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Tree-form shrubs

Tanty2Tanty2 Posts: 231
in Plants
Hi - Does anyone have suggestions for evergreen shrubs which could be successfully pruned to a tree-form with a clear trunk of at least 1m?  They're for a part shade/part sun site which is both south and west facing.  Ericaceous or not, doesn't matter.  Thanks :)

Posts

  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @Tanty2,

    I think you could maybe do that with holly.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Have a look at Azara serrata.
    We have one and it can be pruned back to the height/width that you want. The flowers are small but very fragrant and the bees love them.

  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Bay works well. You need to clip them to stop them becoming a tree but they are fairly slow growing and can be bought as a standard with a clear trunk already. Photinia is another option and again they can be bought with clear trunks. Viburnum tinus is something I've also seen grown that way.

    Yew, eleagnus, Holly, privet, pittosporum and olives are others that can be grown like that. Some will need a little stem clearance from time to time and others will need the tops taking out to stop them growing to big but it's not much work and you'd only need to do it once or twice a year. 
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