Golden Leylandii Hedge (Cupressocyparis Leylandii 'Castlewellan Gold')

Golden Leylandii Hedge Plant Description

Golden Leylandii, also known as Castlewellan Gold, is a vigorous evergreen conifer that combines the rapid growth of traditional Leylandii with striking golden foliage. Its dense, feathery branches provide excellent year-round screening, making it one of the best choices for creating privacy hedges, windbreaks and secure garden boundaries.

Growing around 40–60cm per year, Golden Leylandii quickly establishes into a thick hedge while remaining easy to maintain with regular trimming. Left unpruned, it can grow much taller, but annual pruning allows it to be kept between 1 and 5 metres neatly, making it suitable for a wide range of gardens.

Golden Leylandii performs well in normal, chalk and clay soils, thriving in full sun or partial shade. It is also highly tolerant of exposed and coastal locations, making it a dependable hedge for gardens throughout the UK. Its vibrant golden foliage provides attractive year-round colour and creates an eye-catching alternative to standard green Leylandii.

Pruning Advice

Golden Leylandii benefits from trimming once or twice each year, ideally during late spring and again in late summer, to maintain a dense, tidy hedge. Regular light pruning encourages compact growth and prevents the hedge from becoming too large.

Only trim the current season's soft green growth and avoid cutting back into older brown wood, as Leylandii rarely regenerates from mature stems. Routine maintenance is the easiest way to keep Golden Leylandii healthy, colourful and easy to manage.

Further Information

Planting distances depend on how quickly you would like your hedge to establish. Bare root plants are generally planted at 3 plants per metre, while 5 plants per metre creates a fuller hedge more quickly. For the densest results, plant 7 bare root plants per metre in a staggered double row.

Pot-grown and cell-grown plants are typically planted at 4 plants per metre, with 6 plants per metre recommended for faster screening and a denser hedge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast does Golden Leylandii grow?

Golden Leylandii (Castlewellan Gold) is a fast-growing evergreen hedge that typically grows 40–60cm per year under good growing conditions. Regular watering during establishment and annual pruning help maintain healthy growth.

What is the difference between Golden Leylandii and Green Leylandii?

Golden Leylandii has bright golden-yellow foliage that provides year-round colour, whereas Green Leylandii has darker green foliage. Both grow quickly and create dense privacy hedges, but Golden Leylandii offers a more decorative appearance.

How often should Golden Leylandii be trimmed?

Golden Leylandii is best trimmed once or twice a year, usually in late spring and again in late summer. Regular trimming keeps the hedge dense, tidy and at the desired height.

Is Golden Leylandii evergreen?

Yes. Golden Leylandii is an evergreen conifer, providing dense foliage and year-round privacy, shelter and colour throughout the seasons.

What conditions does Golden Leylandii prefer?

Golden Leylandii grows well in normal, chalk and clay soils and thrives in full sun or partial shade. It is also suitable for exposed and coastal gardens across the UK.

How far apart should Golden Leylandii hedge plants be planted?

Planting distance depends on how quickly you want the hedge to establish. Around 3 plants per metre provides standard coverage, while 5 plants per metre creates a denser hedge more quickly.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £9.98 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £24.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £350 | or £82 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £1500 | or £450 charge.