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ornamental shrub for tricky site

Posted by mrskaline 5 (My Page) on
Wed, Nov 18, 09 at 17:50

Hi all...this question could probably wait till spring but because I'm so indecisive I figured I'll try and get a head start.

I'm trying to figure out how to landscape a new bed I'm creating along the back corner of my back yard and need opinions on an attractive shrub to fill in the corner. Here are the specifics:

Zone: 5A (central Indiana)

Preferred Size: approx. 5-6' feet tall

Moisture: Moist to wet year round (very wet in winter and spring). I don't think it ever dries out.

Soil: The yucky stuff (heavy, sticky clay), however I've been working on changing that over the last month or two by adding layers of cardboard, brown paper, chunks of sod I tore out from other parts of the yard, etc. which hopefully will bring more worms. So hopefully it's making a difference. Never tried it before so we'll see.

Light: It will be placed in the corner of a 6' privacy fence. This time of year I think it's total shade but if I remember correctly, during the spring & summer the lighting is different and I believe it gets some sun from approx. 2:00 or 3:00 till dusk (but always morning shade). HOWEVER, I have a baby Kwanzan cherry tree planted nearby (about 10' away). In retrospect I'm not sure it was a good choice (probably too much moisture) which I wonder if that's why I got so few flowers last spring (question for another post). Anyway, as the tree grows it will probably eventually shade the whole area except for maybe some very very late afternoon sun. That will take awhile but eventually it will happen so I have to keep that in consideration.

The only shrubs I can think of that would suit the site would be Clethra or Carolina Allspice. I have a summer wine ninebark still begging to be planted somewhere but I'm not sure that's a good choice for that area.

I'm a novice gardener and just learning so any thoughts and suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks!


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: ornamental shrub for tricky site

Cephalanthus is an interesting shrub for wet areas, and I believe there is a cultivar called 'Sputnik'.


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RE: ornamental shrub for tricky site

Shrub willows or shrub dogwoods are good choices for damp locations and tolerate a fair amount of shade as well. Both are grown more for their foliage/stem effect than for flowers, though. Personally, I find the shrub or twig dogwoods (Cornus alba, Cornus sericea, etc.) pretty much indispensable shrubs for a variety of tough planting situations. And there are lots of variegated forms that are quite striking as well as coming in a range of stem colors - reds, golds, chartreuse green, oranges and flame colors.


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RE: ornamental shrub for tricky site

Thanks for the suggestions! I will check them all out.


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