Hi all

Anyone got any good suggestions for evergreen shrubs that would do ok in
a large pot, shady north facing? Flowers would be nice, nothing too
boring like box or conifers

Thinking of a cammelia for one. Is that workable? What would go with it?

Thanks!

Kate x

On 2014-02-07 20:20:45 +0000, Kate said:

Hi all

Anyone got any good suggestions for evergreen shrubs that would do ok in
a large pot, shady north facing? Flowers would be nice, nothing too
boring like box or conifers

Thinking of a cammelia for one. Is that workable? What would go with it?

Thanks!

Kate x

Sarcococca? Strongly scented winter flowers. If you had a trellis or
obelisk in your container that might extend your choices. You could
grow a Camellia but sooner or later, it would probably need to go into
the ground. You could perhaps consider an azalea, too.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 07/02/2014 22:56, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-02-07 20:20:45 +0000, Kate said:

Hi all

Anyone got any good suggestions for evergreen shrubs that would do ok in
a large pot, shady north facing? Flowers would be nice, nothing too
boring like box or conifers

Thinking of a cammelia for one. Is that workable? What would go with it?

Thanks!

Kate x

Sarcococca? Strongly scented winter flowers. If you had a trellis or
obelisk in your container that might extend your choices. You could
grow a Camellia but sooner or later, it would probably need to go into
the ground. You could perhaps consider an azalea, too.

I think camellias have a very shallow root system (says he having
re-potted a 20 year old specimen just yesterday). Several round here
flower profusely in relatively small containers where, in normal weather
conditions, the foliage protects the soil from water-logging in winter.
The £5.99 jobs from Aldi look very healthy but, as ever, the root ball
is a concern. I do wonder whether perhaps they should have been
re-potted this time last year.

In article ,
says...

On Fri, 7 Feb 2014 20:20:45 +0000 (UTC), Kate
wrote:

Hi all

Anyone got any good suggestions for evergreen shrubs that would do ok in
a large pot, shady north facing? Flowers would be nice, nothing too
boring like box or conifers

Thinking of a cammelia for one. Is that workable? What would go with it?

Thanks!

Kate x

If you do opt for a camellia, azalea or dwarf rhododendron (all
perfectly OK in that position IMO), don't forget to use ericaceous
compost in the planter, and make sure the planter is itself a decent
size to allow for root growth. Keep it fed and watered in the summer.

They will survive in tubs, but not show what they are capable of.
When we moved here 11 years ago, the entire garden was lawn, and the
previous owner of 20 yrs assured me "nothing else grows in this soil"
(she wuz wrong). She left behind several tubs of sad, elderly and
stunted dwarf rhododendrons, azaleas and a maple.

I planted them all out into the garden where they rapidly doubled and
quadrupled in size and are still expanding, flowering and thriving. One
of those previously stunted dwarf azaleas is now 6ft across and the
flowers hide the leaves.

Janet.

On 08/02/2014 12:24, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 7 Feb 2014 20:20:45 +0000 (UTC), Kate
wrote:

Hi all

Anyone got any good suggestions for evergreen shrubs that would do ok in
a large pot, shady north facing? Flowers would be nice, nothing too
boring like box or conifers

Thinking of a cammelia for one. Is that workable? What would go with it?

Thanks!

Kate x

If you do opt for a camellia, azalea or dwarf rhododendron (all
perfectly OK in that position IMO), don't forget to use ericaceous
compost in the planter, and make sure the planter is itself a decent
size to allow for root growth. Keep it fed and watered in the summer.

Are you sure about those plants doing well in a north-facing position?
They will no doubt survive, and probably grow and give some flowers. But
they would do much better in a position with better light, at least for
part of the day.. They are really plants for dappled sunlight, not full
shade.

--

Jeff

In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote:
On 08/02/2014 12:24, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 7 Feb 2014 20:20:45 +0000 (UTC), Kate
wrote:

Anyone got any good suggestions for evergreen shrubs that would do ok in
a large pot, shady north facing? Flowers would be nice, nothing too
boring like box or conifers

Thinking of a cammelia for one. Is that workable? What would go with it?

If you do opt for a camellia, azalea or dwarf rhododendron (all
perfectly OK in that position IMO), don't forget to use ericaceous
compost in the planter, and make sure the planter is itself a decent
size to allow for root growth. Keep it fed and watered in the summer.

Are you sure about those plants doing well in a north-facing position?
They will no doubt survive, and probably grow and give some flowers. But
they would do much better in a position with better light, at least for
part of the day.. They are really plants for dappled sunlight, not full
shade.

Not critically, if the position is light. A lot of the radiation
in the UK is indirect, and an open north position can get more
light than deep but dappled shade.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 2014-02-08 16:22:49 +0000, Jeff Layman said:

On 08/02/2014 12:24, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 7 Feb 2014 20:20:45 +0000 (UTC), Kate
wrote:

Hi all

Anyone got any good suggestions for evergreen shrubs that would do ok in
a large pot, shady north facing? Flowers would be nice, nothing too
boring like box or conifers

Thinking of a cammelia for one. Is that workable? What would go with it?

Thanks!

Kate x

If you do opt for a camellia, azalea or dwarf rhododendron (all
perfectly OK in that position IMO), don't forget to use ericaceous
compost in the planter, and make sure the planter is itself a decent
size to allow for root growth. Keep it fed and watered in the summer.

Are you sure about those plants doing well in a north-facing position?
They will no doubt survive, and probably grow and give some flowers.
But they would do much better in a position with better light, at least
for part of the day.. They are really plants for dappled sunlight, not
full shade.

The OP says shady, not deep shade. I'd be inclined to think of that as
'edge of woodland' type light.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

Skimmia? Very scented white flowers in spring. Var reevesiana (I think) will produce berries too, other skimmias you need both a male and a female plant.

On 08/02/2014 18:11, sacha wrote:
On 2014-02-08 16:22:49 +0000, Jeff Layman said:

On 08/02/2014 12:24, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 7 Feb 2014 20:20:45 +0000 (UTC), Kate
wrote:

Hi all

Anyone got any good suggestions for evergreen shrubs that would do ok in
a large pot, shady north facing?

If you do opt for a camellia, azalea or dwarf rhododendron (all
perfectly OK in that position IMO),

Are you sure about those plants doing well in a north-facing position?
They will no doubt survive, and probably grow and give some flowers.
But they would do much better in a position with better light, at least
for part of the day.. They are really plants for dappled sunlight, not
full shade.

The OP says shady, not deep shade. I'd be inclined to think of that as
'edge of woodland' type light.

It's interesting how differently we can interpret wording! I
interpreted "shady north facing" as being a particularly dark site,
otherwise why bother adding "shady"? A north facing site generally has
poor light, and is considered shady. Few plants are happy in deep shade
- ferns being an exception.

I may be wrong, but aren't the plants in question generally native to
more southerly latitudes and higher altitudes than those found in the
UK? Sunlight would be more intense in those regions, too, so dappled
sunlight there would equate to somewhat more light in the UK.

--

Jeff