1. Guest,

    Thank you for your continued support! Members like you make Gardeners Corner the place to be.
    Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

    Wiseowl, Shiney, Loofah, JWK & Fat Controller (Admin Team)
    Dismiss Notice

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

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Selleri, Dec 15, 2025.

  1. Selleri

    Selleri Koala

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2009
    Messages:
    3,102
    Location:
    North Tyneside
    Ratings:
    +10,080
    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 :biggrin: ).

    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!
     
  2. Bluejayway

    Bluejayway Plantaholic

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2024
    Messages:
    1,812
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    North Wales
    Ratings:
    +8,033
    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.
     
  3. Plantminded

    Plantminded Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2024
    Messages:
    2,608
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wirral
    Ratings:
    +8,835
    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 :biggrin:. It really lifts the garden in winter.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
      Last edited: Dec 15, 2025
    • Philippa

      Philippa Gardener

      Joined:
      Aug 3, 2019
      Messages:
      1,299
      Location:
      West Somerset
      Ratings:
      +2,695
      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.
       
      • Agree Agree x 1
      • Athelas

        Athelas Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 14, 2024
        Messages:
        59
        Location:
        Cambridge, UK
        Ratings:
        +511
        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.

        53645382588_ff2053d8b7_o.jpeg
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Agree Agree x 1
        • Selleri

          Selleri Koala

          Joined:
          Mar 1, 2009
          Messages:
          3,102
          Location:
          North Tyneside
          Ratings:
          +10,080
          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. :)
           
          • Like Like x 4
          • Friendly Friendly x 1
          • Baalmaiden

            Baalmaiden Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 19, 2023
            Messages:
            364
            Gender:
            Female
            Ratings:
            +565
            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.
             
            • Agree Agree x 1
            • Philippa

              Philippa Gardener

              Joined:
              Aug 3, 2019
              Messages:
              1,299
              Location:
              West Somerset
              Ratings:
              +2,695
              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 :biggrin:
               
              • Agree Agree x 1
              • waterbut

                waterbut Gardener

                Joined:
                Mar 15, 2024
                Messages:
                555
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Portsmouth
                Ratings:
                +775
                Go to a GC with outdoor section and see what is still green then as suggested smell it.
                 
              • Allotment Boy

                Allotment Boy Lifelong Allotmenteer

                Joined:
                Apr 25, 2024
                Messages:
                1,058
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired Medical Lab Scientist
                Location:
                The edge of suburban North London
                Ratings:
                +3,991
                I know what you mean. Most people rave about Jasmine but I know someone who can't stand it. Same with things like Hyacinths.
                 
              • Songbird

                Songbird Super Gardener

                Joined:
                Mar 13, 2024
                Messages:
                625
                Gender:
                Female
                Occupation:
                Retired.
                Location:
                North East
                Ratings:
                +1,905
                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?




                .
                 
              • Philippa

                Philippa Gardener

                Joined:
                Aug 3, 2019
                Messages:
                1,299
                Location:
                West Somerset
                Ratings:
                +2,695
                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.
                 
              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