It certainly takes dry heat with aplomb @JennyJ, in fact it seems to take anything my weather can throw at it. Good question @GardenerSuze, soggy winter wet might limit the options, as would certain soil PHs re @Fire’s q.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Maybe a variegated Abelia might work or another option that is said to grow bigger than your target size but has not done so in my own garden would be Choisya ternata Sundance.
The problem with common names They [Fatsias] also don't flower well in wet, cold areas. The flowers simply don't form well and develop properly. I think you're looking for something that doesn't exist though @TheGardenerFromMars. If you want evergreen, you'll have to accept that you get a period of flowering, and that's it till the following year. Some shrubs can have a smaller 2nd flush though, and that will depend on the type and the conditions etc. Ceanothus or Escallonia might work well in the site, but if you could have two shrubs rather than one, or some other perennials around it, that would be better. For long flowering, shrubs like Potentilla fit the bill, but they're deciduous.
Rhodos would really never be happy in hotter, drier conditions, especially as they're shallow rooting. You need plenty of moisture for those, and the vast majority need neutral to acidic soil.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Site is near south coast of England. Very dry summers are becoming a bit challenging - as was the case this year. Obviously, wetter in autumn/winter/spring but this particular spot is never sodden because it's near large hedge plants (on the north side) and the drainage isn't too bad. Haven't tested the soil pH - I'm assuming neutral to slightly acidic.
A side question for you all on pH... does the dumping of building material/rubble in gardens increase the alkalinity of soil because of the lime in bricks etc? I was wondering if you had noticed any obvious effects. I'm amazed by how much rubbish - of every imagniable kind - that I find buried in gardens.
Yes it does raise pH. I went to a tour of Derby Hydrangeas, and they were struggling to get blue flowers because of the old lime mortar walls of the walled garden.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
"If you don't know where you want to go, any road will take you there."
So, anything but rhododendron. Wide open.
I suggest the person takes the time to visit a few gardens, including RHS and Nat Trust, see what they like in different seasons, read books and catalogues, look at labels, talk to gardens (real face-to-face dialogue). There is only one person who can decide, yourself.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Posts
They [Fatsias] also don't flower well in wet, cold areas. The flowers simply don't form well and develop properly.
I think you're looking for something that doesn't exist though @TheGardenerFromMars.
If you want evergreen, you'll have to accept that you get a period of flowering, and that's it till the following year. Some shrubs can have a smaller 2nd flush though, and that will depend on the type and the conditions etc. Ceanothus or Escallonia might work well in the site, but if you could have two shrubs rather than one, or some other perennials around it, that would be better. For long flowering, shrubs like Potentilla fit the bill, but they're deciduous.
Rhodos would really never be happy in hotter, drier conditions, especially as they're shallow rooting. You need plenty of moisture for those, and the vast majority need neutral to acidic soil.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
So, anything but rhododendron. Wide open.
I suggest the person takes the time to visit a few gardens, including RHS and Nat Trust, see what they like in different seasons, read books and catalogues, look at labels, talk to gardens (real face-to-face dialogue). There is only one person who can decide, yourself.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
PS. The fact that you failed with one plant may say more about you than the plant.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."