Planting advice

So glad I found this thread because I was in need of this advice haha

 

Choisya, or Hebe, both fairly easy and trouble free without too much fiddling around.

In the lavender front, there are a few farms around here, not sure on the soil conditions but they just like good drainage I'd say.

 

Hi,

I was also going to suggest a hebe, which I can see has already been mentioned a few times. They are not the most showy plants but their growth habit (they are shaped a bit like a cloud) is lovely, they are evergreen and they don't need much in the way of care.

I wouldn't take my chances with lavender. I do like lavender myself but it does like full sun.

A phormium is an interesting idea! I hadn't thought of that. @Plantminded always has good suggestions.

I really love some roses, and For Your Eyes Only is indeed a fantastic one. Even though by rose standards it's a very easy rose...by other plant standards, I still wouldn't really call it low maintenance I think. Because of their repeat flowering nature, which takes a lot of energy on behalf of the shrub, roses do need watering and frequent feeding at the very least.

 

Thank you @CostasK, that’s nice of you to say . I like Hebes too but they struggle in my sandy soil. Anything which is evergreen with a natural dome shape is an asset in a garden. Another to consider is Pittosporum Golf Ball. I had one in a container for a couple of years. It’s now in the ground where it doesn’t object to dry, sandy soil .

 

Viburnum Tinus is an easy shrub to grow, evergreen and has white flowers, won't mind a bit of shade. Or if you want some extra security for those windows, you could plant pyracantha which is very spiky and has white flowers and orange berries which the birds love.

 

Another small pittosporum worth looking at is Tom Thumb - again, that has a nice rounded shape and its colouring is striking - with the light green young foliage showing up against the dark purple mature leaves. I have three growing in pots in my front garden, doing well in poor soil and with little care.

 

I am a gardening newbie, but my two penny worth. A lovely rose bush, gives off a divine scent and if you have room plant a Daphne for the same reason, but the Daphne gives a lovely winter scent. So a double whammy.

 

Hot Lips salvia do well around here. Shrubby Potentillas flower just about all summer long.