specific needs

stephenprudence

specific needs

Post by stephenprudence »

Right my dad agreed that the empty border in the back garden needs filling, however only with small plants, that don't take up much room.

So, I'm thinking along these lines.. I have already got a Helleborus foetidus, and Helleborus orientalis.

specifications are:

- Evergreen
- Small in stature
- tolerant of moderate to deep shade
- Hardy to about -10 to -15C.
- No Bamboo or grasses.
- Can have flowers, or no flowers.

If it is too difficult to find, I suppose herbaceous perennials are acceptable, but would prefer evergreens.
RozDevon

Re: specific needs

Post by RozDevon »

I have the following in a semi shady bed :-

Small rhododendron.
Pieris
Euphorbias - especially a silver leaved one, can't remember the name.
Acers.
Golden short grass, hachenocloa I think its called.
Skimmia - lovely berries and flower head.
Ferns.
Hostas
Fatshedera - variegated.
Azaleas. Evergreen small ones. Deciduous larger ones.
Various bulbs for seasonal interest.
kata

Re: specific needs

Post by kata »

A small Acer is Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Garnet')
acergarnet.gif
acergarnet.gif (111.33 KiB) Viewed 1260 times
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stephenprudence

Re: specific needs

Post by stephenprudence »

too Big (way too big) Kate lol, he meant small plants.. small perennial types.
jcec1

Re: specific needs

Post by jcec1 »

A bed of different coloured Heucheras.
flounder

Re: specific needs

Post by flounder »

Euphorbia, euonymus, buxus, danae, saxifraga, pieris, heuchera........
GREVILLE

Re: specific needs

Post by GREVILLE »

I'd include a mix of Euonymus fortunei (Emerald 'n' gold and/or emerald gaiety) with Omphalodes cappadocica and Saxifraga umbrosa underplanted with cyclamen neapolitanum. All hardy in sun or shade and pass for exotica.
Conifers
Posts: 13147
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2009 2:11 pm
Location: Northumbs

Re: specific needs

Post by Conifers »

Ruscus aculeatus (or others in the same genus)
fern Rob

Re: specific needs

Post by fern Rob »

Why do they have to be small plants?
Mr List

Re: specific needs

Post by Mr List »

mahonia soft caress
stephenprudence

Re: specific needs

Post by stephenprudence »

They have to be small, because the border is small :wink:

Also it's the coldest parts of the garden, and gets the most severe frost, hence why I'm not trying more exotic stuff, because it simply would not survive. So hardy but exotic looking is the best way for this.

Some good ideas here though.
Dim

Re: specific needs

Post by Dim »

jcec1 wrote:A bed of different coloured Heucheras.
SNAP ... one of my favourite plants (especially when you plant the bright reds with the bright yellows)

Electra:

Image

Georgia Peach:

Image
miketropic

Re: specific needs

Post by miketropic »

An Acuba could be kept short with trimming..takes -10c easy and provides a bit of color as well as evergreen
pdid

Re: specific needs

Post by pdid »

Farfugium and Spotty dotty? Both die back somewhat but Spring into life early.

Also consider astelia, agapanthus, phormium, hemerocallis and viburnum.
David York
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri May 30, 2008 11:13 am

Re: specific needs

Post by David York »

How about Sarcococca? If it needs to be small, then choose S. hookeriana var. humilis.

It's an evergreen shrub with dark glossy foliage, and not only that, it also has very fragrant flowers too!

Sarcococcas are really handsome looking plants, and they are extremely hardy!
Last edited by David York on Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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