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Suggestions to replace pittosporum

AthelasAthelas Posts: 946
edited April 2023 in Plants
Hi all, my Pittosporum ‘Tandara Gold’ has died (no new growth, scratched the bark and it’s not green) — another casualty of winter.

Can anyone recommend a shrub to replace it — ideally hardier, maybe 1.2 to 1.5m in height and I would prefer evergreen. Soil is alkaline clay, and tends to stay moist; the site is east facing and gets full sun in late spring/summer but none in autumn/winter.

It could be something totally different in habit or leaf colour, happy to hear any suggestions.



Here’s how it was in happier times

Cambridgeshire, UK
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Posts

  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    No suggestions but I'm sorry, @Athelas, that was a beauty.  :(
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Lonicera nitida "Baggesen's Gold" is a similar colour with small leaves so it can be clipped into a sphere if that's what you want. It's very hardy too. Quite fast-growing though so it might need clipping a few times a year if you want a very formal look like your pittospormum.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    Maybe a bit small as I think it’s max is 1 x1 but Hebe rakaiensis has a naturally neat shape and is a similar fresh green
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Euonymus Green Spire is an evergreen with an interesting geometrical growing habit which would contrast well with your round shrubs.  I have it growing in a similar position.  The glossy green leaves are a lighter, attractive pea green when young at the tips of the "spires", they then mature to a nice dark green.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    A Hebe which doesn't get a lot of attention is the ochracea [whipcord] one - James Stirling is the usual variety, although there may well be more varieties now.

    They look a little bit like a conifer, but they have gold/olive-y coloured foliage, and small wite flowers,  and are very hardy. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 946
    Thanks all, those plants sound great, I’ll look them up! And thanks @WAMS as well.

    Having said I was after evergreen, I’m now also wondering if a small acer would work, but the soil is alkaline… hmmm…
    Cambridgeshire, UK
  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    edited April 2023
    My first thought was something red / purple foliage so Physocarpus lady in red first come to mind, I didn't notice the evergreen bit . They are other varieties to physocarpus that maybe of interest. It doesn't look like it needs something evergreen with the surrounding plants, much easier to replace with something not evergreen?

    Just remember the berberis I were thinking off but forgot the name, Berberis Thunderbolt its evergreen with purple foliage  :)
  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 946
    Hi @Perki I was thinking of that too — maybe it *is* all too green…

    I have a Physocarpus ‘Little Angel’ which I do like, but it would be too small, might look at other varieties including ‘Lady in Red’ as you mention, and also that berberis, thanks!
    Cambridgeshire, UK
  • Have you considered maybe red Robin Photinia? I’ve seen them trained topiary style and would I believe suit the conditions.

    It has been a terrible year for plant losses!
  • Ah just checked online and some say Photinia doesn’t like alkaline soil (others say it can cope as long as it isn’t too alkaline). Might want to ignore my suggestion!
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