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Can you suggest a shrub for me?
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Posted by donvon 8 AL (My Page) on Fri, Jul 3, 09 at 0:01
| I am looking for an evergreen shrub that will be approx 2-3h x 2w. Flowers are okay, but not a priority -- a nice shape, not wild is more important. I don't mind pruning to keep the size compact if necessary.
Thanks for any help. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Can you suggest a shrub for me?
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| What is the sun exposure???? Are deer a concern?? Personally, I am very partial to the hollies (dozens and dozens of species for all zones/sizes!) or Buxus (boxwood). Do you want a conifer or a broadleaf everygreen?? If your exposure is very shady, Acuba japonica is great? Others.....Photinia "red tip", Taxus, Cephalotaxus, Euonymous japonica, evergreen azaleas... We really need more info. though. |
RE: Can you suggest a shrub for me?
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| I'm sorry, you're right! Full sun exposure and I don't think deer are a problem (while we live on acreage, we have two large dogs that I think has scared them all off). In the bed, we also have a pygmy date palm that needs a lot of water so something that can tolerate a lot of water and mostly clay soil. Thank you! |
RE: Can you suggest a shrub for me?
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| Is your Pygmy date containerized or in the ground? In either case, watch the watering on this guy. Are you looking to create a hedge or just want one or two specimen shrubs? Conifer or broad-leaved evergreen? If you want one or two specimen shrubs (and not a hedge), you have literally thousands of choices despite what you may think of a difficult environment (heavy, wet, clay soils, excessive sun, etc.) If you really want a hedge there are standard favorites that have been around forever for a reason--they're attractive and they work! You could do some minimal work to improve your soil condition. My soil also has a tendency to be clay. I would work in some coarse sand, gypsum, and peat moss to lighten the soil. I am assuming the DRAINAGE is good. If not, then you have a bigger problem than clay soil. (Over time, I have seen a difference in the quality of my soil.) Some of my favorite formal, hedge plants are the ones I have personally used with success and look good. Holly--there must be dozens and dozens of available varieties but make sure you get a DWARF if you are serious about keeping it at 2-3 feet Yaopon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)'Schillings Dwarf' variety
Dwarf Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)
Dwarf Burfordii Holly Boxwood (Buxus)(Dwarf English is known as a SLOW grower if you really hate pruning) Dwarf Azaleas
Dwarf Euonymous japonica If you want a conifer, a nice one I just bought is the Dwarf Japanes Plum Yew or,
Cephalotaxus harringtonia "prostrata" (it's low-growing and looks like a yew only it is much more tolerant of high heat and humidity, and deer don't eat this one! Just a few to get you started. I would visit a well-stocked nursery to get some ideas. Happy 4th! |
RE: Can you suggest a shrub for me?
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| Zone 8 opens up a world of cool possibilities; you can think beyond the traditional landscape shrubs and move into trying things that would be iffy even here in coastal VA. What about Gardenia radicans, a low, spreading variety with proportionately smaller blooms that will grow to about the size you specify? I also like Dianella tasmanica, an upright Australian plant with decorative leaves and spectacular blue berries, but that wouldn't offer much contrast with your date palm. Smaller varieties of Raphiolepis indica, sold as Indian Hawthorn, fill the bill as well, bloom early, and produce decorative black berries. There are also the dwarf nandinas if you're looking for foliage color - bright red in winter and fall. I could go on and on - there's nothing like an open spot in the garden to spark creativity. |
RE: Can you suggest a shrub for me?
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i think the dwarf yaupon holly might be a good choice. they are planted in full sun, poor soil and mulched in that awful red rock mulch at the office and still look good. they prune them into meatball shapes every few years so not my cup o' tea but then i like the "wild" look of many shrubs.
i also find that gardenias look better with afternoon shade in our hot zone. alabama summer heat and drought can be a problem when trying to establish new plants at this time of year.
from my personal experience, i have the 'prostrata' plum yew in shade after mid-day. it is a nice plant. |
RE: Can you suggest a shrub for me?
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Thank you for the great suggestions!
After lots of looking and evaluating the sun, the soil, the water requirements, the size, the coloring, etc., I think I may have decided on the dwarf yaupon holly. Bubba, the Dianella tasmanica is a plant that I found a couple weeks ago at a specialty nursery and I said, "I must get this!" I do have another spot for those though! Thanks again! |
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