Need help identifying and reducing the size of some evergreen shrubs

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I recently moved from zone 5b to zone 7b (North Carolina) and need to cut back some overgrown evergreen shrubs. I have identified some of them, but need help with a few others. Since I'm new to this zone, I'm not at all familiar with these plants. The house is about 20 years old and many of these shrubs could be that old.

First off are some fall blooming camellia. There are several that have overgrown their space and I'd like to reduce them by one-third to one-half if possible. They are currently about 7 feet tall and trimmed into round shapes. Can I safely cut these back, which may leave mostly leafless branches? If so, how many seasons will they require to return to a reasonable appearance?

Second are some gardenias which are very similar in appearance to the camellia, but only about 6 feet tall. Again, can I safely reduce them by one-third to one-half and how long to return to a reasonable appearance?

The third shrub still has a tag attached from when it was planted, "Ilex Compacta". There are several plants here that have become an overgrown mass in front of some windows. They need to be reduced to just a couple of feet tall. Their current size is about 5 feet high by 6 feet deep by 10 feet wide. Can I safely cut them back to about 2 feet tall, which I'm sure will leave only stumps? If so, how long until they recover to a decent appearance?

Fourth are two unknown evergreens on either side of the above Ilex Compacta. Each side consists of two plants grown together and are roughly 7 feet tall by 6 feet wide by 4 feet deep. Can you identify them and can I safely reduce them to one-half? How long until they recover?

The final shrub is another unknown evergreen, possibly a holly based on the sharp stiff leaves. It's made up of several plants forming a hedge about 5 feet tall by 6 feet deep by 15 feet wide. Any idea what it is and can I reduce this to one-half? How long until it recovers?

Thanks for your help.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Embothrium
6 years ago
Camellia might be 'Yuletide'. Otherwise closer views would be nice.
0
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
i cant ID them ... but to be sure.. they have been sheared into these shapes ... so one would presume there is no reason they can not be 'renovated' .. and that is the key word ...

but that begs the question of WHAT IS YOUR GOAL .... one of the pix seems to suggest a pool ... and so the shrubs might be a sight block .. which would then make me wonder.. how far you want to cut them back.. etc ...

once you ID your goal ... then how you go about it all.. becomes clearer ...

but one thing for sure.. these are mature well established plants... with big root masses ... and no matter what you are thinking of doing ... they will respond.. and regrow rather fast ... because of those roots ....

check out the link.. and add get a general understanding of how to do renovation pruning ...in a vast majority of cases.. the rules shouldnt change all that much based on different plants ... but sometimes timing is imperative ... should you want to insure flowers.. if any of them do such ...

imo.. you should also consider complete removal of some of them.. sooner or later .... that third pic ... shows that whoever planted them.. had no real sense of how large they would get.... and planted them much too close to the house ... forcing the situation of the need for constant and continual pruning ... i would bet.. you could make the front of your house much more interesting.. if you got rid of some of those monsters ....

as i said.. it doesnt have to all happen this year ... or next ... but you should start thinking of a 5 or 10 year plan ....

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=renovation+pruning+of+flowering+shrubs&t=ffcm&ia=web
0
Related Discussions
Need help identifying evergreen shrub
Q
Comments (6)
Hi Zephyrgal, and thanks for the suggestion. The only thing is I don't remember the previous owner saying they bloomed. I received these in September of last year and they had no blooms or evidence of blooms on them at that time. Are there any varieties that don't bloom or at least not a substantial flower? Everything I found under google search for Escallonia showed flowers. Thanks. Squirrellypete
...See More
Please help me to find an Evergreen Shrub?
Q
Comments (4)
Though not an especially fast grower, the camellia will eventually get much larger than the area you have available. And it would not be terrifically happy in 'hot afternoon sun'. Cycads (sago palms) are not hardy in this area and cleyera is uncommon here, although you can sometimes find ternstroemia (related to cleyera), but again it will get large eventually, needs even moisture and would prefer some afternoon shade. I'd suggest Choisya 'Aztec Pearl'. A hybrid form of Mexican orange, this tends to be smaller and more compact in form than C. ternata and features narrow, lacy foliage and a profusion of fragrant flowers in spring with a repeat bloom in fall. Happy in sun, drought tolerant once established and deer resistant. Here is a link that might be useful: 'Aztec Pearl' from Paghat's Garden
...See More
Need small edible evergreen shrub or tree
Q
Comments (9)
Depending on what size you are looking for there is the strawberry tree, an evergreen dogwood, and Bay trees which can be containerized or pruned smallish. For something bushy but smaller there are the Elaeangus; ebbingei and pungens are evergreen, tea plants, a few huckleberries, and barberry. For something smaller there are many ground covers with varying degress of edibility, like the official Heather (tea and medicinal), wintergreen, kinnikinnik, cranberries, Salal, Oregon grape, and several herbs like sage, thyme, and lavender. Hope this helps, researching edibles is nearly all I have been doing in the last few weeks, or has it been months now...yeesh! For a reference online I have been using the Plants for a Future Database (you can google it) to help determine edibility and cultivation etc. Check out Burnt Ridge Nursery, and One Green World for these plants. I really like Burnt Ridge Nursery's prices, plants, service, and variety of edibles. I have not ordered from One Green World yet but they are the only place I have found some of these plants listed and sold as edibles :)
...See More
Need help identifying this shrub
Q
Comments (5)
I ran a search for the Cleyera. Thanks 200mfromocean! Exactly what I was looking for. These are the easiest plants I have. They require less maintenance than my hollies and trees. The three on the north side of my house are about 5' now and looks like they are spurting new growth since we had a warm spell recently. The one pictured grew about 1.5' last year and hope for the same this year. Glad to finally know more about these. Thanks again!
...See More
Zone 7b
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Embothrium and Ken,

Yes, the camellia and gardenias are near a pool where there is no real need for a visual screen as there is a small private lake and forest beyond the pool. My plan with them is to reduce their size so that I can more easily refinish the concrete deck they are next to. They are healthy and well established, so a reduction in size is the goal with them.

The other shrubs are in the front of the house and are severely overgrown. I've been debating whether to remove them now or to reduce their size. My thought was that I would reduce them as a temporary solution until I come up with a long term plan, which would be implemented over several years. Hence my question about safely reducing them by quite a bit.

I have searched the web for information on the known shrubs and it appears that they can be reduced without worry. What I didn't find was how many seasons it would take for them to fill out and look presentable. If the answer is several years, I might as well just remove them now and be done with it. The house would probably look better with no shrubs rather than an mix of near leafless stumps and branches, though either would be an improvement over its current appearance.

I didn't plan on posting a picture of the front of the house, but maybe doing so will elicit some ideas for a long term plan. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

This picture was taken before we purchased the house and the only change we have made was to trim the crepe myrtle away from the house. Honestly, after looking at this picture for a few minutes I'm pretty certain that I'll remove all but the crepe myrtle and start over. It's quite a disheveled mess.
0
Embothrium
6 years ago
Shrubs with small parts near swimming pools tend to clog filter intakes etc. However even if you don't think you need privacy screening in that particular spot planting around outdoor leisure areas can be desirable for making them less drafty. Apart from the decorative effect produced by well chosen and arranged plants.
0
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
2nd from last is probably Ligustrum japonicum, although a closeup would help.

Last photo could likely be Ilex cornuta...possibly 'Carissa'. Both can take radical shearing quite well in late winter/early spring and should be grown back by end of summer.
0
Zone 7b
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Dave. I think you are correct on both.
0

Need help identifying and reducing the size of some evergreen shrubs

Comments (6)

Embothrium

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Related Discussions

Zone 7b
Original Author

Embothrium

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

Zone 7b
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Need help identifying and reducing the size of some evergreen shrubs

Comments (6)

Embothrium

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Related Discussions

Zone 7bOriginal Author

Embothrium

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

Zone 7bOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Zone 7b
Original Author

Zone 7b
Original Author