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What can I grow here?

floyd66

By Floyd66

Hampshire, United Kingdom Gb

I have a 4 ft.fence, west facing that is in the shade most of the day and catches the wind quite strongly. I would like to put some colour in this plot, but can't find what. Any suggestions?




Answers

 

It might sound boring and a bit 'suburban garden' but have a look at the Aucubas - there's a beauty called Aucuba japonica 'Golden King' which has so much gold on its leaves that it looks as though it's got sunshine on it even in the shade. Aucubas don't mind shade, and they are evergreen. I really appreciate the one we've got. The leaves are glossy and thick and I don't think they mind wind - ours doesn't! Vincas as ground cover would be great under the Aucuba, I saw a new one yesterday at the Garden Centre with bright green/yellow leaves! (I managed to resist it) lol. Hope this helps.

27 Jan, 2008

 

Euonymus 'Silver Queen' is aonther possibility. This has evergreen leaves, green in the middle and cream round the outside (new ones in the spring have yellow edges that fade as the season progresses); the leaves also take on pink hues in cold weather in the winter. It has tiny white flowers in summer and pink berries in the autumn but these are not very noticable. In the open, it makes a free-standing shrub but against a vertical surface, it will cling like ivy (but is much easier to detach if necessary). I've got four growing in sun, total shade and half-and-half; it takes anything.

27 Jan, 2008

 

Hello Floyd, you could also try Mahonia - fantastic evergreen shrub, interesting holly like leaves and attractive yellow scented flowers through the winter, and blue/purple berries. i have one in part shade, but i remeber reeding that they will take full shade. also if you would like some ground cover to fill the gaps between all these lovely saggestions why not try 'London's pride' evergreen - grows best in shade, attractive green/yellow varigated rosettes all year round and pale pink sprays of tiny pale pink flowers in the summer. i have one of these planted at the base of my Mahonia and the comb looks really good. they spread quite a bit and would also blend quite well with both spriz and andrews ideas.

27 Jan, 2008

 

I don't know where you live but you could try some of the Fuchsia magellanica shrub family - they are very hardy (here in the south west anyway) and even in shade flower well and don't mind wind. The variegated gray/pink/cream one is very striking and tough. Cut back every Spring. Cherry red flowers in late summer/autumn.
Periwinkles (Vinca major) are great as someone else said. Honeysuckles seem to prefer a bit of shade in my garden, and don't mind wind here by the sea. There is an evergreen one with yellow flowers, Lonicera Halliana, that has a lovely scent and spreads itself along, rooting as it goes.
Of course don't forget the hardy geraniums - Geranium endressii Wargrave Pink will flower absolutely anywhere, for months on end, and Geranium maccrorhizum 'alba' I wouldn't be without for shade - and its tough in wind. Fabulous scented leaves which are more or less evergreen, red in autumn. It flowers in late Spring/early Summer, blush pink. There are other pinks as well, eg Ingwersens Variety. They form a striking carpet under shrubs.
Bergenia (or Elephant Ears) is another really tough evergreen perennial for shade, with super pink flowers out now til the end of Spring and superb large leathery leaves - good for underplanting a shrub.
Or try Kerria Japonica (Jew's Mallow) for a shade-tolerating, wind-resistant wall shrub. Double orangey-yellow pompom flowers for a long period over Spring, ,and tall green stems that stay evergreen in winter. Once it is going, you can divide more of it off in Spring and have it going all along the fence.
Another goodie is the flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) - a medium to large shrub which will tolerate some shade and is a good windbreak, with beautiful scented pink flowers in early Summer.
Or Fatsia Japonica - hardy but exotic-looking, green leaved large shrub, excellent in shade. Huge, hand-shaped leaves.

27 Jan, 2008

 

If you picked up on the idea of a mahonia, I'd either go for mahonia japonica which bushes out well and the leaves take on red tints at various times of the year or mahonia aquifolium which only grows to three or four feet and suckers a bit. Others like 'Charity' or 'Winter Sun' or 'Lionel Fortescue' go up rather than out.

As long as the soil doesn't dry out too much, hydrangeas would do well. They can tolerate wind because they will grow well by the coast.

27 Jan, 2008

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