On Thu, 30 Jan 2014 14:12:05 +0000, Sacha wrote:

This is going more than a bit off-piste but I wonder if Eucryphia
Nymansay would interest you? It has beautiful white flowers in summer,
attractive dark green leaves, is evergreen and columnar in shape. The
flowers are a bee magnet. It's also hardy to H4 according to the RHS and
is a really lovely plant.

This is a reason why urg is so useful: I didn't know about this plant at
all! It looks very interesting, how hardy is it really Sacha? And does
it stay evergreen? Always great to find late flowering shrubs and trees.

The upright yew is a great companion plant suggestion too.

Even further off piste: one of the great fastigate beeches? They keep
leaves (albeit brown!) most of the winter for me. Rohan Gold is
spectacular with pretty crinkled leaves; Dawyck Gold (or Purple) are
strictly fastigate.

-E

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Gardening in Lower Normandy