Cotinus Grace

jaffacakes

Hi all, I have a gap in my boundary border and looking for a plant to fill the gap and give privacy in summer and autumn. A small fushia is there at the moment doesn't look right.

To the left there is a golden conifer and very large butterfly bush on the right. I was thinking something like Cotinus grace would work well as it's quite sunny. Would it provide much privacy? Ideally like to keep it around 6-8 foot but I read they can be cut back hard.

Any other suggestions would be welcome 😊

Thanks

Lizzie27

Mine's quite dense at the moment but they are deciduous and come into leaf quite late in spring so may not give you the privacy you desire. Also 'Grace' is the whopper of the family and can get to 13 x 13 ft quite easily - I'm forever having to hack mine back from the front door path. I'm thinking of removing it entirely as I'm now concerned that it's planted too close to the house and the base is getting quite large.  

jaffacakes

Thanks Lizzie. Maybe not such a good choice then. I don't mind hacking back when gets out of control though. Another option i was thinking of was a large hydranga such as Hydrangea aspera Villosa. I guess it would take much longer to get to 6-8foot if even.

Hostafan1

Grace can be cut back really hard each spring, as you would Buddliea. You'll get stems 6ft in a season , easily, and the leaves are bigger if treated this way.

jaffacakes

Thanks Hosta. Yes the buddliea put on lots of growth since spring when I cut it back. I just thought purple foliage might look good with it and the golden conifer. Only see Royal Purple variety for sale in local garden centres. I was thinking elderflower black lace too but seems slower growing and maybe not as dense.