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We've lived here 3 years and have pretty much taken care of front and back, but now we want to deal with the side of our house that gets full sun. Our bedroom is on this side of the house and it gets much hotter/stuffier than the rest of the house. We'd like something that would grow 6-8 feet high but that wouldn't be too wide. There's only about 6 feet of lawn on this side and we want to be able to walk by as necessary. (The only faucet for the back yard is here on the side of the house!) We will be removing the satellite dish and moving it to the back. Since I'm a bird watcher, I loved the description of abelia as being very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies and honey bees. I like my plants to do double duty and be attractive to birds. But the main desire is something dense and tall enough to cool this side of the house. Thanks for your advice! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by clueless_in_alabama 7b (My Page) on Mon, Apr 5, 10 at 17:06
| I contacted Petals from the Past in Jemison to ask them this question and I got an email back saying that abelia would be great but they only carry abelias that grow to about 4 feet. She suggested if I wanted something taller to try roses, spirea or some types of juniper. So now I would ask: where would I get abelias that grow 6-8 feet? (Are there some?) And if I tried one of the other suggestions, would they be evergreen and attract birds? And most important, cool the house? |
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| They probably carry the newer Abelia cultivars like 'Rose Creek' and 'Canyon Creek' which are a bit more compact. The species form and some of the earlier cultivars get bigger. But actually I'd be concerned that they would get too big for what you want (but you can always prune). |
Here is a link that might be useful: Abelia
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| I don't have any specific plant/shrub suggestions, but what if you got a large shrub or small tree for in front of your bedroom window to help with shade, and did a mixed border down the side to cover the rest of the area? Or maybe that's what you were thinking...? |
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| Does it have to shade year round or only in the summer? I can only think of a few shrubs that would be 'skinny' enough, berberis 'helmond pillar', skyrocket juniper.....what about a trellis with some sort of climber to provide shade but still give you enough space for walking access or maybe an espaliered tree? Here is an apple espaliered....  Maybe some type of tall ornamental grass? Many possibilities, Flora |
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- Posted by dave_in_nova VA zone 7a (My Page) on Wed, Apr 21, 10 at 10:05
| There would be so many ways to go here. But, I think abelias are going to be too spreading for this site and you'd be pruning, pruning, pruning. Of course, most things will probably require pruning to keep narrow. You may consider training pyracantha as an espalier on the wall, on a trellis, or on stakes, but it's spiny, and you'll still have to prune. I like the cultivar P. koidzumii 'Victory' because of its red berries, which birds probably love. Also evergreen vines, but I don't know if you want anything climbing on the walls. You could plant three Windmill palms, which will eventually trunk, or train several loquats or photinias against the wall. Also, there are upright lorapetalums, nandinas, smaller upright hollies such as weeping Yaupons (berries), 'Liberty', 'Spartan'. Golden, or 'Gold Spot' or 'Silver King' euonymous would need pruning eventually, but would be quite dense. Osthmanthus fortunei is a bit spiny. Maybe several compact Cherrylaurels like 'Emerald King' or 'Bright and Tight', Euonymous 'Green Spire' might be cool, but may need watering in that site. Majestic Beauty® Indian Hawthorn would be stunning trained as standards against the wall. Just a few ideas! It's probably a warm microclimate, so use that to your advantage. |
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