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Zone 5, Dwarf/Mini/Deer Resistant

16 years ago

Hi! I've been reading, searching and enjoying this forum. I'm looking for suggestions for a conifer for the front of my house. Something that is deer resistant (as much as possible), not too big (3-4 feet high, no more than 3 feet wide) and hardy to zone 5. I'm going to also be planting some flowering shrubs/grasses for the summer, and need a couple of evergreens to provide winter interest. I'm looking for a plant with an interesting shape, a sculptural or weeping quality or upright to go with the dwarf Japanese Maple. The area is part shade. See link below. I appreciate your suggestions/recommendations! Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: Link

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Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
and i suppose you want one that will get a job .. and support you also .. lol ...

deer will eat anything.. if they are hungry enough .. based on that .. i cant really recommend anything specific that is deer resistant ...

otherwise.. the sky is the limit ...

you have what looks like a lot of yard there.. why are you looking at dwarf/mini's to jam next to the foundation ... you have so much to work with ... .. buy something that makes your toes curl ... and forget about planting trees/conifers right next to your house ...

ken
LESNYC
Original Author
16 years ago
The getting the job and supporting me would be great! LOL!
Regarding the yard, there is some beautiful landscaping there, old hemlocks and pines, flowering trees, birches, etc. I'm quite happy with it and don't see any place to add anything. Closer to the house there were some bushes that I kept cutting back multiple times in a season, and they still grew taller than the windows. I'm looking for something evergreen scaled down in size that could add some interest during the winter, and I'll have some flowering shrubs for the summer as well. Thanks!!
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fredsbog
16 years ago
Perhaps you might try Cephalotaxus harringtonia. It is said to be zone 6 hardy but there are specimens in the Akron and Wooster OH area that are certainly in zone 5.

I have both the standard and fastigiate forms and with the deer pressure here these two plants have never been touched.

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