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Pretty shrubs

Rainbow2Rainbow2 Posts: 13
in Garden design
Can anyone suggest some pretty shrubs for a full sun dry spot. Thank you.
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    How exposed are you to strong winds and deep frosts and is the soil acid, alkaline or neutral?   These will all have a bearing on what can grow there.

    Do you want flowers, foliage or stem interest?  Perfume, Pollinator friendly?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Rainbow2Rainbow2 Posts: 13
    Thanks Obelixx This is Yorkshire and although we get strong winds it is reasonably protected. Better go out and buy a test kit!  flowers and foliage would be good. I am constantly clearing the site so have decided to dig everything out put down weed suppressant plant shrubs and cover with an appropriate stone.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Soil test kits are notoriously unreliable or difficult to interpret.
    To get a general idea of your local soil conditions there's a DEFRA website that will tell you.
    Just go the the Search tab and enter your postcode.
    A photo of the area you're going to plant up would also help if possible.
    Then let us know and be prepared to get lots of suggestions :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Rainbow2Rainbow2 Posts: 13
    Thank you Pete.8
  • FerneryFernery Posts: 2
    Hebes are a nice easy option that will grow in most conditions. Evergreen and they have lots of pretty flowers. The bees loved our hebes last summer! 
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    If you can give them a protected wall, Abelia Grandiflora make a nice glossy backdrop when not in flower. Caryopteris Clandonensis will thrive if you have free draining soil. Almost like a herbaceous perennial, they need to be cut down every spring, for fresh new growth to form and in late summer masses of blue flowers cover the shrub for a long period. Romneya Coulteri also thrives in similar conditions.  Massive poppy like flowers fill the shrub in the summer.
  • Rainbow2Rainbow2 Posts: 13
    Thank you borderline. W
  • Rainbow2Rainbow2 Posts: 13
    Thanks The.Fernery had thought of that one. Early days as want to get this right. Hebes are lovely.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    Phsyocarpus make lovely shrubs.  There are lots of great colours, and some lovely blossom in Spring.  We used to have Diabolo, which is chocolate brown in colour.  If you want a more dwarf variety in the same colour, Little Devil is wonderful.  They can take hard pruning too.
  • Rainbow2Rainbow2 Posts: 13
    Thank you KeenOnGreen, I will investigate. The list is growing!
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