Recommend a small-ish evergreen shrub that is nice to sit with

I'm looking for a shrub next to my favourite chair.

The space is south facing by the western wall so gets quite hot and dry (hopefully- seen the amount of sand and grit I'm mixing into the clay soil ).

Evergreen, preferably flowers (pink or white, nothing in the description can start with "yelll...), not flowering in the winter as I will plant a Viburnum next to it, about 1-2m tall or easily pruneable.

I'm sort of thinking Escallonia. Choisya is a lovely shrub but nowadays you only see the sick looking yellowish versions, and I prefer darker foliage.

An upright Rosemary might be good... hmmmm.... Rosemary is my favourite plant and I'll plant my trailing one nearby on the slope. Perhaps that's a tad much?

Thanks for ideas!

 

We have an Escallonia Pink Elle which is a reliable flowerer and looks good all the time. Also had one in a previous garden in a large pot and that seemed to suit it too.

 

Abelia “Edward Goucher” might suit, evergreen with pink flowers. There’s another Choisya, C. White Dazzler, with fine filigree dark green leaves and white flowers, plus the orange scent. Also, there’s Choisya Aztec Pearl. I grow the more common one, C. ternata Sundance, but the leaves are more lime green in sun than chlorotic yellow . It really lifts the garden in winter.

 

Saracocca ( Sweet Box ). Does as well in a container as in the ground. Beautifully scented white flowers followed by small black berries. I have mine in a large(ish) container against a south facing wall next to my garden bench.

 

Choisya ‘White Dazzler’ or ‘Scented Gem’ (photo of ‘Scented Gem’ in spring attached)

Both have fine, dark evergreen foliage and are covered in flowers for most of the year for me (clay soil). Every time you brush past the foliage it releases an amazing orange-y scent.

Escallonia is nice but not as scented (definitely not the foliage) and woodier/twiggier whereas the finer bushy leaves and stems of Choisya are nicer/friendlier up close in my opinion.

 

Thank you all, excellent recommendations and experiences as always

I'll probably go for Choisya "White Dazzler" but should Escallonia Pink Elle come my way I might get that one too. It could go into a pot.

 

I would smell one in a nursery before buying as not everyone likes the scent - I hate it! Ditto for Gardenias, I can't see what everyone raves about.
This might start a discussion! I know some people (including Pippa Greenwood) don't like the scent of Viburnum tinus - I didn't think it had a scent at all.
I do like Choisya though, lovely spicy scent.

 

I think the OP only mentioned disliking yellow flowers rather than disliking scent. I agree with you that not everyone will like the same scent - similar to taste preferences. Be a bit boring if we all liked the same things tho

 

Go to a GC with outdoor section and see what is still green then as suggested smell it.

 

I know what you mean. Most people rave about Jasmine but I know someone who can't stand it. Same with things like Hyacinths.

 

We have a Sarcococca in our front garden which gets full of flowers and berries. A leaflet dropper once stopped in his tracks when he must have smelt it ( as he passed it) as he he bent down and stuck his head into the plant and had a good old smell.

I can’t smell a thing. Perhaps it a good thing?




.

 

I like the scent of the Sarcococca - not many flower scents I dislike. Some people do tend to lose their sense of smell ( and taste) as they get older.

 

Rosemary is a good idea. It flowers, used in cooking, grows quickly and growing cuttings is easy. Tough plant as it grows up mountains in Greece.