Pretty shrubs for edge of cedars?

Discussion in 'Garden Design and Plant Suggestions' started by Jacky, May 11, 2006.

  1. Jacky

    Jacky Member

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    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    I have some 50+ feet cedars in the back yard, and recently took off a few of the bottom branches as they were beginning to seriously encroach on the lawn. Now that I have this lovely bare space (about 25' in length) where the branches used to be, I'd like to plant some shrubs there. Any ideas are very welcome!

    One side of the shrub will get full sun throughout the year.

    It needs to be drought tolerant, and like acidic soil, ideally flower (in summer or fall), AND have interesting foliage (not that I ask a lot!). They shouldn't get more than 4-6' high, width can be almost anything.

    I've acquired a ceanothus foliosus 'joan mirov' that could become about 8' wide, 3' high, and is just beginning to flower now. Very deep blue flowers.

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Newt

    Newt Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Maryland USA zone 7
    Hi Jacky,

    Here's some that come to mind. I don't know your hardiness zone so you'll have to double check these.

    Itea virginica - Virginia sweetspire
    http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/i/itevir/itevir1.html

    Baptisia australis - Blue false indigo (not a woody shrub, but a sub shrub that is herbaceous). You may have trouble finding this where you are.
    http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/Plants/Baptisia australis.htm
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=B660

    There's a white one too - Baptisia alba - white false indigo
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B650

    Dogwood shrubs are great for the birds and other critters. How about
    Cornus alba - Tatarian Dogwood with it's lovely white berries and red stems in the winter with your evergreen background?
    http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/c/coralb/coralb1.html

    There's a variegated one too! Cornus alba "Cream Cracker"
    http://www.icangarden.com/neweden/cornus.htm

    Cornus racemosa - Gray dogwood
    http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/c/corrac/corrac1.html
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=J930

    Cornus sanguinea - bloodtwig dogwood
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=S380
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=T790

    Cornus sericea - redtwig dogwood
    http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/c/corser/corser1.html
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=V470
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=T870

    Cornus sericea 'Budd's Yellow' - yellowtwig dogwood
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=Q510

    Cornus sericea 'Silver and Gold' another yellowtwig but it's vareigated. http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=C330

    Caryopteris x clandonensis - Blue-mist Shrub - another herbaceous shrub
    http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/c/carcla/carcla1.html

    Viburnum 'Eskimo' - one of the smaller viburnums
    http://www.usna.usda.gov/Newintro/eskimo.html

    Ilex verticillata - winterberry You'll need a male and a female to make the wonderful red berries that will look fantastic with a green background and all those winter birds!
    Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite'
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=K660

    and her mate Ilex verticillata 'Jim Dandy'
    http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=K650

    That should get you started.
    Newt
     

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