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Plants/Shrubs in front of house

oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
in Plants
Hi all, 

I hope you're well. 

I'm looking for 2 or 3 potted plants/Shrubs to place in front of my house. 

They'll be under the window so couldn't be too tall and the area is open to all day baking sun in summer, but also strong winds etc. when the weather turns. Looking for something with year round colour. 

My gardening knowledge is very basic to say the least but based on the above conditions and preferences I think I've whittled it down to the below options:

Azalea
Photinha
Hebe
English Lavender 

Based on your better knowledge, would these work/do you have any other options?

Thank you in advance! 
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Posts

  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 394
    Photinia can get massive. If you want to keep it below window height you will forever be out there chopping it back. A eunonymus would do the job. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,797
    Hi  :)  I'm not quite clear ... when you say 'potted plants' do you mean plants that will remain planted in containers or have you the space to plant them in the garden?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,809
    Evergreen azaleas prefer damper conditions and some shade, but a deciduous variety would be OK (although perhaps wouldn't meet  your requirement for year-round interest).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
    gjautos said:
    Photinia can get massive. If you want to keep it below window height you will forever be out there chopping it back. A eunonymus would do the job. 
    Thank you! 
  • oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
    Dovefromabove said:
    Hi  :)  I'm not quite clear ... when you say 'potted plants' do you mean plants that will remain planted in containers or have you the space to plant them in the garden?
    Hi, I'd be looking to keep them in nice containers but not sure if this is even possible! 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,809
    There's a dwarf form of Photinia, "Little Red Robin" (not to be confused with "Red Robin" which gets tall). You could have a look for that one.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
    JennyJ said:
    Evergreen azaleas prefer damper conditions and some shade, but a deciduous variety would be OK (although perhaps wouldn't meet  your requirement for year-round interest).
    Thank you for the advice! 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,160
    I'd go for lavender in that situation. Hebes won't cope with strong winds and Photinia/azaleas might suffer in very hot sun.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,263
    I think Lavender too.
    It's quite happy being baked in the sun and will smell lovely when it is.
    Easy to look after if you prune it right which easy.
    They need well-drained gritty soil, so something like John Innes No2 compost with extra grit would be perfect.
    Just don't let them dry out and they'll be good
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • oliver.greatbatcholiver.greatbatch Posts: 36
    Lizzie27 said:
    I'd go for lavender in that situation. Hebes won't cope with strong winds and Photinia/azaleas might suffer in very hot sun.
    Thank you. By Hebes not coping with the wind, would it kill them or damage the foliage? Sorry if this is obvious, very new to all of this! 
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