established, vigorous hedge may need cutting two or three times in that period. Always stay within the green foliage and aim for a shape that is slightly wider at the base.
Check for active bird nests before each cut: it is illegal to disturb nesting birds. Start shaping the sides of young plants early, and raise the height gradually over a few seasons.
Choose and maintain conifer hedging Plan a garden privacy hedge When and how to trim hedges Compare hedge sizes
Our planting guideMore growing help: RHS plant and growing guidance
Sizes and prices
Green Leylandii, pot grown sizes, prices and minimum orders
| Option | Supplied height | Pot or root | Plants | Price | Minimum order | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40-60cm | 9cm pot | 1 plant | 40-60cm | 9cm pot | 1 | £2.75 per plant | 10 | Available |
| 60-90cm | 2 litre pot | 1 plant | 60-90cm | 2 litre pot | 1 | £6.49 per plant | 5 | Available |
| 90-120cm | 2 litre pot | 1 plant | 90-120cm | 2 litre pot | 1 | £7.99 per plant | 5 | Available |
| 120-150cm | 5 litre pot | 1 plant | 120-150cm | 5 litre pot | 1 | £17.99 per plant | 10 | Unavailable |
| 150cm | 5 litre pot | 1 plant | 150cm | 5 litre pot | 1 | £19.99 per plant | 10 | Unavailable |
Prices are for the option you select. Pack size is the number of plants you receive, and the minimum order is the smallest number we can send.
How sizes and quantities workDelivery
Delivery for your plant order
You will see delivery options and any charge in your basket before you pay.
Your plants are alive when they reach you, so open the box on the day, water if the compost feels dry and stand them somewhere sheltered until planting.
Delivery informationPlant questions
Good to know
How many 40-60cm green leylandii plants do I need per metre?
For 40 to 60cm pot-grown plants, we recommend 3 to 4 per metre in a single row. Using 4 per metre gives a denser screen more quickly. If you are planting a double staggered row, increase the quantity to 5 or 6 plants per metre.
How long does a Leylandii hedge take to grow?
Green Leylandii is fast growing, typically putting on 60 to 90cm of height per year once established. Starting with 90 to 120cm plants gives the hedge a useful head start towards 2 metres. At a growth rate of 60 to 90cm per year once established, that height may be reached within two to three growing seasons, although actual growth depends on soil, weather and establishment.
Is it illegal to plant a Leylandii hedge?
No, planting Leylandii is not itself illegal. In England and Wales, high hedge legislation under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 can apply to qualifying evergreen hedges over 2 metres tall where neighbours experience problems with light or the reasonable enjoyment of their property. Height alone does not automatically make a hedge unlawful, and different rules apply elsewhere in the UK. Plan the eventual height carefully and keep the hedge manageable.
Can I cut Leylandii back into brown wood?
It is best to avoid cutting into old, leafless brown wood. Leylandii rarely produces new green shoots from bare branches, so you can be left with permanent brown patches. Regular light trimming within the green growth prevents this.
How often should a Leylandii hedge be trimmed?
Trim as needed between April and the end of August. A fast-growing hedge often needs two or three cuts in that period. Slower growth in dry summers or on poorer soil may mean only one trim is needed.
Is Leylandii suitable for a small garden?
It can be managed as a hedge in a small garden, but only if you have room for its width and can commit to regular cutting. Consider the shade it will cast and whether you can reach both sides for trimming before you plant.
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