Highly Recommended Shrubs and Trees

[Auricula]

I agree with Steve - Photinia is a good all rounder

[Chuckles]

I've been looking on here for some inspiration for something to replace a couple of Hebes I've lost after this horrid winter. So, can anyone recommend a shrub that is evergreen, max 4ft height x 3ft spread ish, not fussed if it flowers or not, tolerates some shade.

[Ladygardener]

I had a think about this, you could get Sarcococca (sp) Chuckles. It's evergreen likes a bit of shade and is very slow growing.

[andy]

Feb 19, 2011 22:48:34 GMT Chuckles said:

I've been looking on here for some inspiration for something to replace a couple of Hebes I've lost after this horrid winter. So, can anyone recommend a shrub that is evergreen, max 4ft height x 3ft spread ish, not fussed if it flowers or not, tolerates some shade.

How about planting a small group of say 3 fatsias together. They tick all your boxes Chuckles.....but then again, so does Sarcococca as mentioned above.

[Chuckles]

Thanks Andy and LG, I like Sarcococca but have never been able to keep them for some reason. Now then, Fatsia, I just happen to have one in a large pot that needs a home in the ground ;D

[Dutchy]

Do plant in the shade as in winter they die of defrosting too fast.
Fatsia loves being near a house wall where it will grow huuuuge.

[Spruance]

Continuing with our occasional articles by gardening writer Michael Clark, here are his musings on the Cornelian Cherry (Cornus Mas).

Cornus Mas in bloom:

Blossom:

Fruits:

"Mention dogwoods and immediately those popular winter-bright, coloured-stemmed shrubs come to mind. But there is another of the dogwood family which is just as pretty in winter in an entirely different way.

Let me tempt you! The leafless twiggy branches of Cornus mas, the Cornelian Cherry, become smothered in clusters of fluffy yellow flowers in February. In the low winter sun the whole tree is a mass of yellow and gold, a display which can last well into March.

Cornus mas has been planted in this country (i.e. U.K.) at least since the 16th century for its fruits which were made into jam or jelly and its wood used for skewers. Now the tree is used for ornamental pleasure and what a delightful display it gives in the garden because it has something to offer all year round. The olive-sized scarlet fruits (the Cornelian cherries) become obvious in August and ripen through September. Their appearance can be a rather hit and miss affair for some gardeners and I believe it is due to siting. The trick to get those cherries on a regular basis is to site the tree in a warm, sunny spot. The summer warmth sets and ripens the fruit. The hot sun also ripens the wood resulting in a far better flower display and the sun in winter floodlights the tree blossom superbly.

I find it best planted as a specimen tree. It grows unhurriedly, eventually making a small, neat tree with a mass of down-sweeping twiggy branches. In summer 'mas' becomes covered with dark green waxy leaves. Another form I know 'aurea' has variegated green-and-gold summer foliage. In autumn the leaves fall in shades of yellow, orange and bronze-red and the winter skeleton makes an attractive silhouette especially in moonlight."


[Copyright Michael Clark / Boston Target newspaper Feb 2011 (reprinted with written permission from the author) ]

[Cheerypeabrain]

I have tended to avoid trees and shrubs because not only is my garden quite small, but I do love compact 'moundy' shapes, I have a few 'boxus balls' that I am quite severe with. Last year I bought a viburnum (farreri) and plan to keep quite a tight rein on it. My eye was caught by a rather lovely little daphne with variegated leaves....the cost put me off tho...£30 (and it was a v small plant)...

I put some seeds in the CF last spring (Viburnum koreanum) but so far nothing in the pot but weeds....

[Auricula]

I'm trying to get rid of shrubs in my borders, I put them there to add "structure" but it hasn't worked

[TeeGee]

Another plant given to me when I started doing my 'garden makeover'

Not in full bloom yet but I like it equally as well for its foliage;

[TeeGee]

Cotinus, Smoke Bush - This is a plant I use to screen my neighbours "hedge from hell" leylandii

[Chuckles]

I've got a Sambuca growing along one of my boundry fences TeeGee but its the broader leaf one, just love the foilage colour.  I grow it tight to the fence so it takes a good pruning to keep it flat/non shrubby so to speak and it towers above my other plants. 



Now Smoke Bush, same lovely colour foilage and for those who love it but don't want it as a full sized shrub in the garden, I can recommend it for in a pot. Mine is in the large size pot from one of those sets of 3 you buy.

[Ladygardener]

Doing great Chuckles I love the Smoke Bush, such gorgeous colour.

[Jasmine]

There's an article in The Garden this month on hydrangeas. I wouldn't have been interested not so long ago but I love them now.
Does anyone grow Hydrangea Izu-no-hana - it looks gorgeous.

[Ladygardener]

That's a coincidence Jasmine, Jenny and I were just talking about hydrangea last night. She'd seen a very pretty one and I reminded her to read the bumph about it as it's not a flower but a shrub and can grow quite big. I said I liked the Lace Cap ones and I love the ones that climb. I've googled Hydrangea Izu-no-hana and it's really lovely, the only web sites I got were American ones 'tho.