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Landscape Design

foundation shrubs - evergreen textures

16 years ago

I need to plant some evergreen shrubs at my foundation (old house, high foundation, long dormant New England springs = needs evergreens). I love big-leafed rhododendron, and the spot may be a bit too sunny for it (faces E-SE), but I'm thinking of trying a Boule de Neige on the shady side of the front stairs. I'm a little stumped as to what to put with it. There is space for about 2 large shrubs beside it, and one other small shrub on the other side of the stairs. Would little-leaf rhododendron look right as the remainder? As much as I dislike yews, to my untrained eye the texture of a yew next to a big-leaf rhododendron looks good. I'm not sure about what to put with the big-leaf guy and in what quantity/arrangement. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments (4)

bullthistle
16 years ago
Normally one plant is the focus point in the landscape but in order to add depth and texture you don't use the same plants. Euonymous has a different texture as does mahonia, and I beleive bayberry is hardy there but also mixing deciduous with evergreens adds depth, like potentilla K. Dykes which cascades. Foundation plantings are supposed to accentuate the house not hide the foundation because everyone knows they exist.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials
bungalow_house
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks bullthistle. I'm just trying not to repeat the problem the previous owner gave me by having no 2 plants the same!

So how where you draw the line between too much variety and enough to provide interest? I read somewhere this morning that keeping evergreen foundation plants the same habit, but different colors and textures, is a good idea. Is that the idea?

(And it's true, everyone knows the foundation is there, but much like underwear, I just don't want to look at it! :)
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The 'Sky Pencil's will fill out a bit as they mature. Other possibilities are Buxus 'Graham Blandy' or Euonymus 'Green Spire', an excellent columnar selection from the National Arboretum. It is very similar in habit to the Sky Pencil (extremely erect and upright), but faster growing, much denser and will not exceed about 2'-3' in diameter. May need a bit of protection in winter in your zone.
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Yes, Mugos can reach the size of the demoted planet Pluto. However, if you find a good dwarf variety (believe me, it'll still grow beyond what the plant tag, nursery staff, and research tells you if left to its own devices) you can keep it at bay for a very long time by never failing to do an annual spring candle cutting. I'm sorry to say I don't know the variety, but I have a 36 year old mugo in my back yard that I've kept in a lovely, perfect mound pretty much at 3' high and 5' across. It was originally a dwarf variety, but it would expand 6" in all directions each year if I allowed it to do so. The minis ken mentioned are "adorable" - although they grow too. Much better suited for that niche or specimen garden than mixed into a foundation planting. I'm experimenting with a couple of Green Mountain boxwoods - suffered a little winter burn or sun scald, but grew out of it. I'll be considering some screening this year to try and prevent that.
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Little Giant and Woodward are both cultivars of Arborvitae that grow slowly, 4-6 feet at best, and make nice foundation plants. Althoug they can reach the 6' mark, they grow so slowly and take so well to an early summer pruning that I would recommend them over a smaller shrub that might look too small against the house for too long. With the wind and sun, they are a better choice than a Yew, which can winterburn in that exposure. I have not run across a Juniper that I like very well, but that is my own prejudice, someone else may come up with a good Juniper variety that might work for you. Good luck, Helen.
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TiaMaria, I am sorry you haven't gotten any response yet but it does require a long complicated answer without a lot of information. I am not familiar with JCBakker but they come up as a wholesaler for me. I find it odd that some of the plants you mention are grafted. They are easy enough to root. Are you sure they graft Viburnum, Rose of Sharon, Barberry, Hydrangea? Also it is hard to design an unseen site. There are many variables besides just taste. If you break apart your question and search each one, you will find a lot of material to mull through. Such as "narrow evergreen", I came up with almost 750 hits just here on the GW. Sometimes the answer just comes down to what you like once conditions are considered. And there are always people pushing the ideal conditions and getting away with it. May I suggest you take a day to visit Rare Find Nursery in Jackson? It is not the only place to go, but they have a very interesting selection of plants and its a great place to start. Plants do range in size. Some are too small and I might suggest you stay away from the smallest rhododendron starts unless you really must have something. It takes a while to go through between the offerings and the gardens so don't go when you are in a rush. Here is a link that might be useful: Rare Find Nursery
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bungalow_house
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks bullthistle. I'm just trying not to repeat the problem the previous owner gave me by having no 2 plants the same!

So where you draw the line between too much variety and enough to provide interest? I read somewhere this morning a suggestion to keep evergreen foundation plants the same habit, but different colors and textures. Is that the idea?

And it's true, everyone knows the foundation is there, but much like underwear, I just don't want to look at it! :) On the other hand, I certainly don't want a dense, sheared wall of yew. There must be a happy medium...
bullthistle
16 years ago
No you don't have to keep them the same habit, in odd numbers 3. 5, so on. Textures means fine, medium and bold. The difference between a juniper which is fine and rhody which is bold.It has nothing to do with flower color. Visit a nursery and see what you like don't let the previous owners taste decide for you. Everyone is different. Look at euonymous fortuneii and potentilla fruticosa. Glad you don't like yews.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

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