| I have a 15x about 6 area to make a bed that borders an old wooden fence. It is under a white pine and some oak trees and gets only some filtered light. Are there any hydrangeas that might work? This small bed runs into an existing larger bed full of formosa azeleas under more of the same trees. Would any azeleas work? Also are there any shade vines that I could start on the fence in this mostly shaded area to kind of break up the fencing? Soil is very hard and almost like cement. What is the best soil mixture? Could you also suggest an accompaniment for these bushes like hosta or ferns? |
| I'd start by amending the soil. Spread 4-5" of organic matter (compost, aged manure, etc.) over the entire bed and dig it in to a depth of 8". Then plant one or more of the following small shrubs. Several of the plants in this group, if completely forgotten, will grow higher than 4 feet and broader than the typical 3-4 feet. They are listed here because they can easily be kept in the smaller size range. BOTANICAL NAME: Abelia grandiflora COMMON NAME: GLOSSY ABELIA GROUP: semi-evergreen GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun, part shade TEXTURE: fine FORM: irregular to oval HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-5' BOTANICAL NAME: Aucuba japonica 'nana' COMMON NAME: DWARF AUCUBA GROUP: Evergreen GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: shade TEXTURE: coarse FORM: upright rounded HEIGHT: 2-3' SPREAD: 3-4' BOTANICAL NAME: Berberis thunbergii var. 'Atropurpurea' COMMON NAME: RED JAPANESE BARBERRY GROUP: Deciduous GROWTH RATE: medium EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: medium-fine FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 3-6' SPREAD: 4-6' BOTANICAL NAME: Buxus microphylla COMMON NAME: LITTLELEAF BOXWOOD GROUP: Evergreen GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: semi-shade TEXTURE: medium-fine FORM: compact rounded HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-4' 'Compacta', useful for low hedges BOTANICAL NAME: Buxus sempervirens COMMON NAME: TRUE DWARF BOXWOOD GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: very slow EXPOSURE: semi-shade TEXTURE: medium-fine FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 4-5' True dwarf English Boxwood, requires excellent drainage BOTANICAL NAME: Chaenomeles japonica COMMON NAME: JAPANESE FLOWERING QUINCE GROUP: D GROWTH RATE: medium EXPOSURE: sun-part shade TEXTURE: medium FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-4' Low growing, densely branched BOTANICAL NAME: Cotoneaster dammeri COMMON NAME: BEARBERRY COTONEASTER GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: medium EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: fine FORM: spreading HEIGHT: 1-2' SPREAD: 3-5' White flowers/red fruit. Good for groundcover effect as branches take root. BOTANICAL NAME:Cotoneaster horizontalis COMMON NAME: ROCKSPRAY COTONEASTER GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: fine FORM: spreading HEIGHT: 2-3' SPREAD: 4-7' BOTANICAL NAME: Daphne odora COMMON NAME: WINTER DAPHNE GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE : semi-shade TEXTURE: fine-medium FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 2-3' SPREAD: 2-3' Flowers in winter. Very aromatic. 'Alba'-white flowers BOTANICAL NAME: Deutzia gracilis COMMON NAME: SLENDER DEUTZIA GROUP: D GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade TEXTURE: medium-fine FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 2-3' SPREAD: 3-4' Very adaptable to adverse conditions BOTANICAL NAME: Euonymus japonicus COMMON NAME: DWARF JAPANESE EUONYMUS GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: fast EXPOSURE: sun or shade TEXTURE: fine-medium FORM: oval HEIGHT: 1-3' SPREAD: 2-3' BOTANICAL NAME: Gardenia radicans COMMON NAME: CREEPING GARDENIA GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: semi- TEXTURE: fine FORM: spreading HEIGHT: 1-2' SPREAD: 2-3' White, fragrant flowers BOTANICAL NAME: Hypericum patulum COMMON NAME: ST. JOHN'S WORT GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: rapid EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: medium FORM: spreading HEIGHT: 3' SPREAD: 3' BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex cornuta COMMON NAME: (DWARF) CHINESE HOLLY GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade TEXTURE: coarse FORM: rounded and spreading HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-4' BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex crenata COMMON NAME: JAPANESE HOLLY GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun or shade TEXTURE: mediume-fine FORM: dense rounded HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-4' BOTANICAL NAME: Ilex vomitora 'Nana' COMMON NAME: DWARF YAUPON HOLLY GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun, semi-shade TEXTURE: medium FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 4-5' BOTANICAL NAME: Jasminium floridum COMMON NAME: SHOWY JASMINE GROUP: semi-evergreen GROWTH RATE: slow-medium EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: fine FORM: weeping HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-4' BOTANICAL NAME: Juniperus conferta COMMON NAME: SHORE JUNIPER GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: fine FORM: spreading HEIGHT: 1-2' SPREAD: 4-5' BOTANICAL NAME: Juniperus horizontalis COMMON NAME: CREEPING JUNIPER GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: medium-rapid EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: fine FORM: upright spreading HEIGHT: 1-2' SPREAD: 3-4' BOTANICAL NAME: Juniperus procumbens COMMON NAME: JAPGARDEN JUNIPER GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: very slow EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: fine FORM: spreading HEIGHT: 1-2' SPREAD: 6-8' BOTANICAL NAME: Leucothoe fontanesiana COMMON NAME: DROOPING LEUCOTHOE GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: shade TEXTURE: medium FORM: spreading HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3' BOTANICAL NAME: Ligustrum japonicum 'Rotundifolium' COMMON NAME: CURLYLEAF LIGUSTRUM GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun to part shade TEXTURE: medium FORM: upright columnar HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3' Lustrous dark green foliage BOTANICAL NAME: Mahonia aquifolium COMMON NAME: OREGON GRAPE HOLLY GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: part shade, shade TEXTURE: coarse FORM: upright stems, broadly clumped HEIGHT: 2-3' SPREAD: 2-3' BOTANICAL NAME: Nandina domestica COMMON NAME: DWARF NANDINA GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun, part shade TEXTURE: medium-fine FORM: upright HEIGHT: 1-2' SPREAD: 1-2' BOTANICAL NAME: Pinus mugo 'Compacta' COMMON NAME: DWARF MUGO PINE GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun TEXTURE: fine FORM: globe-shaped HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-4' BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus laurocerasus COMMON NAME: DWARF ENGLISH LAUREL GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: sun or shade TEXTURE: medium-fine FORM: upright spreading HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-4' BOTANICAL NAME: Raphiolepis indica COMMON NAME: INDIA HAWTHORN GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow EXPOSURE: sun or shade TEXTURE: coarse-medium FORM: open spreading HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-5' BOTANICAL NAME: Rhododendron eriocarpum COMMON NAME: DWARF INDICA AZALEAS GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: slow-moderate EXPOSURE: semi-shade TEXTURE: fine FORM: rounded HEIGHT: 1-2' SPREAD: 1-2' LANDSCAPE REMARKS: 'Gumpo' BOTANICAL NAME: Spirea thunbergii COMMON NAME: THUNBERG SPIREA GROUP: D GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: sun, part shade TEXTURE: fine FORM: spreading HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-5' BOTANICAL NAME: Viburnum davidii COMMON NAME: DAVID VIBURNUM GROUP: E GROWTH RATE: moderate EXPOSURE: sun or part shade TEXTURE: coarse, medium FORM: rounded, compact HEIGHT: 3-4' SPREAD: 3-5' Hope some of these suggestions are just right for your garden! |
