"Groundswell" wrote in message
...
Hi --
I live in the northern Washington DC suburbs and I'm looking for ideas
for a flowering hedge or thick border plant. I'm bored with the idea of
the typical yew or boxwood or privet. The location has mediocre quality
soil, it's neither heavy clay nor heavy sand, full to medium sun. The
length of the hedge would be about 40 feet.
I'm interested in something that is relatively low maintenance. It
doesn't need to be a privacy or security hedge, just something to define
the border and discourage the dogs and kids from running off the
property. Ideally it would thrive at somewhere between 3 and 5 feet.
One possibility is Rose of Sharon -- I have a couple of plants right now
and I'm used to taking care of it. I've had bad luck with azaleas for
whatever reason. I'm not crazy about the look of forsythia. I'm also
open to the idea of a mixed planting -- say 4 different plantings to
flower at different times of the year.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Why not consider roses? Most of the china class of roses love the hot and
humid conditions of DC while being hardy well into the zone 6 of it's
outlying suburbs. Archduke Charles, Arethusa, Cramoisi Superieur, Ducher,
Le Vesuve, Napoleon, White Pearl in Red Dragon's Mouth, and Hermosa are in
bloom from April through November and are semi evergreen through the winter.
None will need spraying in order to thrive, and a few like Archduke Charles
and Ducher have a nice medium scent. These are NOT the fussy long stemmed
hybrid teas that so many people think of when they think of roses. These
roses are tough and can take tough conditions while blooming constantly.
Many have been found at old graveyards and homesteads and brought back into
commerce. They are available mail order through the Antique Rose Emporium
http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/ , Chamblee's Roses
http://www.chambleeroses.com/ , or a little closer to you to save on
shipping at Roses Unlimited
http://www.rosesunlimitedownroot.com/ , or
Ashdown Roses
http://www.ashdownroses.com/ . Even closer is Sherando Roses,
http://www.sherandoroses.com/ which doesn't ship, but is worth a day trip to
visit.
BTW, here's a close up of Ducher, which Kaye uses as a hedge.
http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL138/...9/32981888.jpg Here's a
whole bush shot of them just coming into bloom.
http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL138/...9/26146366.jpg Here's the
whole album of chinas for you to browse at your leisure.
http://www.picturetrails.com/gallery...529&uid=647794 She
is borderline zone 6/7, and you can see how spectacular they perform for
her.
Sunflower
MS 7b