Looking for flowering evergreen shrub for full sun

I'm looking for something to line the sides of my yard so whatever I get will need to tolerate full-sun. I was originally looking at Azalea's since they are so prevalent in my area, but was told they might not do great in full sun. Then I did a search on PlantFiles and found Camellia's listed as being able to take full sun. But in talking to others, I'm told they really don't.

So, does anyone from this area have input on either of these.

If not, can someone suggest a flowering evergreen shrub that can tolerate full sun? I'd prefer something that grows to at least 5 or 6 feet high.

Thank you!

Pittosporums are pretty evergreen shrubs. They come in glossy darkgreen leaves or the varigated. They bloom in the spring but the bloom isn't very impressive. I prefer them because they keep a rounded shape. (see link below.)

http://hgic.clemson.edu./factsheets/hgic1082.htm

Another to consider is the Indian Hawthornes. Hard green leaves with pink or white blooms in the spring.

Lorapetalums love full sun and the leaves change color with the season. Beautiful pink/hot pink fringe like flowers in spring.

Oleander does great in full sun along the gulf coast. I've seen it for sale at nearly every garden senter in Mobile. It is poisonous, but as long as you don't have small kids wanting to eat it you should be fine.

Viburnum Prague -- beautiful shrub.

Thanks everyone for your input. I really appreciate it. :-)

Stephanie

How about Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'. Stays small, flowering and evergreen.

Personal experience here. Azalea's, no for the most part. Some are more tolerant of full sun but they'll still burn if they get day after day of full sun.

Camellia's, no. I did find one type of Camellia down in Savannah that is sun tolerant but almost every other camellia likes shade. The sun loving one also grew to about 30 ft if not pruned. Nice white flowers BTW.

I would suggest gardenia's.

Oleander's are poisonous and not just to childern. Dogs etc. I don't like them much myself, main problem being a freeze. They get all killed off and you have to prune them way down. Not very thick either.

Core, do you really find gardenias do okay in full sun? I have always heard that they like partial shade. I have two of them that I rooted from cuttings and haven't a clue where to put them. I'm having a problem with white flies getting on mine already though.

I think if you live in a cool-summer climate like the Pacific Northwest or somewhere like that then gardenias might do OK in full sun, but in a hot summer climate no way. My summers probably aren't even as hot as yours, and mine not only have to be in shade in the afternoon, but they have to be in the shade on the north side of the house where it's cooler. I tried them in PM shade on a south-facing patio at my old house and they hated it, but when I moved them to the north side of the house they got the same amt of morning sun but the temps stayed a bit cooler and they did great. Maybe if you have humidity they'll deal better with a bit more heat/sun but I can't see them living in the South in full sun.

I do have my Gardenia 'Kleims Hardy' in full sun - they need lots of water and feeding. I thought they needed full sun until what you've mentioned above.

You live in a relatively cool summer climate though, I'm not surprised they do fine in full sun for you. But in hot summer climates like Alabama they will do better with shade during the hottest part of the day.

I can match Alabama for hot humid summers and gardenia's will grow in full sun. My neighbor has 4 of them in all day sun. He irragates his back yard where they are but no extra water, I doubt he even feeds them. I'll have to take a picture, mine are about to bloom so his probably are too. Mine get sun from about 12-1 PM till sunset so all this talk about gardenia's not being able to handle sun is just wrong. Only problem is I don't remember what kind of gardenia I have. I know another guy who used them as a hedge in full sun. Give me a day or two to figure out which ones we're growing around here. I seem to remember them being 'August Beauty' but I'm not sure. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/82765/index.html

Guess the humidity must save them then, out here they fry if you give them sun in the afternoon. I've tried several kinds and none of them liked sun in the afternoon.

This is the full sun gardenia's. I'm almost facing direct east taking this picture, they're about 6 ft. tall. Think they're four plants there.

Close up.

Here's another and I'm sticking with these being 'August Beauty', they flower off and on from spring to fall and are the right size.

Like I said I don't think these get feed or anything, I know they don't get trimmed.

Those do look big and healthy. I might try one of mine in full sun and see how it does.

I has pittosporums but they only did well when well ventilated and with an Eastern exposure. Those in the hot afternoon sun looked ratty and those in humid conditions tended to get these white bugs all over the stems/bark. They were more maintenance than they were worth. To top it off, those in open locations struggled in wintertime with the cold. Those in a more protected location were a lot glossier and darker, and more attractive.

My Arborvitaes do well in full sun and always look attractive, even in our hot summer climate. In your area, you gets lots of rainfall so water will not be a problem.

Was talking to a co-worker yesterday and shared my disappointment about not being able to plant Camellias due to the full sun and he said "Are you kidding me? My mother has had her Camellias in full sun for almost 30 years and they're still doing great." He said his grandmother is the one who planted them and they're still flowering as much as ever.

Now I'm getting my hopes up again. :-)

Camellias will survive in full sun, they just won't look their best. You will need to provide supplemental irrigation during times of drought (like now). Even then, you may still have some leaf scorching.

I'll ask him to go by and check them out closely. There may be leaf scorching and he hasn't noticed it.

Zeoplum,
We are in the same zone and I have 30 yr. old camellias that some are in full sun and some are in part shade. Also have many that are planted under a large oak tree and that's full shade. They all bloom around February. These are the japonicas (camellias).
The sesanqua (camellias) blooms in August and are definately sun lovers.
If you would like pics let me know,however, there are no bloom now.

BSD,
So are you saying the ones who take full-sun do just fine? If so, how high do the temps normally get in Conway SC? I'm just wondering how similar our zones are when considering full-sun heat.

And yes, I'd love to see pictures. Do you have any old pics of when they were in bloom?

zeoplum,
Yes, they do fine in full sun. The temps here can get in the 100's in mid summer. Lows in winter around 25-30 but this is seldom. I love the dark green glossy leaves on the japonica camellias. The sesanqua camellia has smaller leaves.
I do not have pictures of them blooming but I can show you the difference in the leaves. Here the older homes combine the two so that you have blooms in Feb.-March (japonica) and then Aug.-Sept. the Sesanqua. They all bloom profusely.
Find a good nursery and ask them if there are ones that do better in sun. I've had mine so long (30 years) that I'm not sure of their names.
I'll also send you pictures of the varigated pittosporums and the Indian Hawthornes.

Camellia (Japonica) shade 8:30 am

Camellia (Japonica) Full sun

#2 Camellia (Japonica) Full sun

Sorry, This is Camellia (Sesanqua)

This message was edited May 16, 2007 9:06 AM

Camellia Japonica Full sun

Varigated Pittosporum in front of Azaleas

Wow, those all look great. I especially like the one you've got with the ground cover around it. That looks really nice like that!

The Varigated Pittosporum are nice too, but I really feel drawn to the Camellias and I think they'd do best as hedges. Actually, I don't like the word hedges because that always reminds me of trees that are "shaped" by pruning. I really just need them as a divider between our yard and the neighbors. It doesn't have to be a solid wall, per se. Just something that outlines the yard.

I think I'll look for a local Camellia group and see what they suggest. Maybe they can tell me which ones do best in full-sun. I just really really want Camellia's...even more so now than Azaleas which was my first inclination.

Thank you BSD for the pictures. I feel inspired to not give up on the idea of Camellia's in full sun. :-)

If you really are determined to have camellias I would just say to keep them mulched, preferably with pine straw. I would also limit pruning and let them take on their natural form, that will reduce stress.

Ok, thanks escambiaguy! I'll do that!