Another angle of where I want to replace abelia

Another angle of where I want to replace abelia

Would you like some color? Dianthus is one of my favorites. There are many beautiful varieties. Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is another favorite. It blooms in the fall.

I love sedum, but I really want something that's evergreen.. If it blooms - that's a bonus! It might get too much sun in this spot for some sort of gardenias and I've even thought about Encore "Autumn Twist" azaleas so now you know where I'm headed. Any other ideas? Thanks!

http://www.photoready.co.uk/flora-fauna/winter-flowering-heather.html

check out mediterranean heather -erika. don't know if your conditions suit.

winter daphne - fussy but if you can get it going (I've never had issues ) it is beautiful and will perfume your walkway.
lavender
loropetulum - you'd have to keep it cut.
dwarf crepe myrtle - sturdy and easy
yucca
wiegelia - you'd have to keep it trimmed and it isn't hard to do. Sort of like the abelia for trimming back. Also (you don't want to hear this.....;0) There are lots of great abelia that aren't in the shades you don't like.
indian hawthorne
gardenia 'daisy'

I don't think azaleas will do well in the sun.


edited to add some more ;- )

This message was edited Jun 8, 2008 7:46 PM

the crepe myrtle -- now I am not sure that is the right name. I had some about 10 years ago. That is what the neighbor called them --but they weren't trees. The plants were small bushes - about 1.5 feet high. Pretty but no blooms.

Rosie, you're so on the right track! I would love to have daphne, but I've tried it before to no avail and at the cost of it for 4 or 5, I'm afraid I'd loose it. I love it. You also nailed it that I like pinks and purples.

That winter heather is gorgeous .... not tall enough for what I want here, but I'd love to find some of it for another spot.

Thought about the loropetulum .... don't mind cutting it back... so it's a consideration. Tell me more about the "daisy" gardenia. That must be the one I've seen at a couple of houses since the bloom does look more like a daisy. Can it take the sun?

Maybe I'm just too picky! You're sure have great ideas so let me know if you have any more. By the way, in the photo that shows the short hedge starting on the opposite side of the sidewalk, that's something called escallonia. Ever heard of it? It might prove to be too cold sensitive here, but I'll find out. It gets loaded with tiny little pink flowers and can be cut as a hedge (will grow up to 4 feet) or you can let it go. Has a leaf somewhat like an azalea, but much deeper green and "thicker" and is supposed to bloom most of the year (yeah, right!)

Thanks so much!!!

I found some Loropetalum Rubrum today in a 3 gal container at Wal-Mart for $5.00!!!

WOW! What a deal TC. Did you get your sedge grass? I wonder if all the Wal-Marts
have that for $5?? Maybe I'll check tomorrow.

escallonia - no I haven't but I will check it out.

The daphne does great here but gets too big and flops over with a good rain. How tall do you want your shrubs to be? I figured about 2 feet along that walkway.

check out the gardenia here at DavesG - it keeps bloomin'

PlantFiles: Gardenia, Cape Jasmine, Gandharaj
Gardenia jasminoides 'Daisy'

Don't skip the lavender. Many types to choose from and may go real well in your space. And check out all the abelia - some are lovely plum colors and you can't kill them (that is why Wendy's uses them!!)

The wiegelia (may be spelled wrong) is a lovely plum color - I can take a photo if you like.

BDUNN Never made it to North Myrtle!! No time. Oh well I guess I can wait til next spring!!!

Rosie,

Yes, those gardenia are certainly a possiblity. And I'll look at the lavender.

You really like the abelia, don't you? LOL! I guess I'm just hesitant since they haven't been consistent in that space. I had 5 (now 4) and the closer to the front door (shadiest spot) the more lush it is. Then it gradually goes down from there the farther away you get from the front door. If you look at the pic again you'll see what I mean. I guess I just want it all to be thick and lush all year. LOL! And they're the newer kalediscope (sp?) abelia. They're really pretty in the fall, but just not my favorite.

I'm off to look at lavender pictures. Thanks again!

evergreen huh..well there goes my barberry thought out the window...rose glow and crimson pigmy are my two favs....

I like Escallonia but, around here, they do very well in sun and less well with less sun.
I imagine there are many varieties with different characteristics and needs but, sadly, they are seldom seen in the nurseries. My Escallonia 'fradesii', Pink Princess is in a partial shade situation and does not bloom well at all. It is on the transplant list for whenever this blasted heat lets up.

kalediscope - I think that is what I have in a bed along a pathway - full sun. sort of a mix of colors and a pink flower right? What I noticed about it was that the pink of the flowers doesn't really make a good color combination with the leaf itself. I guess I always thought that a flower color always goes with its leaf!! Nature-perfect. Mine are thick and lush but have been in the ground since day one of the spring. I think your abelia should be better the more sun - so I am not sure what is going on except ..maybe the drought in the hotter area. I would dig them up and don't give up on them - put them somewhere where the ground keeps a little more moisture. Alongside a house /walkway has been disturbed by the builder, the good soil may be gone, there is rock around the foundation usually, and then there is that solar absorbtion going on in the stone of the walkway and radiating out. Something is going on with those two. Yes/No about the abelia. I don't like the bees, But I do like the form and the way the shrub can withstand some neglect. I am not a fan of the multicolor in every season and would not make that same choice today. But, the hot hot lime color and the green going purple abelia are really nice and like I said - at Wendy's they do fine with the heat and neglect and the sun and the cars and the folks walking their dogs after that long car trip! You will find something perfect and then you will slap your forehead and say 'duh' 'it wasn't a shrub I wanted at all!!'

Rosie,

You are so right! And that may be exactly what's wrong with the abelia. I won't give them up (I promise!). I have some potted loropetulum in pots scheduled for the backyard so I moved one up by the abelia and they do look great together! So when the weather breaks I will move the abelia to the back with the loro where they will get full sun and a little more moisture. You're so smart! LOL!

Your right about the neglect on the abelia and the dog walking. You've been very helpful and I appreciate it. Yes, it will "hit" me when I see it. Maybe I shouldn't have planted the pineapple guava and had a more complete plan in mind, but I do like them and the little flowers.

Thanks again, Rosie.

Ardeisa,

Yes, those in the photo are "Pink Princess". Believe it or not, I got them at Home Depot! They were so-o-o root bound and not looking so good. I bought all 9 that they had (I only wanted 7), but I got the other 2 just in case........ They were $6.97 each. I kept the other 2 after planting 7 and didn't return them till I was fairly sure they were all going to perk up. I'm keeping my tags and receipt (I usually loose them) to see what the winter brings and will take advantage of the 1 yr. warranty in they don't make it through winter.

How long have you had yours and where are you using it? I'd love to see a photo.

Thanks everyone! When this heat breaks I'll get back tow orking on it.

Barbara

Rosie,

Just went out to my favorite nursery and brought home one frost proof gardenia to see how it would look. Do you have these? I see your zip code in the plant files. The owner of the nursery said it can take the full sun - I have it up till about 3:00 in the full summer. What do you think?

I think you are soooooo lucky because my shrubs have to meet my wants for beauty and care A N D they have to be deer proof!

Sometimes I have herds of 13-14 outside my window chomping on my stuff!

Last night - (different topic) I had two frogs on my dining room window. Had quite a view of their undersides...they walked up and down that window for at least 45 minutes. I got some good photos. It is a jungle out here. Last week a fox ran right across our path.

Post the photos - I'm sure they're fun! Yes, I need "deer proof" also, but not as much as you. Now the rabbits are another story......

I forgot to tell you Barb, I love that trellis that is sort of like a pergola thing you have there; I printed out the picture so I can beg for one like it.

My escallonia is not very pretty right now, it is not getting enough sun to bloom well.

Missingrosie,

I like the way you put a few extra words in when you are giving someone an idea with a plant. It really helps me remember what's what with that plant.

Otherwise, I have to look up the name in my "Funk & Wagonalls" if I can find it there ( LOL ), or in the Plant Files, which in my estimation takes a long time!!

Just your few extra words saves me a lot of time, really it does.

Karin ... newbie in NC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glad I could help! (Nobody has ever told me that they actually APPRECIATE my wordiness!!) I am going to frame your post and wear it around my neck in a small locket! HA!