Shrub Idea's

harmony

Hi, would love suggestions for a medium shrub shrub please.
I would ideally like it to be evergreen and flowering/ or variegated leaves
This is for my small front garden which is north/East facing so has morning sun and afternoon shade, it has a couple of tree stumps and is covered with bark dumplings and is surrounded with privet. I'm not too bothered when it flowers as I don't spend much time on the front only to trim the privet but just want to brighten it up abit. Thanks..

BobTheGardener

Sounds like Euonymus would work well.  Unfussy evergreens which only grow to about 1x1m or so when mature and don't need much if anything in the way of pruning (unless you want to keep them smaller which just means an annual trim.)  There are variegated varieties with yellow/gold/silver although the flowers are a little insignificant.

Have a look at<a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-results?query=euonymus%20fortunei"> Euonymus fortunei</a> and <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-results?query=euonymus%20japonicus" title="Link: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-results?query=euonymus%20japonicus">Euonymus japonicus</a>

newbie77

Nandina would be lovely too.

Obelixx

Mahonia is evergreen and has perfumed yellow flowers in winter and early spring followed by dark blue berries.  Some have foliage which goes red in winter.

Sarcococca has teeny, white, highly scented flowers also in winter but would look very similar to your privet in terms of leaf size and shape.

Aucuba has golden variegated foliage and small purple flowers followed by red berries on female plants.

Quite a few rhododendrons would be happy in that aspect if your soil is acid to neutral but not alkaline.   Various sizes and colours available.  Just need to make sure they don't go thirsty from July to September which is when they form the next season's flower buds.

Skimmias will give you flowers and the female forms have good red berries to follow.

punkdoc

If you want berries on a Skimmia, make sure you plant both a male and female plant close to each other, or a hermaphrodite form.

Lizzie27

What about a Choisya ternata? Has white scented flowers on and off for months, is evergreen and low maintenance. There is also a yellowish leaved version, although that's not to my taste.

harmony

Thanks for all the idea's, very much appreciated. How far apart can male / female skimmia's be to get berries, I have 2 in my back garden but they must both be male they have cream flowers early spring but no berries ..