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Shrubs for privacy

EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
in Plants
Hello,
I'm looking for some ideas for shrubs to fill a 4.5 foot x 12 foot border. Could be a hedge or more informal. Ideally about 5-6 feet high, and not much wider than the border or they would impede the garage door. I know I could prune them, but I don’t want to be doing regular battle with a shrub that wants to be a lot bigger. They will get full sun from midday to sunset, the site is exposed, soil is neutral/acid. It’s for privacy, but deciduous would do as long as they retain a reasonable structure in the winter.  No conifers. I used the RHS plant finder and the only one that I thought would do is Ribes King Edward VII. The downside with that is that it looks like it is quite a boring plant when not in flower, and this border is the first thing you see on approaching the house, so I would like something that looks good for a bit longer. Or I could have one of those and a couple of other types. Any ideas folks?
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


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  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    How about fuchsia magellanica? Mine get to about 5 feet high and flower well into winter.
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Thanks @steephill. Will they mind the sun? I thought they needed a little shade. Also, do you have to cut them down to the ground each year? If so how long do they take to grow back? I have some fuschias, but not that variety. They get a bit nipped by the frost, and so need to be cut down each spring to tidy  them up. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Clematis armandii. Everygreen and flowers in the winter with fragrance. A lovely plant and can be allowed to do its own thing for years and then you can prune it back if needed.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    I have one in full sun which I cut down every spring and it rapidly grows back to 5 feet again. You could just take down a third of the stems each year to give you some full time cover though.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    edited January 2021
    Abelia Grandiflora can do well in those conditions. Abelia ‘Edward Goucher’ may be slow to start with but will soon fill out if you lightly prune them. Can be clipped like a hedge or pruned to a looser shape. Semi evergreen, summer flowering with a light fragrance. 
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    I’m afraid climbers are out @bertrand-mabel, because we had a trellis there and it blew down/broke three times in the gales, hence the fresh start with shrubs. Abelia grandiflora is interesting as you say you can treat it like a hedge @Borderline. Thanks very much.
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Escallonia might do, also
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Cistus may do well too. A good framework all year round, even if the flowering period is short. 
    You could add a couple of easy Group 1 or 2 clematis to scramble through it too. Mine do that from the neighbouring areas. Very little attention needed  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    edited January 2021
    Do any of the cistus get up to a decent height @Fairygirl? I have one, which is very short, and I thought they were all fairly compact. Will be delighted if not, because I like them a lot....edit.... found some just tall enough, but the RHS says they need a sheltered position. My short cistus is OK in its windy spot, but maybe these taller ones won’t be? Have you any experience points with that situation?
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited January 2021
    The white one gets to a good size - around 5 feet.  :)
    I've had them in several gardens. West facing - gets all our wind  :)

    Sorry - I've just realised I wrote Cistus instead of Cytisus [broom] . Apologies 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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