I love this plant
I had a couple of these already and they are great for shade and providing a barrier with neighbouring houses. The bees love them too.
Gertrude
North West
I had a couple of these already and they are great for shade and providing a barrier with neighbouring houses. The bees love them too.
Gertrude
North West
Very good sized plant supplied which grew rapidly in its first season but got affected by harsh cold winds last winter. Cut back to the ground, it has responded with vigorous new growth. Birds like the large berries. Best planted where the prickly leaves are not a problem - or choose 'Soft Caress' instead.
Crabtree
Whitby North Yorks
Planted in a very shady part of the garden last year. It flowered this year and looks a very healthy plant.
SK
Sussex
I needed to find a suitable shrub for the back of the border. This has settled well In the border. It offers all year interest. Colourful flowers during the winter period with an amazing fragrance
Joyful Gardener
West Midlands
I bought two and planted them wither side towards the bottom of the garden where there is quite a lot of shade. They are both doing well but, the one that gets most sun has flowered since October - it is now mid November. The one in more shade has just started to grow the flower stalks.
Lulu
Croydon
Impressed with the very healthy plant which arrived.
Polly
Cardiff
vigorous plant
mary
oxford
Really lovely shrub. I have it planted in a shady border and it flowered away like mad in it's first year with me. Great fragrance and cheered up a rather gloomy area. Highly recommended
mumu54
Wimborne, Dorset
Lovely plant yellow spikes above spiky leaves grows well in semi shade and clay.
Jan
West Wickam
Bought as a gift for my ageing parents and it is perfect. They did not struggle with it and it had no pests or diseases. It is flowering beautifully and the instructions were more than adequate.
Blooming fleur
Portsmouth
100.0
EC123
These plants are pretty tolerant of most soils, however they are happiest in reasonably fertile conditions. I would have a look around your neighbourhood to see if there are any growing nearby in similar conditions, but if you do want to try it in your soil, then I would dig in as much composted organic matter as you can, and apply a generous mulch each year.
Helen
Tanty
Hello, The Mahonia will be the toughest, so I would plant that near the tree. You will need to make sure it is kept really well watered though. I would then choose Viburnum for the big pot, and it too will need to be kept well fed and watered.
helen
Josee Mallet
Hello Josee, It is always difficult to give a definitive answer to the shade issue, but looking at the Shady Pink border, the most shade tolerant plants include Anemone hupehensis Hadspen Abundance, Thalictrum aquilegiifolium and Dryopteris erythrosora. If you click on the following link it will take you to all our shade-loving shrubs http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/plcid.1/vid.11/ and for the shade -loving perennials http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/plcid.2/vid.11/ Of the plants you have listed, the Prunus, Helleborus foetidus, Kniphofia and Crocosmia will be OK as long as there is more sun than shade. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor
Crocus Helpdesk
Linda Binfield
Hello again Linda, Viburnum tinus 'French White' is an evergreen shrub that flowers in late winter and spring, so you could get too seasons of interest - just click on the following link to go straight to it. http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/viburnum-tinus-french-white/classid.4484/ Mahonias will flower in winter too http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.mahonia/ while Daphne odora Aureomarginata is pretty early in the spring http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/daphne-odora-aureomarginata/classid.3751/ For shrubs that flower throughout the summer, then here are some of my favourites:- Ceanothus http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.ceanothus/ Lavender http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.lavandula/ Hebe http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.hebe/ I hope this gives you a few ideas. Helen Plant Doctor
Crocus Helpdesk
I'll try that Helen - thank you. Also I have a lovely Crocus voucher to spend! I have just cleared an old sunny border in front of an ornamental wall. I have kept a large Hydrangea at the end of the border but would like a couple of shrubs to put alongside to give some winter colour. Do you have any suggestions that would complement the Hydrangea? Thank you for your prompt reply. Linda
Crocus Helpdesk
Hello Linda, The most likely cause of these black spots is Fungal Leaf Spot. This can be caused by a number of things, but is usually a result of the plant being stressed in some way. It may be that it was slightly too cold in winter, or if it is in a pot it may need to be moved to a larger one, or planted out into the ground. Keep an eye on the watering and try to improve the general growing conditions and you should start to see new growth. If the black spots are really unsightly, you should pick off the affected leaves (being careful not to defoliate it completely) and give it a feed with a general purpose fertiliser like Growmore. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor
Linda Binfield
Terry Allum
Hello Terry, If you click on the following link it will take you to all our winter flowering climbers - of which the Jasminum is tougher and more like a shrub. http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/climbers/plcid.15/vid.204/ Alternatively, this link will take you to all our winter flowering shrubs. http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/plcid.1/vid.204/ I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor
Crocus Helpdesk
COLIN WATSON
Hello Colin, If you click on the following link it will take you to a selection of evergreen shrubs that can tolerate low light levels. http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/plcid.1/vid.11/vid.228/ I hope this gives you a few ideas. Helen Plant Doctor
Crocus Helpdesk
Hello There, This is a very difficult situation for plants as there will be very little moisture and nutrients in the soil. The best plants will be the toughest, however even these will need to be kept really well fed and watered if they are to survive. Here are your best options Viburnum tinus http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.tinus/ Sarcococca http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.sarcococca/ Ilex http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/hedging/ilex-%C3%97--altaclerensis-golden-king/classid.4029/ Mahonia http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/mahonia-%C3%97-media-charity/classid.4158/ Euonymus fortunei varieties http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?CommonName=euonymus+for Alchemilla mollis http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=233&CategoryID= Pachysandra terminalis http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=3288&CategoryID= Bergenias http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?CommonName=bergenia Iris foetidissima http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=3073&CategoryID= Lamiums http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?CommonName=lamium Liriope muscari http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=3173&CategoryID= Cotoneaster dammeri http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=1021&CategoryID= I hope this gives you a few ideas. Helen Plant Doctor
Crocus Helpdesk
Mark Hill
There are a couple of very tough evergreen shrubs, which should fit the bill - here are some of the best. 'Prunus laurocerasus Rotunifolia' http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/hedging/prunus-laurocerasus-rotundifolia/classid.4306/ Portugese Laurel http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/hedging/prunus-lusitanica-/classid.4309/ Mahonia http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?CommonName=mahonia
Crocus
S A Morgan-Jones
Exposed gardens like yours do present a problem so the best thing to do is to plant a windbreak which will act as a shelter for other plants within the garden. This will then widen the choice of plants that you can use. Here's a list of large windbreak plants that can be used as the first line of defence. Hawthorn http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?CommonName=crataegus Sycamore http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?CommonName=acer+pseudoplatanus In front of these, it is a good idea to plant tough evergreen shrubs to further cut down the wind and provide and attractive background for the 'real' plants - here are some of the best. Prunus laurocerasus Rotundifolia http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/hedging/prunus-laurocerasus-rotundifolia/classid.4306/ Prunus lusitanica http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/hedging/prunus-lusitanica-/classid.4309/ Mahonia http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?CommonName=mahonia Once these have established and cut down the wind, you can plant almost any type of plant you want.
Crocus
RACHEL MCGETTIGAN
There are some tough plants that could cope with the conditions you've mentioned, although I would double check their toxicity to sheep with your local vet. Here are some of the best. Prunus laurocerasus Rotundifolia http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/hedging/prunus-laurocerasus-rotundifolia/classid.4306/ Mahonia http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/results/?CommonName=mahonia Hawthorn - not an evergreen but very, very tough and pretty too http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=1044&CategoryID=
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There are a few tough shrubs that will help illuminate the darker months of the year with their luminous yellow flowers. One of the brightest winter warmers is winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) and this versatile, hardy shrub can be tightly clipped aga
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