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My choisya is dying

Sam707Sam707 Posts: 9
in Plants
Hello, a newbie here.
I have had an established choisya plant for several years, in the ground. It survived winters but in the past couple months I noticed it drying in places and now it looks like it is all going to give up living. It is in a sunny position, gets enough water from the sky, not water logged, I haven't noticed extensive spider mites... I wonder whether it is worth to get another one or choose a different plant for that spot? Do they have a lifespan or something? A yellow plant/bush looks great in that spot.
(it looks like the photo here is sideways, but the original one looks upright on my sd card).


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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hi @sam707 and welcome to the forum 😊 

    Theres a glitch on the forum so I’ve turned your pic for you 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Sam707 Choisya ternata Sundance can be difficult. Too much shade and it looks green, too much hot sun and the leaves take on a bleached look. I think it is dry, ideal soil is clay.

    If you take a look inside it at the lower growth you should see much greener leaves that are out of direct sun.

    They can be pruned, June is ideal at this point they can also be thinned removing some of the old wood. Never a pretty sight after such treatment but will regrow.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Sam707Sam707 Posts: 9
    GardenerSuze said:
    @Sam707 Choisya ternata Sundance can be difficult. Too much shade and it looks green, too much hot sun and the leaves take on a bleached look. I think it is dry, ideal soil is clay.

    If you take a look inside it at the lower growth you should see much greener leaves that are out of direct sun.

    They can be pruned, June is ideal at this point they can also be thinned removing some of the old wood. Never a pretty sight after such treatment but will regrow.

    Thanks. I'll give it more water and prune now (hope it isn't too late). Or is it?
    On the better note, my raspberries are giving me the second harvest now :)
  • Sam 37Sam 37 Posts: 1,271
    edited September 2023
    The exact same thing happened to one of mine.  I pruned out the afflicted branches, watered it copiously but to no avail; early in August, it died.
    Mercifully, all the others survived and have already flowered this year, twice.
    I do truly hope yours survives.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited September 2023
    @Sam707  You could check to see if some of the brown stems are alive by cutting with secateurs. If the whole central area is infact dead, you have a dilemma, it really is too late in the season for a prune. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • TenNTenN Posts: 184
    Mine seemed to be dead after last winter's cold snap but I cut it down to about 30cms in the spring and it rallied back, wrong time of year for you though.
  • Sam707Sam707 Posts: 9
    Thanks all. I don't mind rooting it out and get a replacement, I just wanted to know what the problem was so the new one don't end up the same. I'll water it today and trim it during the week, the garden waste is full and they take it away tomorrow.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I don't think it's lifespan because I've had mine for probably about 25 years or so. They are better in a part-shaded position though, not full sun, so it might be better to choose something else for that spot.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Sam707Sam707 Posts: 9
    JennyJ said:
    I don't think it's lifespan because I've had mine for probably about 25 years or so. They are better in a part-shaded position though, not full sun, so it might be better to choose something else for that spot.

    I see. Any idea for an evergreen shrub that has yellowish leaves? Which I don't need to trim too often, i.e. doesn't expand like a barn.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Sam707 The centre of the Choisya is the oldest part and that seems to be struggling the most.

    Possibly Euonymous Emerald and Gold? It will have paler leaves in full sun. If you have some white or yellow perennials elsewhere you could lift and split to fill the gaps whilst it grows. Would also look lovely with a Zebra grass but that will get big in time.
    You could also add Seslaria Autumnalis and Santolina rosmarifolia.

    You do need to improve the soil before planting to give any new plants a good start.
    I think your Choisya struggled with the dry conditions last year and now you are seeing the effects. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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