Best Plants for Hedges in Tbilisi — and Why
A living hedge is one of the strongest landscape elements — it combines perimeter, privacy, a noise buffer, and a natural sun screen in one element. Not every plant survives Tbilisi's hot-dry summers and wet winters, so picking the right plant matters.
What makes a good hedge plant?
- Hardiness — Tbilisi swings from −10 °C to +38 °C across the year
- Trainability — responds well to pruning shears
- Dense foliage — for an even, opaque hedge
- Slow-to-moderate growth — very fast plants demand constant maintenance
1. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
The hedge classic — slow-growing (10–15 cm per year) but you won't find a cleaner formal line anywhere. Ideal for 1–2 m hedges around formal gardens.
- Price: ~45 GEL per 40 cm whip
- Spacing: 25–30 cm
- Sun: any
2. Thuja (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd')
If you need a tall, fast hedge — Thuja is the obvious answer. Adds 50–80 cm per year and gives you a 2.5–3 m hedge in three years. Excellent for blocking sightlines from the street.
- Price: ~65 GEL per 1 m whip
- Spacing: 60–80 cm
- Sun: full
3. Juniper (Juniperus)
Drought-tolerant — perfect for sunny, dry slopes. Comes in low (Juniperus horizontalis) and upright (Juniperus communis 'Hibernica') forms. Holds the landscape year-round.
- Price: ~55 GEL
- Spacing: 70–100 cm in a line
- Sun: full
4. Photinia (Photinia × fraseri)
Young leaves are bright red, fading to deep green — decorative all year. Fast at 30–50 cm per year and easy to shape.
- Price: ~70 GEL
- Spacing: 80–100 cm
- Sun: full or partial shade
5. Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
The familiar "standard" hedge — at windows, around yards, across gardens. Hardy, cheap, fast. The one downside: drops some leaves in autumn-winter.
- Price: ~35 GEL
- Spacing: 40–50 cm
- Sun: any
Where to source
If your garden is in Tbilisi and you need a living hedge with planting + a 12-month guarantee, the Dr. VERDE plants supply and care service covers everything from nursery selection to plant replacement if anything dies in the first year.
If you already have a hedge and just need maintenance, the monthly gardener service includes hedge shaping on every visit.