My friend just bought a new home and is looking for a single accent plant to screen a portion of her neighbor's house. She has a smallish triangle area with a mature evergreen (I didn't look closely, perhaps a fir) that has been limbed up, about a 3' azalea on one side of the evergreen, and a blank spot on the other side of the evergreen. Further along, the neighbor has a row of arbs. So, there is just one 'hole' she is trying to plug. Although this is on the south side of her house, it is shaded by both her tree and neighbor's house (probably 6' away). I'm guessing the soil is acidic.
I suggested a tallish mahonia, rhodie, or laurel. I'm guessing she already has plenty of rhodies (a staple here in the Pacific NW), trying to come up with something with a bit of pow to it, as it is what she will look at from her kitchen window. There is a local nursery which has bred a 'Mount Vernon laurel' which I've heard rave reviews of, but have not seen one in person. I figure this month is a good time for a bargain, and also a good time to plant.
