need ideas for early flowering tall shrub

[mrsbusy]

Hi all - we have a really large white buddlea which we cut back this time of year leaving a big gap in that border and loss of privacy. What could I plant next to it that will flower early then cut down when the buddlea gets going in August? the only thing I can think of is Forsythia - can that be cut back hard after flowering?

[Mitzi]

Yes forsythia can be cut back hard straight after flowering. If you leave it until August you run the risk of losing the next year's flowers.

[Jungle Jane]

Bees really like this flowering currant - ribes sanguineum I just took this photo,flowers same time as my forsythia. Mine used to look bushier than this with more flowers & coverage of the fence,google some images for a good picture (when my neighbour had the fence done some root damage occurred & killed off a lot of this,it’s been recovering for a year,there was a fence there before I don’t really know why the massive damage but anyway they’re really easy to look after,cut it back after flowering,gives more space in the border for veg).

[veggiechicken]

I like Photinia Red Robin. Its not a flowering shrub but the new young leaves are red - mine's in colour now. Its evergreen and needs to be cut back in order to produce the new shoots for colour.

https://www.jparkers.co.uk/photinia-...%20Red%20Robin

[mcdood]

Forsythia and Ribes could be cut quite hard back each year and will grow on well for the following spring flowering. I'm not sure whether photinia would grow as much as you want it to if cut back each year. I barely prune mine at all just remove unwanted branches and red tips come each year

[nickdub]

I like shrubs which have flowers with a good scent , so I'd go for either Osmanthus Heterophyllus which is in flower now in my garden or Choisya ternata which flowers a bit later. They are both evergreens and can be pruned into a hedge type shape if required - the osmanthus is quite a dense grower with leaves a bit like mini holly leaves though not thorny, while the choisya is a bit quicker growing but a little bit more open.

[Two_Sheds]

Kerria
Nice early yellow flowers, not too thuggish

Japanese quince: pink

[Vince G]

Witch hazel flowers through February into early March

[mrsbusy]

Thanks everyone - some great ideas there - whatever I put in will have to be hard pruned after flowering as the buddlea will just overpower it - so I might go for forsythia which I have avoided so far...never been a big fan so will be happy to ruthlessly prune it!!

[DannyK]

Have a look at the Viburnam family.

Mahonia in flower now.

Acacia? Saw couple in flower in Twickenham 3 weeks ago.