Here are some conifers: Picea abies 'Nidiformis' - "Bird's Nest Spruce - Green Variation": Probably my top pick. This conifer is green with beautiful overtones in summer, but when the weather starts getting cold in fall it begins to turn yellow. Then come December or so, it's a bright school bus yellow. This is one of the best around. Pinus contorta var. latifolia 'Chief Joseph' (midsummer) Pinus contorta var. latifolia 'Chief Joseph' - winter Another with yellow winter coloration. Simply striking! Pinus mugo 'Zundert' Some blue-color: Picea pungens 'Saint Mary'/'Saint Mary's'/'St. Mary's Broom' - a million spellings out there. This is a special blue dwarf picea pungens that grows very slow but has some of the most beautiful color not usually captured by the camera. A larger specimen would need to be purchased... Pick up at any nursery: Picea pungens 'Globosa' And just something else for variety's sake. Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Silver Lode' All these are slow-growing. The 'Silver Lode' plant can simply be sheared. The other conifers to control growth, when they push their new spring growth and needles are extending from the growth (about 2 weeks in), simply pinch off the new growth where you wish and buds for next year will form at that point thus keeping the growth 'pruned for life'. Then of course this should be treated like a bonsai project if you really want to keep something say should you like it. You'll simply need to watch the root system(s) and prune them every so often replenishing while removing old garden soil from roots and root pruning at this time. Early spring would be a good time to to this anytime before the plants start growing. Your current mix of topsoil and compost is not a good mix for any container plant, honestly. Sure annual flowers, etc will do fine in this type of a mix, but really topsoil is like mud and should be avoided. I realize you are a gardener so I didn't push this topic earlier. But quite honestly, you need to get a better mix. Photos courtesy of some of my GW friends who really have beautiful stuff happening. Dax

Would you consider a once blooming species rose? I'm becoming enamored with the early yellow bloomers such as Canary Bird, Father's Hugo's rose and Manchu Rose. I understand they're shade tolerant. Here's a link to Canary Bird. Here is a link that might be useful: canary bird

I suspect that either the variegated or plain Arundo donax will do very poorly under these conditions. Your first question, "will it survive?" In my experience, Arundo donax doesn't grow well in pots. If your area is wet from now until late April it will probably undergo a lot of freezing & thawing during & I really don't think Arundo donax will like those conditions either. Actually, if the first doesn't kill it this surely will. Not to mention, Arundo donax 'Variegata' is not nearly as vigorous a plant (or as hardy) as the species. "2nd, will it fufill the requirements ...." Well... visually pleasing is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I love the look of this grass. BUT, the general consensis of non-grassy folk is that is looks like a large corn plant on steroids. It won't make a very solid screen as it is very open growing. And assuming it survives your tough conditions, it takes quite a while to get going in the spring, waiting for the air & soil temperatures to warm up. "3rd how spreading is this plant in zone 6?" Not very.. Search 'Arundo donax' on this forum & you will be treated to a wonderful discussion of this plant accompanied by lots of pictures. Two thoughts: How about planting the area with a shrub that naturally grows in these conditions. Plants along our river undergo seasonal flooding & freezing conditions so I would look in an area like that for inspiration. (Arctic willow, pussy willow, Alnus spp., Highbush cranberry, etc.) Or If you are really ambitious you might be able to do an attractive drainage project. Maybe a seasonal river bed (dry riverbed look in the summer) with some raised berms where you could grow a larger range of plants. good luck!

OK, in the one to three front height range, you have a few options. Crimson Pygmy Barberry (Berberis thenbergii 'Crimson Pygmy') gets about 2' high x 3' wide and has lovely foliage. It is deciduous, though. There are also some golden-leaved barberries that are very pretty, and their golden foliage is a lovely contrast to darker foliage of other nearby plants. Two of them are: "Sunshine" Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Monry') is a slow grower, eventually reaching a mature height of 3' to 4' tall and up to 4' wide. "Golden Nugget" Japanese Barberry (Berbieris thunbergii "Monler") is a very short barberry, only getting about 1' tall and up to 18" wide. Both of the aforementioned golden barberries have striking golden leaves and the new growth has a sort of peachy-orange tint to it. Dwarf Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora dwarf cultivars) gets about 3' high by 2' wide, It is semi-evergreen. The following are evergreen: Carissa Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Carissa') is one of the smaller hollies that have somewhat larger leaves (considering how small the plants themselves are). They get about 3' tall and spread out to be about 4' wide, although it takes them a while. Dwarf Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Rotunda') gets about 3' tall and 3' wide. Ours have been very slow growers. Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria 'Nana' gets about 2'tall and 3' wide. It, of course, has the smaller leaves. "Stokes" and "Schillings" Dwarf Yaupon Holly" both get taller than standard dwarf yaupon. I think "Stokes" could eventually get 4' tall by 4' wide, but it would take it quite a long time to grow that large. "Schillings" might get a little larger. They both will stay shorter and more compact in a partial sun location than in a full sun location, so might not get as big in your location. Both of them have a lovely natural rounded shape (no pruning required). If you want to reconsider Randy's "rocks", did you know you can get artificial rocks at places like Lowe's and Home Depot? I saw some really large ones last year and they were in the $20 to $25 range, I think. They were so lightweight that even I can lift them. LOL They are always a good fallback solution if all else fails. : ) Dawn