I'm digging up some compact abelias and need something to replace them. This area gets 2-3 hours of sun in the morning at the most and total shade in the afternoon, because it's on the east side of the house. The foundation is about 2 1/2 feet tall there and I'm trying to find an evergreen that will hide that. Also because I'll have less trouble with weeds. The compact abelias didn't work because they're too short mostly. I had four of them and it was kind of monotonous. There is a huge trellis on this wall also with a jasmin growing on it. It's very healthy and requires no care other than fertilizer in the spring. I have a dward Burford holly on the corner of the house that's doing very well. And the other corner I have a bicolor iris (I think that's what it's called). Those I will leave alone. I also have a larger abelia, (can't remember the name right now). It's about 4 " tall and wide now. Can't decide whether to leave it or not.
We considered extending the trellis for the jasmin so it could cover the foundation and solve that problem, but then we still need something for the rest of the bed (about 4 feet from front to back). I don't want a lot of open space in the winter there for weeds to take over. It needs to be drought tolerant and there are windows to deal with too.
I'm going out to take pictures now and DH can load them when he gets home.
Mary Lee
something to replace abelias
This the jasmin between the windows.
One of the side views. the holly is on this corner.
This is a red letter day. I've never posted pictures before. The top of the foundation is 2 feet off the ground. The window is 4 feet off the ground. The bed is 25 feet long and 4 feet from front to back.
Mary Lee, you might try Coralberry, it is a lovely native plant that is almost evergreen and covers the ground, does well in shade and is about 2 to three feet tall.
Here is the link. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/56481
Check it out, and see what you think, it is also easy to grow.
Josephine.
Josephine, It looks great, but on the plant files it says it's hardy only as far south as zone 7. Is that right? Does it grow where you are?
Coralberry grows up here in the woods. The house I moved into has it growing down by the creek! :) It's only about 1 foot tall and kind of rambley like Dwarf Abelia. But it's in the shade left to it's own devices. At North Haven Gardens they grow it in the shade out front and theirs is about 2 feet tall and much more filled out.
I am guessing you don't want it much taller than 4 feet so it won't cover the windows? *Carissa Holly gets to 3' x 4', takes mostly shade and is evergreen.
*Nandina domestica 'Harbor Dwarf' gets to 3' x3', takes shade and is evergreen. It's a nandina that does not produce flowers or berries so you don't have to worry about the birds spreading it around.
*Some of the dwarf Loropetalum stay under 4 feet. One of them is 'Suzanne". They might like more sun though, not sure.
Hmmm... Maybe I will think of something else later. I have researching possible shrubs for our front yard, so had those above on a list.
Yes, it is hardy here and it grows great, almost evergreen and the leaves are very pretty.
I think it would do great for you.
Josephine.
Thanks ya'll. I need to look these up and get back to you.
Mary Lee
Well, I don't know if I'm just too tired to do this or what, but I couldn't find Carrissa Holly or Loropetalum Suzanne. I did find Mary Nell Holly, compact Oregon Grape holly, and dwarf Yaupon Holly. I have the full size oregon grape holly, but I didn't know there was a compact form. Do ya'll know anything about these? And if you can find a link to Carissa and Loropetalum Suzanne, I'd appreciate it.
Frostweed, you grow salvia penstemonoides right? Do you think it would work to replace those abelias? I watered the abelias just to get them established and it was nice not to have to worry about watering over there. If I could find a Texas native more or less, that would attract hummers, that would be really cool.
Mary Lee
Here you go Mary Lee:
Carissa Holly http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/shrubs/ilex_cornuta-carissa.html
Suzanne Fringe Flower http://www.monrovia.com/MonroviaWeb.nsf/8c104835579b67e18825685f006acdf8/ee5b3be5284f041488256dba007d2d22!OpenDocument
I have a fringe plant on the other side of my house and it's doing very well without extra water, meaning only God waters it.:) I don't know what variety it is. I thought it was one of the big ones. Are they all equally hardy? This sounds great, because I didn't know there was a compact form.
Getting back to the sweet olive, the spot where it would have to go is about 10 feet from an Italian Stone pine tree. Is that too close?
I have a fringe plant on the other side of my house and it's doing very well without extra water, meaning only God waters it.:) I don't know what variety it is. I thought it was one of the big ones. Are they all equally hardy? This sounds great, because I didn't know there was a compact form.
Getting back to the sweet olive, the spot where it would have to go is about 10 feet from an Italian Stone pine tree. Is that too close? Also how far from the house does it need to be? The bed is only 4 feet from front to back.
I have a fringe plant on the other side of my house and it's doing very well without extra water, meaning only God waters it.:) I don't know what variety it is. I thought it was one of the big ones. Are they all equally hardy? This sounds great, because I didn't know there was a compact form.
Getting back to the sweet olive, the spot where it would have to go is about 10 feet from an Italian Stone pine tree. Is that too close? Also how far from the house does it need to be? The bed is only 4 feet from front to back.
I like the Carissa holly too. All of a sudden I have all these wonderful plants to consider. I was also thinking of putting a blue mist plant next to the dwarf Burford holly that's already there. If I have a blue mist, a Carissa, and loropetalum, which one should I put where? I'm having a hard time envisioning this, maybe because it's too much variety? The sweet olive would be on the corner. Help!