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
shade-loving evergreen about 3-5 feet tall that takes up space (Fredericksburg) hmmm....
1. Camellia ?too tall and doesn't cover a lot of ground space
2. Hydrangea and Azalea come to mind; but might be too high maintenance and gambling on height.
3. Some of the taller fern plants would look nice.
4. Mock orange-might need more sun that this area
5. Holly olive or Sweet olive (osmanthus)
6. Japanese Andromeda
7. Fatsia Japonica (Aralia japonica)
I've never tried the Aralia japonica, but it grows to about 6ft X 6ft with some berries and blooms in the winter
Recommended reading: Gardening in the shade: American Horticultural Society
as mentioned, shade vines would also do well and certainly meet the coverage needs, but since you already have Jasmine, I think shrubs would be a nice contrast.
Thanks CollinCounty for the quick response. I dont know if you noticed, but I posted the thread twice and didn't realize it until after I posted the pictures - on the other thread of course.:( I'm not sure how to resolve this problem.
Ferns would be really exciting to have here, but I'm thinking they need too much water. I'm trying to keep this area sort of zeriscape. Mock orange is something I've always wanted, but I think you're right, it wouldn't get enough sun. I have a sweet olive on the other side of the house and would really like to have another, but I'm confused about their form. Are they trees or shrubs? The last 2 I don't know much about, so I'll look them up on plant files and get back to you. One problem maybe our alkaline soil.
Thanks, Mary Lee
DH just suggested that I make a post here requesting people to go to the other post where the pictures are. Makes sense. Sorry for the confusion.
I posted the message before seeing the pictures, but did see them. You're right about the ferns needing too much water for this site. Sweet olive is most commonly referred to as a small tree. Others call it a shrub. It can be pruned as a hedge. The sweet olive does prefer slightly acidic soil. The Holly olive, Japanese andromeda, and fatsia japonica might work better (shorter) and might require less water and soil ammendment. I also thought of salvia (do OK in this much shade); but then again could be gambling on height. Will do some more research---my plants for dry climates book is upstairs---and get back to you.
On our plant files: search "Japanese pieris" to look up the Andromeda
Just looked at the Plant Files for Fatsia Japonica (never grown it either). There are two members in Texas that have had success with it (Round Rock and Tyler). When searching our Plant Files for this one, just search "Fatsia" and it pops up first.
The more I think about it the more like the idea of another sweet olive there. I can put it on the corner so it won't be in the way of the window. If it'll stay full all the way to the ground that would be great.