Not oleander so what

Thejazz

I have a space, in semi shade, for a reasonably sized pot. It's viewable from my dining room so I want longish summer colour and evergreen for winter. Idealy an Oleander would suit, but the toxicity issue makes it a no no. I am sure someone here will have a solution or two. Many thanks in advAnce

hogweed

How about a Pieris? Or perhaps a fatsia if it is sheltered - no flowers but an interesting leaf shape or a hydrangea? A choisya (yellow) would give a splash of bright colour all year round.

Dovefromabove

The fact that you mention an oleander suggests to me that you're not in the UK but possibly somewhere warmer, as they're not hardy through our winters and need to be moved to a frost-free place.

Can you tell us where you are so that we can make some more informed suggestions?

Also you mention the toxicity problem - is this because of children?  I ask this because it would also rule out some plants with spikey leaves etc.

Thejazz

thanks for the help. I'm in Cheshire. I've seen some oleander allegedly hardy to -5  My grandchildren spend time in my garden hence the toxicity thing. 

pansyface

I'd suggest a really fancy Japanese acer. No flowers and not evergreen either but a pretty architectural shape and some nice seasonal changes.

Katherine W

Hydrangea would do well in semi shade. Some of the beautiful Paniculata or quercifolia tyes would be less obvious that the usual mopheads (but I like them all).

I found H. Paniculata 'Pinky Winky' and H. quercifolia 'Snowflake' are perhaps the most beautiful of the lot.

 

PS I think oleanders are way hardier than British gardener think... two big ones in large pots my former naighbours had survived several night at -16 four years ago. And my Granny in north Italy has many oleanders planted in the garden... and north Italy is NOT the Mediterrenean, it freezes hard every winter.