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Ideas please for shrub in an awkward spot

K67K67 Posts: 2,507
in Plants
I have approx a 4ft square area to fill which is in a corner with a house wall and a garden wall. It faces SW and at the moment gets full sun from 2pm until late evening so its pretty hot - too hot for the fatsia I planted. The other problem is it gets no sun at all for 4/5 months, hence the fatsia, they tell you to wait a year before you plant but whose got that much will power?
Soil is alkaline clay but its a raised bed so could be changed.
Any ideas please as to what would be happy here?
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  • B3B3 Posts: 25,239
    Euonymus? There's loads of different kinds and they're pretty tolerant.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,179
    Magnolia stellata?  Ours is in full sun, south facing and alkaline clay soil. Is surviving so far and flowering well, although after ten years or more, it would outgrow your site.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Presumably you would like something decorative rather than just a big of green? I'm thinking a nicely perfumed shrub rose - little maintenance, beautiful perfume when /if you have a patio nearby.
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,507
    Thanks for suggestions. I do have a magnolia stellar which I bought with me it's in the middle of my garden doing well. @Lizzie27
    Euonymus good idea as evergreen and I like adding a clematis to most shrubs so that would work. @B3
    Not really sure a rose would prosper but maybe repeat rambler or would the bricks get too hot for it but then again this weather is quite rare? @hogweed
    I was thinking about a Buddlija  Adonis or a sambucus black lace?
  • DimWitDimWit Posts: 553
    Given the traits of the plot, why not consider some North American shrubs? Their natural conditions seem to match this place of yours (though I may be utterly wrong...). Give a look at this site:

    https://www.hobbyfarms.com/shrubs-with-berries-north-american-natives/
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,507
    Thanks @DimWit.
    Love the wonderfully named possomhaw vibernum mentioned at the end.
    What a pity I only have room for one shrub.
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 7,883
    Are you quite sure it faces SW?  because if so it would get full sun way before 2pm in the afternoon, and would not be sunless for 4/5 months of the year.  Perhaps you mean NW facing?...
    East Anglia, England
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,507
    No it's definately SW but the gable wall of the house behind us blocks the sun until it climbs higher. In winter it doesn't get high enough to clear their roof so no sun in that area at all.One drawback of a modern housing estate are the walls, garages and houses which play havoc in trying to work out how much sun the garden will be getting. Handy it's been so sunny! I have done a 360 deg video several times during a day once or twice a month to remind me as there are several plants that will need to be moved in Autumn.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    SUnless for 4/5 months of the year would not phase a rose. And I wouldn't recommend a rambling or climbing rose - go for a shrub rose - very little maintenance. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,699
    If you have the wall for protection, you could try Loropetalum Chinense Var Rubrum 'Fire Dance'. More of less evergreen if you give it shelter from harsh wind. The soil may need to be conditioned with plenty of leaf mould. In late winter into early spring, deep pink fragrant flowers fill the shrub. If as you say, lack of sun in the winter months, the flowers will form more later into spring, which is not a negative in my opinion.
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