Forum home Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Ideas for replacement shrub needed

2»

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Or a Pittosporum - evergreen and variegated foliage which would brighten up the corner.

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • ozwigozwig Posts: 22

    @ gardenmaidens

    Hi there, ive got pyracantha earmarked for a couple of areas, i have one doing nicely in another part of the garden very close to where a conifer used to be, so i think its worth a go. Ime certainly prepared to give the others some thought, nothing lost through trying and see how they grow.

  • ozwigozwig Posts: 22

    Hogweed, hello.

     Pittsosporum is a very nice tree and i do like them. Ive had one growing for a number of years, it does well in the salt laden air and in severe winds even sea spray, but it does suffer from the cold winds and most years we get seemingly dead areas through wind damage. Over the growing season they do nomally recover to a great extent albeit slowly. A very nice quite fast growing tree / large bush, be great much further south in a more favourable climate

  • If you prefer a classical one, I would definitely opt for a Taxus Baccata - fast growing, and you can prune it exactly in a suitable form, which would allow you to keep sufficient space in front of it for a flower border or fill it with lower growing perennials. Another alternative is Buxus sempervirens 'rotundifolia', though this will take more time to get established. Or maybe Carpinus betulus is an option. The leaves dry out in autumn but only fall in early spring the moment the new leaves are ready. Beautiful, strong and fast growing. As all other fast growing plants, this one needs pruning at least once a year.

    Check also Viburnum cinnamomifolium which best white followers in summer and blue berries in autumn - though this also will need a bit more time to establish.

       
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    It's a good time to plant shrubs - although you can plant any time unless the ground's frozen hard or waterlogged. Some very good suggestions by others there. Ozmanthus is another useful evergreen - there are variegated ones which look a bit like Holly. I have burkwoodii - foliage is a bit dull but it has lovely little scented white flowers in spring.

    I love Pittosporums - there are some lovely varieties -  but I've always shied away from them because they're not always hardy and it can be very cold and wet here for such long periods. Definitely worth looking at if you have a decent climate and well drained soil for them. image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Just thought of a eucalyptus - fast growing and evergreen but not as dense as an evergreen shrub.

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • ozwigozwig Posts: 22

    Thanks to each of you, my mind is now boggling so many to look at. I will get my books out and look see, but the "War Office " has to be involved as well and that could change things, but not to much hopefully !

  • Mind also boggling! So many to choose from, thank you all for the suggestions. Pyracantha I like, but other half doesnt like the spikiness, and I guess I would worry my dog would scratch herself on it! We have a few pittosporums (at least I think thats what they are!), seem to be slow growers though? We also have an eleagnus ebbingei which has the most gorgeous scent at this time of year but would be far too dark for that corner. 

    I'm liking the look of some of the Viburnums, although they look a bit small... will do a bit more research into how fast they grow etc. 

Sign In or Register to comment.