Winter shrub/bush/tree for front garden.

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by miraflores, Nov 19, 2019.

  1. redstar

    redstar Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2008
    Messages:
    7,063
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Domestic Goddess
    Location:
    Chester County, PA, USA, Plant zone 4 & 5
    Ratings:
    +10,375
    I love picking things like that. For me its a process of elimination. I would want something at least 3 season, something that the birds can eat of of, something unusual, even the bark to be unusual. something with a fragrance.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • miraflores

      miraflores Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Apr 16, 2006
      Messages:
      5,484
      Location:
      mean daily minimum temperatures -1 -2
      Ratings:
      +2,389
      Vicky....nice leaves...it could be the one!

      __________________

      Whats you suggestion, star?
       
    • lolimac

      lolimac Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Feb 4, 2019
      Messages:
      1,479
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      East Riding of Yorkshire
      Ratings:
      +4,927
      I'd go for the Viburnum Bodnantense 'Dawn'..wonderful scent .:wub2:
       
      • Agree Agree x 2
      • Like Like x 1
      • miraflores

        miraflores Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Apr 16, 2006
        Messages:
        5,484
        Location:
        mean daily minimum temperatures -1 -2
        Ratings:
        +2,389
        Very pretty tiny flower although the branches are straight and uninteresting..
         
      • Graham B

        Graham B Gardener

        Joined:
        May 19, 2018
        Messages:
        365
        Gender:
        Male
        Ratings:
        +491
        Yes, kind of rubbery. It looks all spiky, but it actually feels like those rubber centipede kiddy toys. The final height is reasonably large, but it's very slow growing so pruning is practical.

        I've got plans myself for a raised pond with one of them each side to shade it. Should look pretty, and with the cryptomeria there's no leaf loss to mess up the pond. That project is a year or two away though - I've got at least two other projects to do first!
         
      • redstar

        redstar Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Aug 6, 2008
        Messages:
        7,063
        Gender:
        Female
        Occupation:
        Domestic Goddess
        Location:
        Chester County, PA, USA, Plant zone 4 & 5
        Ratings:
        +10,375
        issue is, your size of your front garden. I have 3 acres to work with . different thought process.
         
      • NigelJ

        NigelJ Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jan 31, 2012
        Messages:
        6,042
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Mad Scientist
        Location:
        Paignton Devon
        Ratings:
        +20,951
        @miraflores Winter box pictures
        Sarcococca hookeriana
        Sarcococca hookeriana.JPG Grown from seed, planted out a couple of years back.
        Sarcococca confusa
        Sarcococca confusa 1.JPG

        Sarcococca confusa close up
        Sarcocococca confusa close up.JPG

        This was planted a dozen years ago and until last spring was growing with a Daphne odora, the daphne decided to die off last spring after flowering.
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • Nikolaos

          Nikolaos Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jun 26, 2019
          Messages:
          1,714
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Midlands, UK
          Ratings:
          +4,288
          Your confusa is looking really good, Nigel! :blue thumb: Mine went yellow in a really sunny spot, but isn't getting any taller now it's in complete shade for most of the year. :frown: Perhaps mine needs moving to an area where it gets a little more sun.

          Nick
           
        • Mike Allen

          Mike Allen Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jan 4, 2014
          Messages:
          2,861
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired. Plant Pathologist.
          Location:
          Eltham. SE. London
          Ratings:
          +6,097
          Have just got one from Parkers. S. confusa.
           
        • Mike Allen

          Mike Allen Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jan 4, 2014
          Messages:
          2,861
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired. Plant Pathologist.
          Location:
          Eltham. SE. London
          Ratings:
          +6,097
          Nigel, I have tried many times with Daphne's and sadly failed.

          It really bugs me at times when friends and associates almost scream out. But you are a pro, your'e a scientist, you should know it all. Nigel I know you are in a different scientific area, but do you sometimes get this?
           
        • NigelJ

          NigelJ Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jan 31, 2012
          Messages:
          6,042
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Mad Scientist
          Location:
          Paignton Devon
          Ratings:
          +20,951
          @Nikolaos Mine only gets sun in the early morning and is shaded for most of the day. This is why it grows in a rather lopsided manner.
           
          • Informative Informative x 1
          • NigelJ

            NigelJ Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jan 31, 2012
            Messages:
            6,042
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Mad Scientist
            Location:
            Paignton Devon
            Ratings:
            +20,951
            @Mike Allen Daphne can be temperamental and short lived. They can be quite difficult to propagate as well, apparently the seed germinates best if sown before it is full ripe.
            As for
            yes I do get this quite often.
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

              Joined:
              Jan 12, 2019
              Messages:
              48,096
              Gender:
              Male
              Ratings:
              +100,834
              For a change of Shrub, I have a Mahonia Aquifolium at the corner of my small front garden which has been there around 5 years. It's in flower now and the the scent is really magnificent. It seems to love being on an exposed corner where stormy weather can test it.
              [​IMG]
               
              • Like Like x 3
              • Nikolaos

                Nikolaos Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Jun 26, 2019
                Messages:
                1,714
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Midlands, UK
                Ratings:
                +4,288
                @ARMANDII There's something lovely about having a shrub which provides colour and scent at this time of the year when we have such short, dreary days isn't there? :) My Lonicera fragrantissima is just coming into flower and the fragrance is gorgeous, a sweet, lemony smell. I might even try growing a daphne again, but I've tried three different types and none have lasted over a year! :frown: I'm really tempted to get 2 of these, probably the most compatible with my heavy clay soil...

                Daphne odora 'Rebecca' plants | Thompson & Morgan

                Nick
                 
                • Like Like x 2
                • ARMANDII

                  ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

                  Joined:
                  Jan 12, 2019
                  Messages:
                  48,096
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Ratings:
                  +100,834
                  Absolutely spot on, Nick:thumbsup::love30: I now have a habit of sniffing the flowers of the Mahonia before I get into the car and on getting out of it. My driveway is about 2' lower than my front garden and the Mahonia is now around 7' tall but is covered in flowers so it's easy to catch the scent.:hapydancsmil:

                  upload_2019-12-10_18-41-46.jpeg

                  I have around 6 Lonicera draping the sides and front of my Arbour, Nick, and they're a cracking plant for scent, with Winter flowering varieties being even, to me, better.

                  I'm lucky to have very sandy soil, although enriched heavily with Farmyard manure, Stable manure, commercial compost, and my own gardening composted waste. I think my Wife and I did try Daphne in the garden in the 80's, but it really doesn't stand out in my memory and isn't in the garden now which, I guess, speaks for itself.
                  But your comments about trying trying Daphne "Ordora "Rebecca" stirred my interest in, perhaps, trying one again although, if I did, I might try Daphne "Perfume Princess"
                  which is claimed to be the most heavily scented of them all.
                  I have a "few" Spring flowering Shrubs the borders among which is one of my real favourites........ Osmanthus Delavay, as on a warm day will spread it's sweet scent several yards. I'm sometimes lucky enough to sit in the Arbour, with a Mug of Tea, drinking in not the Tea, but the scent of the Osmanthus about 8' away on the North side of the Arbour and the Choisya about the same distance on the South side..........glorious!!:yes::cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
                   
                  • Like Like x 2
                  Loading...

                  Share This Page

                  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                    Dismiss Notice