This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Small shrub recommendations please
in Plants
I would welcome your recommendations for small shrubs between 0.5 and 1 meter in height please.
I already have a Philadelphus Manteau d'Hermine and Hydrangea Mojito so evergreen suggestions are also appreciated. Thank you.
I already have a Philadelphus Manteau d'Hermine and Hydrangea Mojito so evergreen suggestions are also appreciated. Thank you.
0
Posts
It's just under 1m in height and about 1.5m wide now.
Evergreen, very scented flowers twice a year followed by orange berries.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Potentillas will grow in shade. Not evergreen, and some can get bigger but can easily be pruned too.
Most Spireas will too. Again, not evergreen but the white ones are great for shade, and can be pruned.
Most rhodos will eventually get too big, but are quite slow growing, but you'd need to have suitable soil - neutral to acid. Pieris and Skimmias will also be fine. All of those can be pruned later if needed. The Japanese azaleas are smaller and more compact than their big cousins, but are also evergreen [unlike most azaleas] and will take a good bit of sun, which can be useful. Same soil though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl - I don't think we have acidic soil and they are for a bed in front of a boundary hedge that is a bit shady when the hedge gets going.
Anything has to be pretty tough here.
Just going off on a tangent here as you mentioned acidic plants. Does anyone know if acidic soil is quite common in the UK?
I notice the supermarkets seem to offer a lot of Rhododendrons for sale at this time of year. Must be popular.
Camellias are another shrub which grows extremely well in the same conditions, but the overriding factor is the amount of room you have for them. There are some smaller varieties of Pieris, and Skimmias tend to get to around a metre or so, but most Rhodos and Camellias, and many Pieris, want to be very big, so you'd need to be aware of that. It'll take a while though.
The main thing you'll have to watch is that your shrubs get enough water if they're next to a hedge. The more shrubs you have, the drier the soil will become too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
https://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/
There are some small rhododendrons - e.g. Arctic Tern
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Probably better [safer] to look at the good online suppliers for smaller ones.
Scotplants and Glendoick [up here] Burncoose, Ashwoods, Millais etc.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@robairdmacraignil - I have some Tom Thumb in a similar situation which do very well and two Pittosporum Golf Balls in pots. I had considered planting them but wasn't sure if it may be a bit exposed for them where I want them to go?
Have not heard of some of the suggestions so will enjoy looking them up.