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September 19, 2007

Shrubbery. This time I mean it.

I have to get serious about finding some shrubs for in front of my house. If I don't do it soon, the front will be bare all winter. Can't have that.

It's not a big area, about the size of a big refrigerator — a little longer.

But it's dry shade, and I don't want whatever I plant there to grow up over the window, which starts about 6 feet above the ground. And since it's at the front of the house, it should look good all year, so evergreen is best.

I went to the URI Sustainable Plant List, found the searchable area, and it gave me some choices. A few yews, hollies and pines all meet my initial criteria.

I like hollies. Shiny. Prickly.

I think I have room for two.

Because they are dioecious, you need at least one male nearby if you want your “Blue Princess” to get pretty red berries. The males come with silly names like “Blue Stallion”. (In fact, “Blue Stallion” is a good bet to pollinate any of the “blue hollies” as it blooms for a long time. Your garden center can help you make a match.)

The problem for me is, on my tiny city lot, finding a patch of dirt to plant it that's near enough to make pollination possible without looking ridiculous. (What, you thought we all lived on 10-acre spreads in North Kingstown? Not even close, pal.)

I might then plant something a little shorter in the front, I'm not sure what. Something to distract from the dirt and the foundation.

But not a row of anything, you know? I hate that doink.doink.doink. I'm looking for something a little scruffy. Something off-center. Something surprising. (Is it just me, or is this is this starting to sound like an online dating profile?)

Something less shiny than the holly, for contrast. Something that will stay small, but doesn't cost a fortune, like some of the dwarf pines.

For now, I think I'll start with the hollies and wait for a coup de foudre on the "something else".

I'll have a long winter to think about it.

Posted by Paula Constantine at 1:03 PM | Permalink

Comments

I think hollies take forever to grow, like a couple of inches a year. Well, I just looked on the web and ArborDay.org says less than a foot a year. I am judging by the one I had in my backyard in California.

10 acres, I wish, sigh.

karen anne | September 19, 2007 6:50 PM link

I'm currently using the foundation area at the front of my house mostly as a secondary vegetable garden. Not evergreen, of course. When you have a 6000 sq. ft. lot, you get desperate for growing space :-)

For some reason, the previous owner of the house (my late Mom), had the foundation painted the color the house is stained. I have never seen this done before, but it works well, there is not the bare concrete look.

I do have one evergreen plant in there (well, evergreen in a temperate climate), on a trial to see if it survives RI winters. It's an August Beauty gardenia. I used to have a hedge of them in California. Although they can grow to be quite large shrubs, they are easy to keep low with shearing. It's reportedly only hardy to zone 8, but I am hoping it's being next to the house will help, plus you never know until you try.

Now if I could just find the variety of camellia I used to have, I have scoured the net for photos without finding it, a double true red. (Why are all those pink or orange-reds called red...) Much less chance of that surviving, however.

karen anne | September 20, 2007 1:39 AM link

Perhaps a Rock Cotoneaster?

akamuaka | September 20, 2007 8:34 PM link

Cotoneaster horizontalis photo -- So that's what you call it. Thanks, akamuaka.

My house came with two of them, which I suspect are older than I am. Can't kill it, can't love it. It turns maroon in fall, has berries, needs no care.

Sheila | September 21, 2007 8:19 AM link

I'm in the process of choosing shrubs and perennials, also. I've got to find something interesting, not too tall (3-4' max.) that changes color, flowers, doesn't attract deer and is non-invasive because it will border a stone patio. I'd like to incorporate shorter grasses and perennials with it, even roses to jazz it up. Maybe even a rose hedge would be good. If anyone has suggestions for good native shrubs that fit that description, please post them!
I like the holly idea, too. If you buy the plants big, slow growth won't matter much and maybe even be a good thing...

Beth Heaney | September 21, 2007 8:34 AM link

I am trying a witch hazel that blooms in Feb/Mar. Saw them at Alton Jones Campus, really nice.

Pat | September 21, 2007 9:05 AM link

September 19, 2007

Shrubbery. This time I mean it.

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