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Small shrub recommendations please

alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
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. 
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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I have a Daphne Tangutica that's about 6-7 yrs old.
    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.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited April 2023
    Sarcococca if you have a fair amount of shade, although l have one that's in a fairly sunny position.  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Is it something else for  a shady position too @alfharris8 ?
    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. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    Thank you all. Will have a better look at suggestions online. 
    @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. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Most soil in Scotland is neutral to acidic, which is why all those plants grow like weeds here - especially in the west where it's wetter, as that also suits them really well. The majority are also shallow rooting, so they don't appreciate being short of water for long. 
    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.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Assuming you're in England, you can tap your postcode into this site and it will give general soil conditions in your area which will tell you if your soil is acid or alkaline

    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.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There are indeed some smaller ones @Pete.8, but there's such a huge range of varieties, and the vast majority sold in GCs are the potentially rather large ones, so you need to have the info before buying. Saves a lot of pruning later... ;)
    Probably better [safer] to look at the good online suppliers for smaller ones. 
    Scotplants and Glendoick [up here] Burncoose, Ashwoods, Millais etc.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • I think my favourite small shrub that could be an option would be the Pittosporum tom thumb.

    Happy gardening!
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited April 2023
    Depends on your soil type and climate. My favourite "evergreen" shrub here is Teucrium fruticans but it wouldn't like wet feet over winter.
    Other shrubs that have stayed under 1m for me (dry-ish part of the country) are Physocarpus "Little Joker",  Syringia "Palibin" (shrub not standard form), Caryopteris "Worcester Gold", Berberis "Rose Glow", Weigela "Bristol Ruby" and W. "Monet", numerous shrubby salvias and smaller forms of hardy fuchsia like "Tom Thumb", but all are deciduous. Edit: and a couple of shrubby potentillas but I've forgotten the variety names - one has pale yellow flowers and one white.
     Some of the evergreen Euonymus would probably work with appropriate pruning.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • alfharris8alfharris8 Posts: 513
    Thanks for the interesting answers all.
    @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.
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