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Alabama Gardening

need help on selecting new foundation shrubs

roseofanothercoler

16 years ago

New to formum. I just pulled up the 37-year old azaleas in the front of my house. They were pretty,(they faded as soon as they bloomed) but I really want something more. The front of my house face east and I have

a huge oak tree (not live Oak) shading the front. So I get morning sun and dappled shade the rest of the day.

I have an area between my frontwalk and the house that is really the size of a small room. It is probably 7x9 feet. I could really use some suggestions on how to landscape this area. And what kind of shrubs and plants other have used and loved. I have looked at many books, but I guess I'm afraid to take the leap without some imput from local gardeners. I will appreciate any suggestions and advise you would be willing to give me. thank you, Rosie

PS. my house is reddish orangish brick with with trim and black shutter.

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Comments (5)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
One of my favorite evergreen shrubs for the South is Cleyera (Ternstomia gymnanthera). For some reason, it just jumps out at me with those glossy leaves, bronzy new growth, and dark green foliage.) It's not a tiny shrub,though.
cindylou111
16 years ago
How about one beautiful red or white camilla bush in the middle of that 7x9 space and then dwarf azaleas the repeat type around the border
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what about the blue star.. on the far side of the sidewalk .... lets think outside the box for a moment.. why are you limiting yourself to those little spots ... and why straight across the house ... its.. well... boring ... second pix.. start on the far left side.. about 4 feet down the side we cant see.. and make a large 10 foot circle.. then dip back in toward where the rhodie is.. then back out toward the outside of the sidewalk ... at least 3 feet.. i could Photoshop it if you had a pic of the whole front .... instead of all the individual pix ... does any of that make sense???? its not really the best planting time.... w/o supreme TLC ... get all those pots out of direct sun.. we dont want to cook the roots ... the north side of the house would be best.. keep them damp.. but not dripping wet .... if you took a few weeks to define and build some great beds.. you will have enough space for all you have.. plus have the space to set them properly .... and then you will be more in line with a proper planting time in sept [depending where you are] .. when cool nights offset the warm days... that is root growing time .. i am not reading where you are.. or what zone you are ... and.. what is your soil type .... unless i missed it on review ... ken
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I have a similar location for foundation planting with a roof overhang of 30 inches. We have three camellias over 50 years old that grew up above the roof. When the roof and gutters needed replacing, I cut two of the camellias down to four feet, and the other one to one foot. All have done well since, blooming every year. I also have a Daphne I keep at about four feet that blooms around Christmas and is very fragrant. We also have a fuchsia magellanica that survives the winter with some frost back, helped by the roof overhang. It recovers in the spring and blooms all summer up until the frost, feeding a lot of hummingbirds, and entertaining us. Al
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roseofanothercoler
Original Author
16 years ago
I should have clarified that the area I'm seeking help with is under my three dining room windows. So the shrubs and plants need to stay below 3 to 3 1/2 feet in the middle section. There is a space on each end to have a higher speciman. I was thinking about a small Crepe Mytle to limb up as a small tree on the driveway side and then a tea olive
next to the front door on the other end.
I was considering boxwood in the middle as a evergreen background with knock out rose in front of them and maybe Marie Pave in there as well. BUT I read a caution about having the Mama,Papa and baby bush look going.
What would you do if it was your project?
Thank you for your imput?
As to the use of a camilla. I had consider the Sasq. type. I don't have any camilla's at all in my yard YET
jeff_al
16 years ago
a shrub with a somewhat similar look of the cleyera is pittosporum. for your height restrictions, p. tobira 'wheeler's dwarf' would be a good choice. i grow the larger 'variegata' in dappled sun and love the foliage.
i read that 'wheeler's dwarf' is not as hardy as the species and they recommend zone8b and higher but, as a foundation plant with some protection by the house, it might be o.k.
flowers are said to be fragrant, too, but i can't detect that on mine.
i would recommend camellia 'shishi gashira' that would also not exceed your height by much (slow growing) except it has a hot pink flower color and i dont' think you'd want that against orange-red bricks. *lol* maybe something with white flowers?

Here is a link that might be useful: pittosporum tobira
debbido
16 years ago
What about a Gardenia? You know the Tea Olive will get HUGE!!! Also, not evergreen, but Hydrangea's are spectacular.

Deb

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