30-07-2014 7:16 PM
Hi - My dad is looking for a shrub or plant to put in the garden for my mam's birthday as a remembrance. Ideally he would like it to be evergreen with beautiful flowers and one that does not grow too tall or too wide.
I thought of Camelias but he said he has three of them and would like something different.
Can anybody offer any suggestions please? Thank you
30-07-2014 7:37 PM
I have one of these. Not evergreen but pretty in the spring & the leaves go red in the autumn. I had one at the old house & had to get another when we moved here.:)
http://www.bluebellnursery.com/catalogue/trees/Amelanchier/A/5743362
30-07-2014 7:45 PM
Thanks Patch - will mention it to my Dad but I know ideally he would like an evergreen - it does look pretty though I am tempted to get one for my garden 🙂
30-07-2014 8:00 PM
You wont be sorry. It's lovely.:)
30-07-2014 8:04 PM
30-07-2014 8:08 PM
30-07-2014 8:18 PM
One of my favourites are roses but I'm banned from buying any more even if my mum likes them too.
30-07-2014 8:24 PM
I love Camellia's or another lovely alternative is Photinia
30-07-2014 8:38 PM
30-07-2014 9:00 PM
30-07-2014 9:02 PM
Escallonia? Evergreen, hardy, with scented flowers that bees love, they come in various shades of pink to red. It can be used as a hedge, too - so if it grows too big it can safely be pruned back. Very popular with councils, but you hardly ever see it flowering because as soon as it sends out shoots with flowerbuds they send the contractors out to "tidy" them up.
30-07-2014 9:33 PM
I'd have said an escallonia woujld be a good idea too but not in an exposed situation if it gets too cold in winter.
Ceanothus is another lovely one that needs sunshine and a bit of protection - not a north facing wall - and the small pollinating insects love that one too.
But Amelanchier is a truly lovely small tree that gives so much variety during the year and even though it's not evergreen, it really is worth considering.
He could then put bulbs underneath to come up during the early spring too.
Another evergreen with fragrant flowers is the Osmanthus delavayi (Chinese Osthmanthus) and that can be kept clipped so it doesn't grow too high or bushy
And then consider a Viburnum - not all are evergreen, some are semi-evergreen and one produces huge balls of beautifully fragranced flowers around May. I can't remember what it's called - I've got one but carefull removed the label when I planted it.
There are many other lovely varieties of viburnum and some produce attractive metallic blue berries in autumn from mases of white blooms in spring.
30-07-2014 9:38 PM
30-07-2014 11:00 PM
Hello Fluffy, I hope you are doing ok, and Dad too
How about a Rhododendron - you can get them in all colours - shallow rooted - easy to grow. You get them in all sizes too. This is one I brought here 7 years ago, she was in a pot then, 3 years old, so she is now 10 and gives the most glorious display in early summer, about May, easy to control.
I also have miniature red ones called Carmen, only about 18" across and the same height a vibrant red. I think they are very underrated. Daphne too is nice, I had one at last house, beautifully scented, but she's a bit fickle, if she's not in the right place, you've had it. Evergreen, with the most beautiful scent in Spring.
30-07-2014 11:08 PM
I'm a fan of Ceanothus too - some varieties are the most amazing vibrant blue colour
I don't have a garden, but a small yard and I have several varieties of Pieris japonica in pots. The young leaves in spring are beautiful colours depending on the variety - silvery pink, red, golden yellow, flame, copper - all sorts and there are loads of varieties to choose from. Bell shaped clusters of dangling flowers - white, pink and other colours, depending on variety. I planted mine in pots about 24 years ago and they are still going strong! Smaller in the confines of a pot than they would be in a garden, but they are slow growing and can be pruned if necessary. They like acid soils like rhododendrons and azaleas.
Or, this Fetterbush - Leucothoe scarletta ? Nice leaf colours that change from purple (when young) to green and then deep red in the winter. Can be planted in the garden (as well as in pots)- grows up to 75cm so not too big
Or perhaps a Daphne? Fragrant, evergreen and lots of varieties available with variegated leaves, pink or white flowers etc. I think these are lovely but read somewhere that they only live for about 8-10 years so that might be unsuitable for you.
Escallonia (as duck suggested) - a compact fast growing shrub. Different varieties with white, red or pink flowers, and growing to different heights depending on variety
Or Skimmia japonica ?
Just check that that you have the right soil conditions in your garden for whatever you choose, although you can amend the soil around them with whatever is needed; also that you have a place that suits your chosen shrub's light conditions such as full sun/ partial shade etc.
31-07-2014 12:02 AM
Wow - thank you for so many wonderful suggestions. I have printed all the ideas off and I will go through them with my Dad.
I really do appreciate all the suggestions. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back on to the thread, I was having a few probs earlier.
Thanks once again xxx