Need help choosing evergreen "structure" plants....

[I posted this elsewhere, & it was suggested I try the Garden Talk forum...]

I need ideas: [am in SF Bay Area]

1) I stare out at a 100' fence which I covered with white lattice panels cuz the neighbor will never cooperate w/replacing the fence. On her side are 6 HUGE monterey pines, the shade from which blocks my afternoon sun--they're the bane of my gardening existence.

I've put in 3 Austraiian tree ferns, and am looking for some other evergreens, preferably fast-growing, to put between them along the fence so that in winter I'm not staring at bright white lattice. The need to reach 6-8 feet & be attractive in shade. Ideas I've had with "buts" attached:

--bamboo.... but, too expensive
--pittosporum eugenoides...but nursery guy says they need more sun or will be rangy, and difficult
--Nandina....still in the running, but they like more sun too

2) similar situation but shorter, only to 2 feet or so

3) what are some evergreen plants which have the look, shape, demeanor of mature New Zeland Flax--preferably w/yellow-green-gold variegation, but which don't grow so slowly as NZ Flax? While some grasses meet these criteria, many are short and/or deciduous.

Any inspiration will be appreciated.

I think Choisya ternata would provide an excellent filler and then how about a lovely variegated ivy such as Paddy's Pride. It's the 'fast growing' spec that has thrown me a little!!

Hi, Louisa,

Now you have me researching ivies! When I searched google images for Paddy's Pride, I found one called 'Hedera Helix Goldheart' whose colors are more to my liking...Ever grown that one? An English Ivy website says it's faster growing than PP...??

The Mexican Orange sounds like a good possibilty, which I'll add to my list.

Thanks for your ideas!

the Goldheart is a lovely ivy!! There is a gorgeous evergreen - not too tall, that loves the shade and has the tiniest, most fragrant white flowers - I thought this would do for an understorey plant along with the hostas and other shade loving ground cover. But the name has eluded me for now - when it comes I'll let you know!! Just thought of another - Carpenteria californica grows to 6 feet with glossy foliage and fragrant yellow centred white flowers!!

This message was edited Sunday, Feb 3rd 5:44 PM

How about Confederate or Star Jasmine. I have it started on a chain link fence between my neighbor and I. I started with only one plant, then last year I started rooting from it and put a plant on every post and one in between too. I love it's dense shiny leaves and the wonderful fragrence in June. The only way I have been sucessful rooting it is to lay down some low branches, bury them for a few weeks and cut them off, yippee, new plants.

I grow Nandina, and it does quite well as an understory plant. But they don't reach 6-8'. They are in my woods where the flying gardeners planted it, and that's really shady. I also have wax leaf ligustrum growing all over the woods. That is a fast growing shrub that makes a tree in just a short few years. There is even red tip photinia in the woods. The latter two would be my choice, with the photinia favorite.

I have the nandina also and it is in complete shade. It is about 7 ft. tall and is full of bright red berries now. I have some small plants under the main plant if you decide to plant some of them.

Busybee,

"I have some small plants under the main plant if you decide to plant some of them."......Does that mean you're willing to part with them? I did think Nandina might get taller in the shade, reaching for the sun and such...

And, Aimee, I did look into the photina, and some are really beautiful--with completely red leaves. Seems to be several varieites with different leaf color/patterning/habit, etc.

I plan to go to the growing grounds of my local nursery to see if they have any of these I can look at.

I'm enjoying all your suggestions...Star Jasmine sounds nice, too...but I'm so darn impatient! Wish I could afford 3 big pots of clumping black bamboo back there...It'd look so pretty with the Australian Tree Ferns.

Karen

If you don't have enough Nandina plants, they root easily and fast. I can send you cuttings of Photinia, which also root easily. Mine is the Japanese, will need to get the Latin name if you need to know it, and the leaves have a serrated edge, somewhat more attractive to my eye. They do indeed get very red, and some in town here are over 20' tall. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds, which is always a plus for me.

Here is a list of plants that should do well in shade in your area: aucubas with nice white/yellow variegations as per your request, fatsias (great, tropical looking foliage), savannah and yaupon hollies with berries in the fall (you can get a lot of different sized yaupons), cherry and mountain laurels (with the additional virture of flowers), evergreen ferns such as christmas and holly ferns (one of my favorites), mahonias (great plant with fragrant flowers and blue berries), yews (slow growing, but very pretty form and foliage), andromeda (pieras japonica), leatherleaf viburnum, and, of course, a gillion azaleas and rhododendrons for foliage and flower. Throw in a bunch of variegated hostas, wild ginger and/or pachysandra in amongst the ferns for low ground cover, and you would have one magnificent looking 100' of fence with 4 seasons of interest. You could also add some plants such as red bark maple and red and yellow twig dogwood that would provide winter color besides just the green of the evergreens.

This message was edited Tuesday, Feb 5th 12:29 PM

Sorry to be so late in getting back with you, I`m trying to do income tax and I forgot to watch this thread but yes I will send you sone plants if that is what you want to plant. I also have Sweet Autum clematis which is a evergreen here and makes a white blanket of flowers in the fall. Mine is also on the fence on the shady side of my house. It is very hardy. I have lots of plants of this if that is what you want.

Yes, Busybee,

...being busy as you are [yuck, taxes]...I GET it. I would love some nandina & SA clematis....Email me so we could make arrangements when you are out from under...

Thanks,

Karen

Perhaps some of these may help Karen'.....http://gardennet.com/

This message was edited Wednesday, Feb 6th 12:19 PM