Hello
Try Buxus microphylla
CompactaÂor Kingsville Dwarf
Wintergreen
Buxus sempervirens
Angustifolia
Argenteo-variegata
Bullata
Handsworthiensis
from Clemson extension
may be a good choice for
a formal hedge.
Blurangel

Formal hedges are a LOT of work! be forewarned. Get your pruning tools sharpened or hire a gardener.

What you want is something bushy and fast growing that wants to live in your yard under your care. Some people love to tweak their plants every day while others would rather just look at the hedge and maybe clip it once each year. How much gardening work do you want to do?

The beauty of something like boxwoods is that you can find replacements just about everywhere - replacements? you ask? yep, at some point one of your bushes is gonna get injured or dead and you will want to replace it. Fast growers fill in quickly and within one season most folks won't notice the difference.

You also want to watch out for plants that are promoted as disease free or disease resistant, everything has some sort of disease issues. Plenty of plants get sold that way and then after a few years some disease shows up that no one knew about, and shrubs die out everywhere.

leylands are a perfect example of what TJ said.

Got deer? If so, you may want to try ONE thuja out in the open to see if they want to eat the whole thing, or just sample it.

I have no other suggestions beyond what is mentioned for a tall hedge.

However, if you want to make a short hedge (like for a Victorian knot garden) or up to 3 feet (allowing for shaping), rosemary is great. It takes to shaping, too. It's fragrant and you will have a lot of rosemary for cooking.

Cameron