Ideas for tricky spot

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I wasn't quite sure where to post this as I'm open to shrubs, perennials, vines or annuals for this tricky spot. It's located in my foundation bed on the northwest corner of my house, right in the triangle created by my front stairs and house.

It's in shade all the time, but maybe classed as bright shade? Right now, I have a sad red rhododendron stick (thanks to a pruning misunderstanding between me and DH!), hosta, astilbe and a young choisya sundance, which gets a bit more sun at the front of the bed. Plants just a few feet to the west get lots of sun.

I want something for right back against the steps, where they are ugly and discolored. Need something with some height to show above choisya once it grows up (plan to prune to about 4'). Spot is about 3' x 5'.

I've included some photos showing the spot as well as a wider view of the new front yard bed I'm working on for perspective.

I like pale yellows, chartreuse, blues, violets and purples generally, but open to anything at this point. Fragrance would be a bonus, with proximity to front door.

The choisya will get bigger and the rhodo will recover, so I realize I may have some changing conditions in 3 or so years and will need to move whatever I plant here. I'm okay with that.

I've been considering meadow rue, monkshood, cimicifuga or ligularia but not sure there's enough sun for these. I even considered aucuba, but I'd probably have to prune it quite a bit as it matures, and not sure how it aucuba responds to that. I've also considered a pot on a pedestal or trellis with vine. Clethra?

What would you do?

On another note, I'm also looking for a good edger for between the astilbe and the path. : )

Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

I suggest moving the Choisya further back to fill that empty spot, as it will grow 4-5 feet tall and wide in time then maybe place a trellis with some sort of vining plant to the left of the Rhody for added height/texture if desired, or not.

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Comments (8)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
If in shade all the time, move the rhody to another location - they will bloom better with some sun - and plant Sarcococca confusa (or S. ruscifolia). While it is not a heavily flowering plant as you seem inclined to prefer from your thoughts, it IS evergreen, which is always an appreciated attribute at a front entry (no bare emptiness in winter!). And sweet box is a plant that thrives in any shade, even dense shade, with minimal watering required once established. And the best feature is that when it does bloom (mid winter, Christmas time into early January and on through to March) with a profusion of tiny little white flowers, it exudes an amazingly fragrant and far reaching aroma - a mix of jasmine, vanilla and honey - sweet and spicy at the same time.

There are few things more welcoming than a wonderful fragrance to greet holiday visitors at your front door and this is a handsome, undemanding plant to boot.
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Kaillean (zone 8, Vancouver)
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion garden gal. I do like sweet box. Smells great. I'm looking for something taller though. And will probably leave the Rhododendron. It blooms very well and will recover from the hatchet job eventually. Lol. It's been here for decades.
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rginnie
8 years ago
I'd be tempted to try to paint, then spatter the side of the steps to go with your home better if you don't like the way it looks. Are the steps painted? That side of the landing WOULD be very difficult to completely shield from view with green plants.

Our house has a corner that the very edge of a little of the concrete cracked right off. So we bought some patching concrete and re-made the corner and then painted it to match the foundation. Eyesore: gone. But now, five years later, a little piece has crumbled off again, so time for a redo.
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Kaillean (zone 8, Vancouver)
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Rginnie. No it's not painted. It a bottle glass stucco. Common to our area but not seen many other places. I can't clean it without the glass coming out. It's discoloured from age and the rains we get. Sometimes I'm tempted to put the dreaded English ivy there!
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
A variegated ivy could go on the stair wall. But you'd need to clip it to stay in the area.

Personally, I also feel the need for a slim vertical accent in the angle between the house and the steps, not another low growing blob. And definitely shift the rhododendron, which has been hacked to blazes, somewhere where it can develop its proper shape.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
a vine.. clematis.. morning glory.... something with a very small footprint ... etc .. its really not a spot i would plant anything ...something aggressive enough to grow out of the shade into the light ....

creeping thyme for the path side ...

ken
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User
8 years ago
mmm, I concur with Catkin - my immediate thought was to move the choisya - in the UK, they easily reach 2m and possibly more.

A clem would also be a decent choice to admit an extra vertical.
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Ideas for tricky spot

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Comments (8)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Kaillean (zone 8, Vancouver)
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rginnie

Kaillean (zone 8, Vancouver)
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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Ideas for tricky spot

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Comments (8)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Kaillean (zone 8, Vancouver)Original Author

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rginnie

Kaillean (zone 8, Vancouver)Original Author

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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Kaillean (zone 8, Vancouver)
Original Author

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