Which tree/shrub?

[piskieinboots]

Northwest garden - ice pocket - full sun - exposed - windy at times

I need a quick growing large shrub/small tree to copy with all above. Any ideas?

[piskieinboots]

nothing from you brill people? no ideas?

[Hazel at the Hill]

Not letting ignorance hinder me, Piskie, I'll give it a crack - I've got a big pieris (oh. I'm not sure how to spell it now. pe-ris) in a pot which gets occasionally blown over, frozen in its pot and is in a north facing courtyard.

It gives me a fabulous display of noo leaves which turn gorgeous red then fade to green then white flowers which look a bit like lily in the valley.

Wellie or Flum will advise further, I reckon.

[Nicos]

I bought a holly just for those reasons....but when I'm gardening underneath it I regret my choice. Looks great, but the spikey leaves are a right pain ( literally) to pick up and weed around.
Budlea and forsythia are pretty and hardy .

[Flummery]

Many of the evergreens are tough as old boots Piskie. It depends what you want them for. Pick something with berries if you want the birds to visit - pyracantha is hardy and berried in reds, oranges or yellows. Check the plant label. I like plants for foliage for flower arranging (newly started classes - eager new pupil, pick me miss!) so have my eye on a pittosporum which has leaves with a wavy edge (so no prickles here). There is one called Silver Queen which has a very lightly silvered edge to the leaf - but this is a tad less hardy. Generally speaking, plain are hardier than variegated. You could try Mahonia (I like the variety Charity) which has scented yellow spikes of flowers at this time of year. Viburnum tinus is a good do-er - mine is full of white flowers most of the year and has evergreen leaves. I also like garrya elliptica - the silk tassle bush. This evergreen shrub has long catkins in winter and early spring - up to 8" long on mine.
The choice is tremendous. It's down to your own taste and requirements really.

[piskieinboots]

many thanks for ideas - I will be spending the weekend checking them out with my books and a glass of red

[veg4681]

I agree with Flummery on tough evergreen shrubs as they also give you colour all year round although they're not always as spectacular as some showy deciduous shrubs.

For reliable and undemanding evergreen, I like Euonymus Fortunei Emerald and Gold (variegated green & yelllow) and Mexican Mock Orange for the foliage and for a little more spectacular evergreen I like Rhododendron, Camelia (plain looking shrub if not for the flowers), Skimmia Japonica Rubella, Pieris but they need acidic soil (mine kept dying so I now grow them in pots). Ceanothus is handsome with lovely blue flower (almost smothering habit) but it can get very big and there are lots of interesting shrubs in the Hebe range (however some are not evergreen).

Some interesting decidious shrubs are Berberis (just for the stunning red foliage but it's thorny), Spirea (showy flowers that almost smother the whole shrub) but the most spectacular of them all are Hydrangea and hardy Fushia. Obviously taste differ so best to go to your local GC and check out their plants just to get an idea. I always pick out all the plants that I not only like but also that they contrast with one another so that they stand out in a border i.e. different shapes and shades of foliage. It's also useful to observe the shrubs in the council/office parks (to find out what you like best) and for me, I've had cuttings off them too , plants for free but okay they take a while to become a fully grown shrubs but I'm in no hurry.

[Flummery]

If you're looking for stuff that looks good in the winter, go to the garden centre now. I wanted a pyracantha with red berries so I bought one in berry - then I knew what I was getting.

[Alice]

I think Sumach would do it for you Piskieinboots. It can be grown as a small tree or shrub. It gives fabulous autumn colour and good architectural shape in winter, and very interesting summer leaves. It can sucker and seed but I don't find it as invasive as some people suggest. It definitely earns its space in my garden.

[piskieinboots]

ooooh Alice - thanks, that looks lovely. Seems it's a member of the Cashew Family
>>
Family: Anacardiaceae (Cashew familiy)

Description for others:
Known by a variety of names, the Stagshorn Tree, Sumach Tree or Fire-Fern Sumach Tree is renowed for its unusual, large, almost tropical appearing palm-like leaves, in autumn turning dazzling hues of orange, red and purple. Also, of note are its stem, which is hairy. These trees will grow anywhere but should be pruned regularly or it will soon become leggy and bare. A fast-growing tree, its branches can grow 4m, so well-suited to a small garden as it will reach a final height of 4m (13ft 4in).

Is this the correct one? Hope so cos it looks prefect for the place I have in mind.

[Palustris]

Well, it may not have suckered in Alice's garden but it sure did here. It has taken years to get rid of it, so be careful. It also has a liking for drains so watch where you plant it!

[piskieinboots]

how does it feel about helicopters? I live on base and we have copters flying right past my office window - it won't just up and grab them will it

[smallblueplanet]

How about a guelder rose? Native small tree/shrub, often used in hedging. Birds love the berries, hoverflies love the flowers.



Guelder rose - Viburnum opulus - English Nature

[Birdie Wife]

Holly would also do well, there are different leaf forms and variegated varieties. However, not very fast growing. Honeysuckle grows pretty quickly, is brilliant for bees but not evergreen and needs support. I planted an upright cherry at the bottom of my garden this year, covered with beautiful flowers in spring and awesome autumn colour.

[Palustris]

how does it feel about helicopters? I live on base and we have copters flying right past my office window - it won't just up and grab them will it

Helicopters will be ok. We are in the practice area for the ones from Shawberry and get up to 7 in formation at 50 feet on a regular basis. they survived, which is more than the sewers did!
I would agree with the suggestion of a Viburnum opulus, beautiful shrub.