Looking for upright evergreen shrubs

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
romanaclef Rumson, NJ Jan 11, 2012

I am redoing the garden area in front of my house, and am looking for advice on upright evergreen shrubs. The area is about 25'x8', and I'm thinking of having a back row of upright evergreens, and for the front row, I am probably going to do red roses, possibly Austins.

I'd like the back row evergreens to be about 5-7', and taller than they are wide. They have to be compact, since it's right against the house. They would be either some variety of pine, or an evergreen flowering shrub, preferably one that blooms in late winter/early spring, so it doesn't compete with the roses.

The area runs along the house, and is on a slight slope down towards the right and front. It gets mostly full sun, with a bit of dappled shade. I am in zone 7b. Soil is pretty good, and amended with compost.

Thanks!

Post #8964305
Quote
flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) Jan 13, 2012

sky pencil holly, Columnar Dwarf Juniper Pencil Point, arborvitae:THUJA occidentalis 'DeGroot's Spire', THUJA plicata Sugar and Spice™




Post #8966705
Quote
Hindernone Broadway, NC(Zone 7b) Feb 10, 2012

Definitely recommend Sky Pencil Hollies. Beautiful plant, easy care and looks very nice in the landscape.

Post #9002180
Quote
losche Buena Vista, VA Jul 24, 2012

There are lots and lots of beautiful dwarf conifers and that would be my choice but you'll need to have some patience since they grow
very slowly. Try a Cryptomeria Japonica 'Black dragon' or Hinoki cypress. Both are sold at Lowes. If you can spend a bit of money,
go on line and check out some other more exotic ones like a dwarf Bosnian bell pine. All of these are wonderful everygreen trees.
And...deer do not like them!

Post #9217074
Quote
Goldenberry Northeast, IL(Zone 5b) Jul 24, 2012

At a garden walk recently, I saw some nice tall, slim evergreens that the gardener told me were European hornbeams. Not familiar with these but they were quite striking.

Post #9217082
Quote
Resin Northumberland, United Kingdom(Zone 9a) Jul 24, 2012

Quote from Goldenberry :
At a garden walk recently, I saw some nice tall, slim evergreens that the gardener told me were European hornbeams. Not familiar with these but they were quite striking.


That's deciduous, not evergreen!

Resin

Post #9217209
Quote
ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jul 24, 2012

Yes, Fastigiate European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is definitely NOT evergreen - not even in Chicagoland.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia has a fine tight slow-growing columnar form which might suit NJ conditions.

Post #9217305
Quote
growin Beautiful, BC(Zone 8b) Jul 25, 2012

I'll second flowAjen's recommendation of Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53332/
I see quite a bit of Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/125967/ around here but not sure if it's considered an invasive in your area.
I'd also suggest you look at Picea omorika http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/76053/ as it has a sharply upright and narrow habit but then it does get tall with age.

Post #9218334
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Trees, Shrubs and Conifers Threads

Go to all Trees, Shrubs and Conifers threads
BACK TO TOP