I know you guys will be the ones who can help me with this. After all, who understand better the meaning of "full sun" in Texas than other Texans.
Anyway, here's my problem. I have a corner at each end of my flowerbed that needs a shrub/small tree. When I put the beds in earlier in the year, I researched and researched because I really wanted things that were different from everyone else on my street. So what I finally decided on was Weigela Wine & Roses. According to what I found to read, these would be perfect. Flanking each side is a Sweetspire Little Henry with LA Iris in front, etc. Okay, so I bought (mail order because I couldn't find it around here, but I don't get out much) my Weigela. One of the first two, never broke dormancy and I finally got a replacement for it. The other original one has branches about a foot tall with no leaves and then one branch about 5 inches tall with some leaves, but it hasn't grown in 2 or 3 months. Not dying, just not growing. The replacement is still alive, but not putting out any new leaves. I have fertilized, watered, but not too much, etc. So now, I am losing patience.
What I ultimately need is a shrub/small tree that will take full sun, not get over about 6-7 feet tall (we have power lines above and I would prefer that the electric company not feel the need to trim my tree), prefer blooms (maybe white or dark pink/red), evergreen is nice, but not a requirement. The bed has a more formal look, so I would prefer something that has some shape to it. Something that will overwinter well.
I guess that's it, not too much to ask, right??? Any suggestions will be much appreciated. I am tired of looking at the big holes in the corners.
Thanks.
Need advice on shrubs
How about dwarf gardenia? The only reason I DON'T have them is because they need full sun to flower.
If you want native shrubs, you could try
Dwarf Laurel Cherry, ( Prunus Caroliniana) it is evergreen and has lovely small
flowers in the Spring, black berries in Fall.
You could also try Desert Honeysuckle, ( Anisacanthus wrightii ) not evergreen but very pretty with red flowers, attracts hummingbirds.
Also Turk's Cap, ( Malvaviscus drummondii ) not evergreen but lovely leaves and red flowers. Attracts hummingbirds too.
If you don't want a native, you can't beat Nandina domestica, It will take the heat and the cold, and always look good, has small white flowers in Spring and red berries Fall and Winter.
I have 2 about 3-3 1/2 ft tall crepe myrtles I would let you have. If you are
willing to come dig them. They have a really pretty shape, but I am not
sure of the color. My large one is pale lavender, but they could have crossed
with my other ones. Or even someone elses. They can be kept short, they
do keep their leaves in winter and they take full sun.
I hate to dig them and throw them away, but they are crowding me. I should have pulled them up when they were smaller.
I live in Mont Belvieu it is 13 miles east of baytown off I-10.
JLMK.
Blessings,
Sandy ^8^
sheila how about rose of sharon, too boring? I personally like it a lot because it takes TX sun like a trooper. there is white with red eye, and pink. I grow them as standards, decidous.
Texa mountain laurel? Evergreen, slow growing, lovely fragrant purple blooms.
I really like Gardenias, but had read that they tend to have a serious problem with white flies. If anyone knows if that is not correct, please let me know.
Sandy,
Unfortunately, I live about as far from you as I could and still be in the Houston area, so I really appreciate the offer, but don't think I can get out there. Thanks so much.
Nery,
Rose of Sharon isn't too boring, but I thought that they would get huge. I know it can be difficult to keep something smaller if it is really destined to be large.
Yusky,
I saw Texas Mountain Laurel for the first time the other day at Lowe's. Or at least the first time I noticed. I may have to look into that one further.
Frostwood,
The Dwarf Laurel Cherry looks pretty interesting as well as the Desert Honeysuckle.
Now after doing some more digging, do any of you know anything (good/bad/whatever) about:
White Chocolate Crape Murtle
Glossy Abelia "Edward Goucher"
Brunfelsia Grandiflora
Thanks so much for the help.
Shuggins, I have an Edward Goucher abelia and I like it, but I'm not sure it's for everyone. I think it gets 4 feet tall. Mine is probably 5-6 feet wide and still growing. It's grown very fast with very little water-pretty much just rain water. Pretty little pale pink blooms. Nice arching shape. The problem is that the new branches come out quite high, arch way out and down quite a ways from the plant and is fairly bare for a while. It does eventually get leaves, but in the spring when it's putting out a lot of new growth it looks kind of rangy. I have dwarf abelias also. Mine grew very dense close to the ground
and then started sending out these really long branches that arched up and then down quite far from the plant like the Edward Groucher. The difference EG gets over its rangyness and the dwarf one keeps looking rangy.
As far as nandina goes, I would think for a long time before I planted them. We call them "Damdinas" at our house, because we have had to dig some up. They will invade your yard and other beds. My DH dug up a bed of damdinas that was 8 x 3 feet. It took him probably 6 hours
with a hatchet and a pick ax. I took a picture of my DD holding one of the roots and I'll try to get DH to post it. He dug down probably 15 " and gave up, leaving many roots still in the ground.
Good luck!
Oh, you might consider a holly. I have a dwarf burford holly and really like (replaced damdinas with it). It will eventually get to 6 feet, but it grows very slow and needs very little water. A lot of water is not a problem though. They have only one spine.
damdinas, I love it
That is very funny, people have such different experiences with the same plants.
I have had Nandinas for over 20 years and never had a problem with them.
They do have strong roots, that is what allows them to take the heat and the cold with no problem, and I have never had then spread all over, sometimes a shoot will come up, but most plants do that, so in my opinion the they are very pretty and reliable plants.
Except that birds scatter the seeds far and wide and they come up in places where they are very much not wanted (like hackberries - the "trash" tree - grrr!) In some places they are crowding out the native flora.
Shuggins, DON'T GIVE UP on your weigela!! I had the very same experience with my mail order "perfect fix" for a spot needing something. I have the variegated variety. After it just existed, as you've recounted with yours, I watched it crinkle up w/winter, yet not die, then COME BACK w/a vengeance this spring! It even bloomed. =) And now? Well, I'm afraid it might choke out some stuff I planted next to it, fearing it would die! lol
I've read that many perennials need to acclimatize their first season, and then abandon the wimpy's in the 2nd, when they come into their own.
Give yours more time.........I'd recommend........I ADORE my weigela, and added another this spring.
MKJ
I must say that I have never experienced any of those problems listed with Nandina, and I have not seen it growing wild around here. If I had thought that it was a problem plant, I would not have suggested it to her. Josephine.