Escallonia - what kind?

Hello

I bought a couple of Escallonias from B&Q the other day - two for a tenner, bargain I couldn't resist.

It just says 'Escallonia' on the side so I've been trying to figure out which type they are and thus how tall they will grow.

I am planting some fairly tall growing shrubs next to the fence at the bottom of my garden for more privacy, so the eventual height of the shrub will determine whether I plant it there or elsewhere.

I have narrowed it down to Escallonia Laevis - either Gold Ellen or Gold Brian. From what I have found it appears that Ellen grows to about twice the size of Brian, so if it's Ellen it will go in the back border, if not then it will go elsewhere.

So my question is - how can I tell the difference in a young plant (3L pot)? Or will it be a case of suck it and see?

 

I'm not sure on the finer differences on these two, even though i've grown one of them ! (can't even remember which one it was !)

I can tell you though that they'll need a fairly sheltered spot, i'm in a very mild area but it did not like the winters and it suffered because of it, so have that as another factor to bear in mind when you decide on it's home.

I have a long hedge of the tall growing variety and in these past 2 cold winters they've dropped quite a few leaves - i'm sure because of the cold winds.

 

Thanks for that

I was planning to plant it next to a fence in a fairly sheltered corner, so hopefully it will be okay, but we have had a couple of really freezing winters here (Manchester) which has affected quite a few plants. I could always protect it the first year or two.

Thanks for the advice, it has been most helpful