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Flowering Shrub Advice

harmonyharmony Posts: 368
Hi, wanting advice "again" lol.
I've just cleared this small area and want to put in a  flowering shrub for a bit of colour, I was thinking of a Potentilla but any advice will be welcome. The area is quite dry with sun up to around 2pm and is approximately 3ft x 3ft. Thanks..

Posts

  • harmonyharmony Posts: 368
    Forgot to add pics
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,407
    That should suit a Potentilla. I've got one growing over the edge of a drystone retainng wall, so very well drained, and in full sun. It has flowered beautifully evey year until now, when it was clearly too dry - we have had no significant rain since late April, apart from one morning in May when there were a few hours of light rainfall. I can't water it because our spring has dried up too!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,070
    I'd agree with that - they flower wonderfully here in shade or sun , but they usually have plenty of rain. They've struggled a bit this year, despite our generally lower temps and more rain  than southern parts of the country, until last week when we had a day of rain, and they've  come to life properly. I think to perform at their best they need a moister soil, but you can add manure and a mulch when planting to get them off to a good start.  They'll take any amount of abuse too. Flowers are also great for insects, and they keep on going for months.
    My neighbour has a very pretty soft buttery one. I love the whites for shade, but there's a reasonable selection of colours.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,890
    I have this next to my bird bath, White Agastache, it’s not a shrub, it’s a perenial, but its 4’ tall and 3’ diameter,  just one plant from a seed. 
    It will flower for months and is absolutely covered in bees 🐝🐝🐝

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,166
    I think a Potentilla would do very well in that spot. Abbotswood is a white one, very pretty in shade and Elizabeth (I'm biased of course!) a lovely soft yellow. I believe you can also get a peachy colour one.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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