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All Year Green Shrubs For NYC?

17 years ago

I had wanted shrubs that stay green all year round for in front of the house, and my gardener put in forsythia, which looks dead in the winter. I wasn't happy with that, but now decided to place some scrubs in front of it. What shrubs would stay green all year round, would take some abuse in therms of dryness, not be too expensive in 3-4 feet height, and maybe flower some part of the year. That would be nice if possible, but not needed.

I thought maybe something variegated in green and white for a bit of interest if it had no flowers. We are in NYC. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks!

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Comments (7)

ms_minnamouse
17 years ago
My beauty bush is pretty evergreen in my zone 7. Kolkwitzia amabilis
giboosi_alttara
17 years ago
boxwoods, there are some variegated ones around at Home Depot recently, or arborvitae if you're careful to get the small ones that stay small, maybe?
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
17 years ago
ms minnamouse, you sure you have a Kolkwitzia? There is nothing evergreen about this big, rangy, caning shrub, even in warmer zones than yours :-)

blondell, if you can provide sufficient summer irrigation, there are various compact rhododendrons and perhaps even pieris that could work for you and provide spring flowers. Otherwise, boxwoods, Japanese hollies, euonymus and dwarf conifers will provide year round greenery but no significant flowering. Visit a local garden center to see what they have on hand that will be hardy in your area. Be sure to tell them the amount of sunlight this area will receive to get the best suggestions for your specific situation.
User
17 years ago
I have had luck with the following in zone 7:

Holly
Euonymous japonica
Acuba japonica
Camelia japonica
Photinia (fast growing)
rhododendrons
yucca
fargesia bamboos (non-invasive)
blondelle
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for all the suggestions. I will try and find photos of them. Is $75 for a 3-4' bush a reasonable price for a gardener to charge in Brooklyn? He suggested azeala, but is that evergreen? Thanks again ;-).

I should also mention that I like a manicured, shaped look. Anyone of those I should rule out then?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
17 years ago
I should also mention that I like a manicured, shaped look. Anyone of those I should rule out then?

If this is your preference, then stay with things like the box or Japanese holly, as few other shrubs excepting those with small leaves and fine texture like these are enhanced by being "manicured" or frequently pruned into unnatural shapes.

Visit a local nursery to see what the going rate is - $75 here would buy a pretty darn big shrub here and a whole forest of azaleas (extremely inexpensive shrubs available even at grocery stores) and west coast pricers tend to be higher. Sounds like a bit of price gouging going on.
ziggy___
17 years ago
Rhododendrons and azaleas are all the same genus (Rhododendron), and the evergreen varieties like shade, moisture, and acid soil. In general, azaleas have smaller leaves and are more likely to be deciduous. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) tolerates drier conditions and more sun, but still likes acid soil.
Judging by housing prices in NYC, $75 for any plant might be cheap, but that is high for the rest of us.
What mature height are you hoping for? Also, the forsythia is VERY agressive. It climbs into anything planted too close like a vine.

Ziggy

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