Small bush or shrub
Hi. I have a 2 x 2 meter spot in my front garden currently occupied by a lovely but thorny bush (white flowers in the summer and red berries in the winter) . I have 2 young children who have avoided it thus far but I have decided it is no longer safe. I am after something to take its spot. Ideally a bush that is full and can be trimmed/shaped. Most importantly I would like something with a scent. I was originally looking at honeysuckle but being a complete novice I can't determine what is a bush or climber. I'm open to other suggestions, nothing poisonous when touched or thorny. It will get sun in the evening but is partially blocked by our cars.
Tia! X
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Daphne, most beautiful smell and some like mine, flower in winter too. It's an evergreen for added interest also
I don't think the bush honeysuckles would suit what you're looking for. Daphne is nice, drawback, wouldn't like a lot of trimming. Sarcococca winter flowering great scent, stays fairly compact.
Choisya might be a good choice, summer flowering and trimable (and cheap)
Last edited: 19 February 2017 16:30:00
In the sticks near Peterborough
Yes I agree with Choisya ternata as being the most suitable for your purposes. It's non poisonous to both humans and animals. Flowers in flushes all summer, and highly scented. The Mexican Orange Blossom shrub. Get the green one, not the yellow ones and don't expect it to reach 2 metres in a hurry, it will take a few years...
It doesn't need full sun either...
I'd go with Daphne too.
Nut is , as ever , correct in saying it doesn't like being trimmed, but you say the space is 2m x 2m. Plenty of room for Daphne there.
Another vote for Daphne.
I've just ordered a Daphne tangutica - lovely little shrub that scents the air and grows to about 1m x 1m
And there's 20% off at Crocus atm.
Last edited: 19 February 2017 17:49:26
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Thank you very much for your help. Daphne looks like a lovely sub. Will it eventually need trimming or will it simply stop once it reaches a certain size? Less than 2 meters is no problem at all. Thanks again.
Daphne plant pruning is generally to remove broken or errant branches. Trimming the shrub is not part of annual plant care for daphne. The best time to do any cutting is after the plant flowers, so you avoid cutting off the buds. This would be early spring when pruning winter daphne and late spring for other varieties.
No problem, it's my new favourite shrub. Mine has variegated leaves which provides all year round interest & grows at a medium pace, keeping itself compact. The perfume is very pleasant, keep a look out at garden centre's for the winter flowering one anytime around now.
Last edited: 19 February 2017 19:14:26
What a lovely neighbour you have Verdun, send him my way
Mine was also a cutting from a friend's friend. Plants are the best gifts.
Last edited: 19 February 2017 19:28:27