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 jojodwolf May 27, 2018 2:24 PM CST |
I live in the Northeast.... I have been trying to find a plant/shrub that would be around 6 to 8 feet tall to plant on both sides of my front porch. I presently have a couple of Andromedas but they are not going to get to the height I want. I don't want your typical evergreens. A couple of things I looked at and like I found will take too many years to grow... Mountain Laurel for example. Width is an issue but If it's a type of planting that can be pruned I can do that. Big leaf Rhododendron was advised but I am not a big fan. I already have Rose of Sharon in the front. So ANY ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.  |
Minnesota (Zone 3b) RpR Jun 10, 2018 11:22 PM CST |
| Only certain plants are used for your purpose for a reason, and more often than you think they turn out to be misery as they get bigger than expected or trimming ruins the plant. If you find something you like do not plant it as close to the house as you imagination thinks you can get away with, chance are fifty-fifty you will be disappointed or annoyed with the results. When I landscaped full time, we pulled out many plants because the owner was not happy with the results. |
Name: Amanda KC metro area, Missouri (Zone 6a)           pepper23 Jun 11, 2018 2:34 AM CST |
| I agree. Only way you can get that much height that close to the foundation without major issues is planting a vine but then you would need a trellis. Even then you have to pay attention to which ones you get because some will cause trouble. Only other possibility I can think of top of my head would be sky pencil holly or something like that is bred to grow tall and skinny. |
Name: Joanne CT (Zone 6b) Jmh311 Jul 11, 2018 9:33 PM CST |
| One of the Hydrangea paniculatas? Limelight will get to the height you are looking for but you will find it also gets wide. Can be trimmed back. Maybe a lilac, Miss Kim or a dwarf Korean Palibin? Fothergilla major has interesting bottlebrush flowers in spring, blue-green foliage in summer and wonderful fall color. 6-10 ft tall and 5-9 wide but you can trim after blooming. You might need to enlarge your planting area if you want something so large there. Don't forget to check the mature sizes and leave extra space between the plants and house for air circulation and access for maintenance when needed. The tall narrow sky pencil Hollies I've seen tend to splay out unless tied together during the winter. Dwarf Hinoki Cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis' is a dwarf that grows about 9 ft at maturity. |
Name: Bea (Zone 8b)              bumplbea Jul 11, 2018 9:52 PM CST |
| Dwarf lace leaf maples. They grow slow and can be purchased in many sizes. Google the many colors and leaf styles. They are easy care and don't require a lot of trimming. I've had one at my front door for over 40 years. Other ideas dwarf pines, conifers, weeping trees . Google some for pics and colors vary from lime green purple to blue green. I’m so busy... “I don’t know if I found a rope or lost a horse.” |
Name: Rick Webb southeast Pennsylvania (Zone 6b)  ILPARW Nov 9, 2018 1:51 PM CST |
| Cute little house! I don't recommend cramming lots of plants in foundations, and if any are put there, let them all be short or groundcover, except one corner with a medium sized shrub like a Summersweet Clethra. I recommend making planting beds away from the house to see from the house. A Gray or Whitespire Birch, that does not get as big as Paper Birch, to the side of the house with Inkberry Holly and perennials around it would be cool. |
Coastal TX (Sunset 28/31) (Zone 9a) JuniperAnn Nov 10, 2018 1:55 PM CST |
| A shrub rose might work depending on your zone (here in the subtropics, I'm not too familiar with the needs of northeasterners). Antique Rose Emporium has a cold-hardy rose section: https://www.antiqueroseemporiu... My understanding is that you need to plant a shrub half the expected mature width of the shrub from the foundation + 1 foot. |
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