What shrub? Flowers well, evergreen and perennial?

[james_tigerwoods]

Over the weekend I got a little carried away with trimming a tree that had overgrown the conservatory:




As I trimmed it, it turned out that half of it was, in fact, dead so the whole thing had to go, unfortunately. The result is, now, this:



That little plot there is South facing, but I want to put something in it so it's not so, well, bare - However, I don't know what to choose and wandering around aimlessly in garden centres loses appeal.

What I'd like, from the PH gardening fraternity, is some advice of what shrub I can put in the back corner as a focal piece? (I'll put some geraniums and pansies in at the front when the time comes)

What I'd like is something that flowers well, doesn't dump all its leaves (this is optional for the right plant) and is, obviously, perennial. I'd like a Hydrangea, but I don't have the right soil.

Thoughts?

Cheers,

JTW

[Simpo Two]

Peony could be a possibility.

[HiRich]

One thing I would do is dig out that ivy. It will take over, and destroy the fence.

How sunny is it?
Something very different would be a myrtle bush, Quite hardy, easily maintained in a classic standard shape, pretty white flowers (if it gets the sun), and the leaves (related to bay) and berries (related to juniper) can be used in cooking.

[james_tigerwoods]

I've attacked the ivy already as I really hate it - my next plan is to hack it back even further as I can as I know how destructive it can be.

[jeff m]

James
Shrub and perrenial are different.
Evergreens are generally not great flowerers.
Crepe Myrtle as suggested above would be a great choice, depending on the variety, they do need a bit of warmth to get going but once they start they flower 'til it snows.
Budlia (Butterfly bush) reliable, unkillable, prune back each spring,grows back quickly. Keeps its leaves even during a NJ winter.
Rose, one of the "knockout" ones, single flowers but plenty of them. No pruning just hit it with the shears occaisionally. No spraying or frigging about like a hybrid.

[james_tigerwoods]

jeff m said:

James
Shrub and perrenial are different.
Evergreens are generally not great flowerers.
Crepe Myrtle as suggested above would be a great choice, depending on the variety, they do need a bit of warmth to get going but once they start they flower 'til it snows.
Budlia (Butterfly bush) reliable, unkillable, prune back each spring,grows back quickly. Keeps its leaves even during a NJ winter.
Rose, one of the "knockout" ones, single flowers but plenty of them. No pruning just hit it with the shears occaisionally. No spraying or frigging about like a hybrid.

Thanks Jeff - I like the look of the Myrtle

And thanks for clarification on the above - I like being in the garden, but I've proven on a few occasions that my gardening is more like a blind, stupid, drunk bull in a china shop.

[richyb]

Perfect spot for a leylandii.

[james_tigerwoods]

richyb said:

Perfect spot for a leylandii.

Consider yourself abused, sir!

[richyb]

james_tigerwoods said:

richyb said:

Perfect spot for a leylandii.

Consider yourself abused, sir!

They are great for privacy (and it keeps us arborists in business!).

[james_tigerwoods]

richyb said:

james_tigerwoods said:

richyb said:

Perfect spot for a leylandii.

Consider yourself abused, sir!

They are great for privacy (and it keeps us arborists in business!).

True, but they're big and uuuuugly

[Cooky]

There's lovely

[Piglet]

james_tigerwoods said:

richyb said:

james_tigerwoods said:

richyb said:

Perfect spot for a leylandii.

Consider yourself abused, sir!

They are great for privacy (and it keeps us arborists in business!).

True, but they're big and uuuuugly

Only if you don't control them. We have a leylandii hedge at the front of our house, it deadens the noise beautifully and we keep it keep it at a decent height so as not to irritate the neighbours.

[james_tigerwoods]

Piglet said:

james_tigerwoods said:

richyb said:

james_tigerwoods said:

richyb said:

Perfect spot for a leylandii.

Consider yourself abused, sir!

They are great for privacy (and it keeps us arborists in business!).

True, but they're big and uuuuugly

Only if you don't control them. We have a leylandii hedge at the front of our house, it deadens the noise beautifully and we keep it keep it at a decent height so as not to irritate the neighbours.

You're right as my mum has a decent leylandii hegde - but in my little corner there, it's not going to work - I'd love a massive Hydrangea like I said, but my ability to kill them is well documented

[Simpo Two]

james_tigerwoods said:

I'd love a massive Hydrangea like I said, but my ability to kill them is well documented

You could always dig out the bed, fill it with ericacious compost then keep it going with hydrangea fertiliser. This is a great chance to start from scratch if you really want one.

[james_tigerwoods]

Simpo Two said:

james_tigerwoods said:

I'd love a massive Hydrangea like I said, but my ability to kill them is well documented

You could always dig out the bed, fill it with ericacious compost then keep it going with hydrangea fertiliser. This is a great chance to start from scratch if you really want one.

That's not a bad idea.... Although, I wish I'd thought of that before I topped up the bed with normal compost....

I might go for a big potted Hydrangea - at least that way I can take it with me when we (eventually) sell the house...

[RichB]

Choicia Ternata Sundance - evergreen, flowerers well, scented, can be clipped what more do you want.

[racing green]

Hydarangeas ar generally not an ericaceous plant and will quite happily grow in soils with a pH of 7. The thing is that in acid soils you get the lovely blue flowers on some varieties which on alkaline soil are only pink. You could try Hydrangea aspera or H villosa which are large with beautiful big flowers, semi evergreen and have felty leaves. In terms of digging out the soil the problem with this is that the alkalinity will leech back in via rainfall. By all means try a Hydrangea but there are other options -
Viburnum plicatum Mariesii - majestic large tiered shrub
Philadelphus coronarius Aureus - golden leaved, scented flowers
Old English Lavender - evergreen, attractive to bees
Hebe Autumn Glory - evergreen, rounded shrub
Fuchsia Mrs Popple - hardy late Summer flowering
Cistus purpureus - evergreen, able to withstand dryness
Phlomis fruticosa - evergreen, yellow flowers, able to withstand dry
Rhododendron yakushimamum - evergreen but needs acid soil
Weigela Bristol Ruby - good flowering
Daphne odora Aureomarginata - scented and early flowering, evergreen

Choisya ternata - evergreen, scented foliage
Sarcococca humilis - strongly scented, evergreen
Skimmia japonica - evergreen, berries if more than one plant
Hope these help. Mark

[james_tigerwoods]

Wow, food for thought.

Thanks Mark