Ideas for small shrubs

[caroline7758]

Every couple of years I have to dig out shrubs which have become too large for my garden. This year it's a ceanothus which I'll be sad to lose, but I've found a smaller variety to replace it with.

What would you recommend as a compact shrub, preferably with year round interest? My borders are only about 4ft wide and my soil is slightly alkaline (Tadcaster limestone underneath).

[caroline7758]

[Deb P]

Euphorbia could provide year round interest and can be pruned, I also have a Philadelphus aurea which I keep pruned to a compact size, lovely fresh Limey foliage and highly scented flowers too!

[Tee Gee]

My suggestion wold be Skimmia!

This is how my one is looking today;

[Mrs Tweedy]

We inherited Euphorbia and it spreads like the devil. I have been trying to eradicate for the past few years.

Try a Daphne Retusa. Hardy evergreen rounded shrub with intensely fragrant pink flushed flowers.
Or Dapne laureola. Evergreen dwarf shrub with tubular pale green flowers slightly scented.
Or Daphne odora Aureomarginata, evergreen bushhy shrub with wonderful pink scented flowers.

If it is a sheltered plot try a Kleim's hardy gardenia. Will need acid soil.

Skimmia japonica Fructo Alba is slow growing with white berries as a change from the red beries.
Gaulthiera is a hardy evergreen with white berries.

Or my all time favourites Sarcocca humilis. Everygreen with highly scented white fluffy flowers in the winter followed by black berries. Incredibly easy to grow new plants from the ripe black berries. The scent on a sunny winters day blows your mind and gets rid of the winter blues.

[caroline7758]

Thanks for all the ideas- I'll make a list! I have a sarcococca which has never really thrived but I'm not sure why.

[grannyjanny]

I thought of this post as I went to the shop today. There was berberis in a garden, the dark leaved one & it was covered in flowers & bees. We have a green & the dark one & I would think they could be pruned to keep them compact. The insects do love the flowers.

[Tee Gee]

I agree with GJ Berberis is a lovely plant, a bit prickly but colourful all the year round;


How it looks most of the year around;



and a close up of the flowers;

[caroline7758]

That's lovely, TeeGee. Thanks.

[grannyjanny]

Thanks Tee Gee. Do they have a perfume? There is something sweet smelling in the front garden & that's all there is. I did get up close & personal with it but couldn't detect the smell. Could just be smelly at certain times.

Would Lonicera Baggesen's gold be another one Caroline. That could be pruned & shaped.