Small shrub (evergreen maybe) for container in windy spot

kc.sdic

Hi - have resolved most of the problems in my small new build garden thanks to Gardeners' World )   It is really taking shape and colourful so thanks everybody .

I have had a small bamboo (not sure which one it was, but it was less than  70cm tall ) but it hasn't liked  being by my front door. We are in a terrace of four houses in a courtyard and it is a bit of a wind tunnel in front of the properties. For instance, when it snowed this winter the snow all ended up at one end (with the pathway clear of snow) because the wind blew the snow to one end. So any ideas for a single shrub to put in a pot by the front door that wont grow more than 60cm and wont mind east facing but being somewhat wind blasted in winter? 

Thanks 

kc.sdic

Meant to say I have tried to do some research myself but trying to find something that doesn't grow 1m + and likes east facing and wind not easy. I already have an Aucuba Rozannie . Escallonias mostly grow too tall and the few shorter ones say about shelter from winds. Choisya was suggested but mostly too tall and again the shorter ones say about sun and shelter. :O( 

Fire

A dwarf Euonymus? There are several varieties. Small, evergreen hardy, variegated leaves. Also check out some dwarf hollies like Little Rascal.

Marlorena

I don't know what part of the country you are in, but for an easy care plant suitable for containers, withstands wind snow frost and surprisingly hardy, is Olearia haastii.  It has small evergreen foliage, forms a bushy small shrub, with a miniature almost tree shape habit, and scented white flowers in June.  3 foot after 5 years, very slow growing..

It unfortunately suffers from being planted in B and Q car parks and suchlike, where it is left unloved and unattended...   much better in a garden/pot situation...

If you would prefer something more exotic I can give you..
Choisya 'Aztec Pearl' and Choisya 'Goldfinger' [bright yellow foliage]. Don't be put off by these, they have proved exceptionally hardy in pots in my East Anglian garden without protection, and they are short growers suitable for many years in a container.

Another, if you want to pay the price, is Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance' this is also surprisingly hardy, turned it's nose up at beast from the east recently, unprotected, and produces flowers 2 or 3 times during summer.  A very tough plant.  I 've had mine in a pot for many years, trouble free and easy going.   Will likely set you back £20 or more, if you want one... but it's worth it..

Fire

Dwarf mahonia, dwarf Oregon grape.

kc.sdic

Marlorena said:

I don't know what part of the country you are in, but for an easy care plant suitable for containers, withstands wind snow frost and surprisingly hardy, is Olearia haastii.  It has small evergreen foliage, forms a bushy small shrub, with a miniature almost tree shape habit, and scented white flowers in June.  3 foot after 5 years, very slow growing..

It unfortunately suffers from being planted in B and Q car parks and suchlike, where it is left unloved and unattended...   much better in a garden/pot situation...

If you would prefer something more exotic I can give you..
Choisya 'Aztec Pearl' and Choisya 'Goldfinger' [bright yellow foliage]. Don't be put off by these, they have proved exceptionally hardy in pots in my East Anglian garden without protection, and they are short growers suitable for many years in a container.

Another, if you want to pay the price, is Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance' this is also surprisingly hardy, turned it's nose up at beast from the east recently, unprotected, and produces flowers 2 or 3 times during summer.  A very tough plant.  I 've had mine in a pot for many years, trouble free and easy going.   Will likely set you back £20 or more, if you want one... but it's worth it..

Thanks for your reply. I LOVE the idea of a Daphne but do you really think it will be OK in a wind tunnel? I would be prepared to pay the price if it will survive because I LOVE Daphnes and as there is only going to be one pot on my doorstep something fragrant on and off through the summer sounds great. How slow growing is it? 

I was thinking about Choisya Royal Lace but it does say sheltered ? It's a bit like Aztec Pearl I believe but doesn't grow as tall, so if Aztec Pearl does alright in your garden may be worth a go ? So how small can you keep Aztec Pearl in a pot? 

kc.sdic

Fire said:

Dwarf mahonia, dwarf Oregon grape.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a dwarf mahonia. I was thinking about Soft Caress but that said sheltered. 

Marlorena

My neighbour has 'Soft Caress' Mahonia and it suffers during the winter in the ground, leaves turn brown.  Very windy here in East Anglia, Fenland, winds comes roaring through..

The Choisyas are 2 to 3 feet or so, very slow growing and trouble free, but I prefer the Daphne really, I like its foliage, needs no protection and 2 or 3 flushes of bloom a season, whereas the Choisyas have only one in my experience, except the big Ternata that's different..

Here is a photo of my Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance' in a pot, taken a couple of years ago.  I've only repotted it once in about 5 years or from whenever it came out.. very easy, just chop the roots off..

This is a splendid plant for a container, year round..

Marlorena

This is my plant today, I just took this photo.  You may see a few white flowers still on it, the end of its first flush in early May.  It is now starting to produce new buds all over for a big flush end of June.  I will also get a smaller flush in September time..


..it easily withstands freezing in the pot...during winter.. with no protection..

kc.sdic

Marlorena said:

This is my plant today, I just took this photo.  You may see a few white flowers still on it, the end of its first flush in early May.  It is now starting to produce new buds all over for a big flush end of June.  I will also get a smaller flush in September time..


..it easily withstands freezing in the pot...during winter.. with no protection..

Marlorena said:

My neighbour has 'Soft Caress' Mahonia and it suffers during the winter in the ground, leaves turn brown.  Very windy here in East Anglia, Fenland, winds comes roaring through..

The Choisyas are 2 to 3 feet or so, very slow growing and trouble free, but I prefer the Daphne really, I like its foliage, needs no protection and 2 or 3 flushes of bloom a season, whereas the Choisyas have only one in my experience, except the big Ternata that's different..

Here is a photo of my Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance' in a pot, taken a couple of years ago.  I've only repotted it once in about 5 years or from whenever it came out.. very easy, just chop the roots off..

This is a splendid plant for a container, year round..

WOW this has to be the one. How big was this when you bought it and how long to grow this big. I absolutely LOVE IT. 

Marlorena

I got it from a well known garden centre chain, which of course means it was heavily overpriced - I paid £35 for the plant which of course was in full bloom at the time, and swept me off my feet... which for that price it would need to... I think you can get it much cheaper, but my plant was about a foot tall I suppose, 5 or 6 years ago.  I repotted it last year, and cut it back a bit, it's very easy to do..

I think I've seen them somewhere for  £20...  not everyone wants to pay that sort of money.. but I feel I'm having my money's worth from it over these past few years...