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Tall thin shrub recommendation??
Hi
Can anyone suggest a shrub that has a profile a bit like a tree... grows to 5-6 feet tall, only spreads 2 to 3 feet, and is quite "leggy" or "trunky" (most interest is found in the top foot or two) ? Many thanks in advance :) Kate xx |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 10/12/2012 22:10, Kate wrote:
Hi Can anyone suggest a shrub that has a profile a bit like a tree... grows to 5-6 feet tall, only spreads 2 to 3 feet, and is quite "leggy" or "trunky" (most interest is found in the top foot or two) ? Many thanks in advance :) Kate xx Can you tell us if you want deciduous (drops its leaves) or evergreen growth .. do you want flowers? It's obviously got a specific job to do. Why does it need to be narrow .. near a gate (with lots of foot traffic), near an alley (is there a wind tunnel effect). The more you can tell us, the easier it is to suggest something. It would also help us to know roughly where you live and what your soil is like. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
"Spider" wrote in message ... On 10/12/2012 22:10, Kate wrote: Hi Can anyone suggest a shrub that has a profile a bit like a tree... grows to 5-6 feet tall, only spreads 2 to 3 feet, and is quite "leggy" or "trunky" (most interest is found in the top foot or two) ? Many thanks in advance :) Kate xx Can you tell us if you want deciduous (drops its leaves) or evergreen growth .. do you want flowers? It's obviously got a specific job to do. Why does it need to be narrow .. near a gate (with lots of foot traffic), near an alley (is there a wind tunnel effect). The more you can tell us, the easier it is to suggest something. It would also help us to know roughly where you live and what your soil is like. Hardy throughout the Bitish Isles is Amelanchier. Thin growing, flowering, edible fruit and autumn colour. What more could you want? Phil Northern Highlands of Scotland |
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Another with vertical stems and therefore a narrow shape is the scented winter flowering Viburnum bodnantense. It will eventually get too tall but it will take a long time doing it. My guelder rose (V opulus) also has much of the same habit (the few spreading stems can be chopped out) but grows much more quickly. And some mock oranges - although others are very spreading. |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
"Sacha" wrote in message ... They're very beautiful, though ours doesn't have much of a trunk that I've noticed. The other possible might be a eucalyptus which is kept to the desired height. There seems to be such a plethora of shapes that there might be one there to suit. -- Sacha Care with Eucalptus though - we have lost both ours to recent hard winter frosts. Probably OK in southern sheltered areas, but not safe in unsheltered areas north of Birmingham could be the case. Pete |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
In article , Sacha
writes It's a beautiful tree but a bit too tall & spreading for what Kate describes? Obelisk isn't Sacha it's quite fastigate and much smaller than the normal A. -- Janet Tweedy |
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regards, Lannerman. |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 10/12/2012 22:10, Kate wrote:
Hi Can anyone suggest a shrub that has a profile a bit like a tree... grows to 5-6 feet tall, only spreads 2 to 3 feet, and is quite "leggy" or "trunky" (most interest is found in the top foot or two) ? Many thanks in advance :) Kate xx Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea "Helmond Pillar" any good? -- Jeff |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
Spider:
On 10/12/2012 22:10, Kate wrote: Hi Can anyone suggest a shrub that has a profile a bit like a tree... grows to 5-6 feet tall, only spreads 2 to 3 feet, and is quite "leggy" or "trunky" (most interest is found in the top foot or two) ? Many thanks in advance :) Kate xx Can you tell us if you want deciduous (drops its leaves) or evergreen growth .. do you want flowers? It's obviously got a specific job to do. Why does it need to be narrow .. near a gate (with lots of foot traffic), near an alley (is there a wind tunnel effect). The more you can tell us, the easier it is to suggest something. It would also help us to know roughly where you live and what your soil is like. Hi Thanks for all the suggestions so far :) I'm in the Midlands, slightly acidic clay soil. It's a corner behind a raised bed with an access path behind, that's why it can't spread too far but also needs to be fairly tall to be seen. But not too tall or it will be out of proportion with the bed. Don't mind about deciduous or evergreen... flowers are always nice :) Kate xx |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
In message , lannerman
writes Kate;974718 Wrote: Hi Can anyone suggest a shrub that has a profile a bit like a tree... grows to 5-6 feet tall, only spreads 2 to 3 feet, and is quite "leggy" or "trunky" (most interest is found in the top foot or two) ? Many thanks in advance :) Kate xx How about a 'telegraph cherry' (Prunus amanagowa) It will need pruning to keep it really narrow but gives a nice display of flowers in early May over quite a long period !! Or, train a camellia into a tall narrow shape, something like Camellia 'Debbie' or 'Preston Rose'. Again, without knowing where you are ?? its not easy. regards, Lannerman. Prunus 'Spire' is also fastigate. (But mine, after a score and more years, it at about 12 feet.) -- Stewart Robert Hinsley |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 11/12/2012 21:37, Kate wrote:
Spider: On 10/12/2012 22:10, Kate wrote: Hi Can anyone suggest a shrub that has a profile a bit like a tree... grows to 5-6 feet tall, only spreads 2 to 3 feet, and is quite "leggy" or "trunky" (most interest is found in the top foot or two) ? Many thanks in advance :) Kate xx Can you tell us if you want deciduous (drops its leaves) or evergreen growth .. do you want flowers? It's obviously got a specific job to do. Why does it need to be narrow .. near a gate (with lots of foot traffic), near an alley (is there a wind tunnel effect). The more you can tell us, the easier it is to suggest something. It would also help us to know roughly where you live and what your soil is like. Hi Thanks for all the suggestions so far :) I'm in the Midlands, slightly acidic clay soil. It's a corner behind a raised bed with an access path behind, that's why it can't spread too far but also needs to be fairly tall to be seen. But not too tall or it will be out of proportion with the bed. Don't mind about deciduous or evergreen... flowers are always nice :) Kate xx Hi Kate, Thanks for the information. One idea might be one of the 'Ballerina' or 'Minarette' type apple trees. The height may be slightly more than you suggested (6-8ft-ish), but could be controlled. You would get a definite trunk, limited spread, blossom in spring and fruit in autumn. It would make a great feature as well as giving you apples. It would help if there was another local apple to help with pollination. Someone else suggested Prunus Amanogawa, which is a lovely small narrowly erect tree and it came to mind straight away. Again, it is taller than you want, but you could limit the height (and even spread) provided you do it sensitively. All Prunus plants need to be pruned in warm, dry weather to prevent a fungal disease called Silver Leaf. A tall narrow topiary column would look very smart, and could be maintained at whatever height and width suits you. Yew would be a good option for a 6ft column. It would still look very good in winter. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
In article , Sacha
writes Sounds good and as if it might do the job then. A picture http://www.frankpmatthews.com/amelan...ia-obelisk.htm -- Janet Tweedy |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message ... In article , Sacha writes Sounds good and as if it might do the job then. A picture http://www.frankpmatthews.com/amelan...ia-obelisk.htm -- Janet Tweedy It's not just the flowers but the edible fruits and the stunning autumn colour. It is quite hardy here in the far north of Scotland (Bonar Bridge). Phil |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 10/12/2012 22:10, Kate wrote:
Hi Can anyone suggest a shrub that has a profile a bit like a tree... grows to 5-6 feet tall, only spreads 2 to 3 feet, and is quite "leggy" or "trunky" (most interest is found in the top foot or two) ? Many thanks in advance :) How about a columnar yew (if you don't mind the toxicity). It will grow taller eventually but it will take a (very) long time to do so. The variagated cultivar is even slower (and so more expensive). If you want flowers and can live with it getting a bit taller the flowering cherry cv Amanogawa (lit Milky Way) isn't bad either but it will eventually get to about 15-20' after a couple of decades. I expect you could prune to keep the size down but I never had the heart to. There are a few specimen columnar cypruses and other evergreens with very columnar habits and slow growth that would be worth consideration. There is even an oak cultivar that I have seen growing in the central reservation of the A184 in Gateshead. Taller than 6' but nice. Most trees will keep getting bigger but some grow very slowly. I have some pretty large old apple trees on nominally dwarfing stock. Regards, Martin Brown |
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Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 12/12/2012 16:13, echinosum wrote:
'Janet Tweedy[_2_ Wrote: ;974784']In article , Sacha writes- Sounds good and as if it might do the job then.- A picture 'Amelanchier alnifolia 'Obelisk' ® amelanchier - Trees for Life - Frank P. Matthews Ltd.' (http://tinyurl.com/c88y2uw) That says to 4m. But mine has remained less than 2m after 10 years, but it clearly isn't very happy. I think Amelanchiers don't like dry conditions. The flowering period is extremely short, blink and they've gone. *Is* flowering that brief, or could the dry conditions you describe cause the buds/flowers to abort? I would love to grow Amelanchier in the near future, so would like to understand a bit more about its habit. I'd be grateful for your reflections. For instance, are there plenty of berries despite brief flowering,(which suggests to me that the flowers persist long enough however apparently brief) or do you feel there is a poor crop of berries. Do you know which form of Amelanchier you are growing? -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 12/12/2012 11:32 PM, Spider wrote:
On 12/12/2012 16:13, echinosum wrote: 'Janet Tweedy[_2_ Wrote: ;974784']In article , Sacha writes- Sounds good and as if it might do the job then.- A picture 'Amelanchier alnifolia 'Obelisk' ® amelanchier - Trees for Life - Frank P. Matthews Ltd.' (http://tinyurl.com/c88y2uw) That says to 4m. But mine has remained less than 2m after 10 years, but it clearly isn't very happy. I think Amelanchiers don't like dry conditions. The flowering period is extremely short, blink and they've gone. *Is* flowering that brief, or could the dry conditions you describe cause the buds/flowers to abort? I would love to grow Amelanchier in the near future, so would like to understand a bit more about its habit. I'd be grateful for your reflections. For instance, are there plenty of berries despite brief flowering,(which suggests to me that the flowers persist long enough however apparently brief) or do you feel there is a poor crop of berries. Do you know which form of Amelanchier you are growing? Jumping in here, I grow A. lamarckii, flowering is indeed very brief (but lovely). It's in a pretty wet spot where it thrives. Birds get the berries before us, though! I would have said it was a spreading shrub, so 'Obelisk' sounds very interesting. The spring leaf out is a gorgeous bronze colour, and the pure white flowers make a really pretty contrast. Good fall colour too, mixed reds and purples. |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 12/12/2012 22:34, Emery Davis wrote:
On 12/12/2012 11:32 PM, Spider wrote: On 12/12/2012 16:13, echinosum wrote: 'Janet Tweedy[_2_ Wrote: ;974784']In article , Sacha writes- Sounds good and as if it might do the job then.- A picture 'Amelanchier alnifolia 'Obelisk' ® amelanchier - Trees for Life - Frank P. Matthews Ltd.' (http://tinyurl.com/c88y2uw) That says to 4m. But mine has remained less than 2m after 10 years, but it clearly isn't very happy. I think Amelanchiers don't like dry conditions. The flowering period is extremely short, blink and they've gone. *Is* flowering that brief, or could the dry conditions you describe cause the buds/flowers to abort? I would love to grow Amelanchier in the near future, so would like to understand a bit more about its habit. I'd be grateful for your reflections. For instance, are there plenty of berries despite brief flowering,(which suggests to me that the flowers persist long enough however apparently brief) or do you feel there is a poor crop of berries. Do you know which form of Amelanchier you are growing? Jumping in here, I grow A. lamarckii, flowering is indeed very brief (but lovely). It's in a pretty wet spot where it thrives. Birds get the berries before us, though! I would have said it was a spreading shrub, so 'Obelisk' sounds very interesting. The spring leaf out is a gorgeous bronze colour, and the pure white flowers make a really pretty contrast. Good fall colour too, mixed reds and purples. Thanks, Emery. That useful to know. Reckon I'll have to put up with a short flowering period then. I could always grow a clematis through it for summer flowers. Can you tell me if A. lamarckii, in your experience, is the obedient tree type or the suckering shrub type? -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
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Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 12/12/2012 11:57 PM, Spider wrote:
Can you tell me if A. lamarckii, in your experience, is the obedient tree type or the suckering shrub type? Spider, ours suckers pretty freely. Definitely not obedient! |
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It's on neutral-to-acid clay, shaded by greenhouse and by 4 giant leylandiis. As I said before, I don't notice it as having a short flowering period, and it's absolutely smothered in flower. Bronze spring foliage is beautiful, as is the autumn colour, so all-in-all it's one of the better-value shrubs in the garden. Berries are small and I think ripen to black, but the blackbirds are very fond of them, so they're not something I notice. |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
"Sacha" wrote in message ... I think there might be some confusion here. I didn't recommend Amelanchier but people who are happy with it did and I made the "Sounds good" remark. I don't know if will suit the OP's needs. One other thought occurs to me and that is a Wisteria, grown as a standard. We have 3 on a lawn here and the 2 best flowerers look superb. The oldest is no more than 5' tall after about 5 years and of course, is on a 'trunk' with the branches weeping towards the ground. -- Sacha Well -- I would not call standard wisterias naturally tall and thin, although some pruning could assist. (see one of my 20 yr olds ). http://www.flickr.com/photos/8130344...in/photostream Very beautiful, but in need of Very strong support. I have had to resort to guy ropes a la tent style ! Pete |
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I also have Juneberry A. lamarkii/canadensis (which may be synonyms). Again in a very dry spot, which doesn't work very well. It doesn't get bigger than about 1.5m for me, and suckers a bit. It won't bush out for me, I just get very long straggly bits which I have to shorten or it looks ridiculous. The berries are much nicer to eat than the ones on A alnifolia Obelisk, when I manage to get to a ripe one before the birds, who really like them. I've seen them growing in moist soil in Abingdon, and they grow bushy to 3-4m, a very effective screen while in leaf, and are well covered in really tasty berries. |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 12/12/2012 23:12, Emery Davis wrote:
On 12/12/2012 11:57 PM, Spider wrote: Can you tell me if A. lamarckii, in your experience, is the obedient tree type or the suckering shrub type? Spider, ours suckers pretty freely. Definitely not obedient! Thanks, Emery. Well, I shan't be getting that one, then! Not that I have anything against suckering shrubs or trees generally, but I don't want to run out of planting opportunities for other good shrubs. I had a lovely Berberis stenophylla once, with that attractive arching growth, but it wanted to take over the world. Took me ages to dig it all out! I still admire it in other gardens, but have learnt the lesson. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 12/13/2012 02:20 PM, Spider wrote:
I had a lovely Berberis stenophylla once, with that attractive arching growth, but it wanted to take over the world. Took me ages to dig it all out! I still admire it in other gardens, but have learnt the lesson. Ha, I've made the mistake of putting one of these on each side of a 3m fence gate. They are intent on closing the gap, I have to hack constantly at them to keep enough room to get the tractor through. So much for arching shape! (Well they arch on one side, anyway). |
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Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 13/12/2012 16:33, Emery Davis wrote:
On 12/13/2012 02:20 PM, Spider wrote: I had a lovely Berberis stenophylla once, with that attractive arching growth, but it wanted to take over the world. Took me ages to dig it all out! I still admire it in other gardens, but have learnt the lesson. Ha, I've made the mistake of putting one of these on each side of a 3m fence gate. They are intent on closing the gap, I have to hack constantly at them to keep enough room to get the tractor through. So much for arching shape! (Well they arch on one side, anyway). Well, lovely as they are, I'd be rid of them if I were you, but I don't envy you the job .. one was hard enough to get out! I'm surprised yours haven't come up elsewhere to start another thicket or two. That's what mine did .. started suckering a few feet away. Hope yours doesn't do the same. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 13/12/2012 18:16, Sacha wrote:
On 2012-12-13 12:24:07 +0000, "Pete" said: "Sacha" wrote in message ... I think there might be some confusion here. I didn't recommend Amelanchier but people who are happy with it did and I made the "Sounds good" remark. I don't know if will suit the OP's needs. One other thought occurs to me and that is a Wisteria, grown as a standard. We have 3 on a lawn here and the 2 best flowerers look superb. The oldest is no more than 5' tall after about 5 years and of course, is on a 'trunk' with the branches weeping towards the ground. Pete's reply is 'greyed out' so I reproduce the whole thing he "Sacha" wrote in message ... I think there might be some confusion here. I didn't recommend Amelanchier but people who are happy with it did and I made the "Sounds good" remark. I don't know if will suit the OP's needs. One other thought occurs to me and that is a Wisteria, grown as a standard. We have 3 on a lawn here and the 2 best flowerers look superb. The oldest is no more than 5' tall after about 5 years and of course, is on a 'trunk' with the branches weeping towards the ground. -- Sacha Well -- I would not call standard wisterias naturally tall and thin, although some pruning could assist. (see one of my 20 yr olds ). http://www.flickr.com/photos/8130344...in/photostream Very beautiful, but in need of Very strong support. I have had to resort to guy ropes a la tent style ! Pete Your Wisteria is simply beautiful. We're letting ours do something rather different and allowing the branches to arch over towards the ground. I saw this first at a friend's house in Jersey, about 25 years ago. Their Wisterias had been in for a very long time and looked like ball gowns, sweeping the grass with their blossom. I wonder if Myrtus communis, would answer the OP's requirements. While they seed, it's not so badly as to be uncontrollable or a nuisance, imo. But would it be hardy enough? I thought they were borderline hardy and the OP is in the Midlands. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 12/13/2012 08:08 PM, kay wrote:
'Spider[_3_ Wrote: ;974873']On 12/12/2012 23:12, Emery Davis wrote:- On 12/12/2012 11:57 PM, Spider wrote:- Can you tell me if A. lamarckii, in your experience, is the obedient tree type or the suckering shrub type?- Spider, ours suckers pretty freely. Definitely not obedient!- Thanks, Emery. Well, I shan't be getting that one, then! Not that I have anything against suckering shrubs or trees generally, but I don't want to run out of planting opportunities for other good shrubs. I had a lovely Berberis stenophylla once, with that attractive arching growth, but it wanted to take over the world. Took me ages to dig it all out! I still admire it in other gardens, but have learnt the lesson. What are you both meaning by suckering here? Do you simply mean throwing up branches from the base, or doing you mean sending our new branches away from the plant, like snowberry or sumach? Amelanchier doesn't do the latter in my experience. Well, I can't claim a very wide experience with Amelanchier, but this one certainly suckered. I do mean new branches coming up a foot or a foot and a half from the original stem. Since the original time it hasn't sent up new stems that I've seen. This particular plant was originally planted in a very dry spot at the base of a wall, where it did very poorly for a couple of years, I then moved it to this wet spot, and it has been very happy. After a year or so it started sending up volunteers. It's a beautiful shrub, but mine certainly has suckered. |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 12/13/2012 10:13 PM, Sacha wrote:
But would it be hardy enough? I thought they were borderline hardy and the OP is in the Midlands. It depends very much on her particular area. We've had some lasting cold snaps here that they've sailed through. But we're not talking months. Greece, where they grow most beautifully, can be very cold but it's very well drained. Personally, I'd be tempted to try it, if it's the right tree for the setting in terms of shape etc. But I wouldn't be prepared to risk a lot of money on it if the ground is soggy and holds winter wet They hate wet it seems, I killed a well established one that way (change in the drainage). |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 13/12/2012 19:08, kay wrote:
'Spider[_3_ Wrote: ;974873']On 12/12/2012 23:12, Emery Davis wrote:- On 12/12/2012 11:57 PM, Spider wrote:- Can you tell me if A. lamarckii, in your experience, is the obedient tree type or the suckering shrub type?- Spider, ours suckers pretty freely. Definitely not obedient!- Thanks, Emery. Well, I shan't be getting that one, then! Not that I have anything against suckering shrubs or trees generally, but I don't want to run out of planting opportunities for other good shrubs. I had a lovely Berberis stenophylla once, with that attractive arching growth, but it wanted to take over the world. Took me ages to dig it all out! I still admire it in other gardens, but have learnt the lesson. What are you both meaning by suckering here? Do you simply mean throwing up branches from the base, or doing you mean sending our new branches away from the plant, like snowberry or sumach? Amelanchier doesn't do the latter in my experience. When I refer to the Berberis stenophylla, I mean appearing feet away from the original shrub and galloping out of control. The Berberis also mildly suckered from the base in a more acceptable manor before it romped. As to *my* potential Amelanchier, I am hoping it will be more tree than shrub, perhaps a multi-stemmed treeish growth. I can tolerate a teensy bit of basal suckering, but I certainly don't want an over-sized bush with a stampeding suckering tendency. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 13/12/2012 21:13, Sacha wrote:
On 2012-12-13 19:29:05 +0000, Spider said: On 13/12/2012 18:16, Sacha wrote: On 2012-12-13 12:24:07 +0000, "Pete" said: "Sacha" wrote in message ... I think there might be some confusion here. I didn't recommend Amelanchier but people who are happy with it did and I made the "Sounds good" remark. I don't know if will suit the OP's needs. One other thought occurs to me and that is a Wisteria, grown as a standard. We have 3 on a lawn here and the 2 best flowerers look superb. The oldest is no more than 5' tall after about 5 years and of course, is on a 'trunk' with the branches weeping towards the ground. Pete's reply is 'greyed out' so I reproduce the whole thing he "Sacha" wrote in message ... I think there might be some confusion here. I didn't recommend Amelanchier but people who are happy with it did and I made the "Sounds good" remark. I don't know if will suit the OP's needs. One other thought occurs to me and that is a Wisteria, grown as a standard. We have 3 on a lawn here and the 2 best flowerers look superb. The oldest is no more than 5' tall after about 5 years and of course, is on a 'trunk' with the branches weeping towards the ground. -- Sacha Well -- I would not call standard wisterias naturally tall and thin, although some pruning could assist. (see one of my 20 yr olds ). http://www.flickr.com/photos/8130344...in/photostream Very beautiful, but in need of Very strong support. I have had to resort to guy ropes a la tent style ! Pete Your Wisteria is simply beautiful. We're letting ours do something rather different and allowing the branches to arch over towards the ground. I saw this first at a friend's house in Jersey, about 25 years ago. Their Wisterias had been in for a very long time and looked like ball gowns, sweeping the grass with their blossom. I wonder if Myrtus communis, would answer the OP's requirements. While they seed, it's not so badly as to be uncontrollable or a nuisance, imo. But would it be hardy enough? I thought they were borderline hardy and the OP is in the Midlands. It depends very much on her particular area. We've had some lasting cold snaps here that they've sailed through. But we're not talking months. Greece, where they grow most beautifully, can be very cold but it's very well drained. Personally, I'd be tempted to try it, if it's the right tree for the setting in terms of shape etc. But I wouldn't be prepared to risk a lot of money on it if the ground is soggy and holds winter wet. The OP is on slightly acid clay, so I'd be a bit worried about drainage. All the same, if drainage were improved, it could work. It's a lovely shrub and can be clipped to keep it within bounds, so it may work. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 12/13/2012 11:34 PM, Spider wrote:
As to *my* potential Amelanchier, I am hoping it will be more tree than shrub, perhaps a multi-stemmed treeish growth. I can tolerate a teensy bit of basal suckering, but I certainly don't want an over-sized bush with a stampeding suckering tendency. I think the total footprint of mine is about a square meter. Certainly it doesn't stampede like a Berberis... :) They really are lovely, I'd put more in around the hedges if I had the time and money. |
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Maybe more research into different species? (No I don't know which one mine is) |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 13/12/2012 22:46, Emery Davis wrote:
On 12/13/2012 11:34 PM, Spider wrote: As to *my* potential Amelanchier, I am hoping it will be more tree than shrub, perhaps a multi-stemmed treeish growth. I can tolerate a teensy bit of basal suckering, but I certainly don't want an over-sized bush with a stampeding suckering tendency. I think the total footprint of mine is about a square meter. Certainly it doesn't stampede like a Berberis... :) They really are lovely, I'd put more in around the hedges if I had the time and money. Ah, that's bit more hopeful then. I'm obviously going to have to spend Christmas reading about trees. A. lamarckii is suddenly back on the list! -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 14/12/2012 22:42, Sacha wrote:
On 2012-12-13 22:43:41 +0000, Spider said: On 13/12/2012 21:13, Sacha wrote: On 2012-12-13 19:29:05 +0000, Spider said: On 13/12/2012 18:16, Sacha wrote: On 2012-12-13 12:24:07 +0000, "Pete" said: "Sacha" wrote in message ... I think there might be some confusion here. I didn't recommend Amelanchier but people who are happy with it did and I made the "Sounds good" remark. I don't know if will suit the OP's needs. One other thought occurs to me and that is a Wisteria, grown as a standard. We have 3 on a lawn here and the 2 best flowerers look superb. The oldest is no more than 5' tall after about 5 years and of course, is on a 'trunk' with the branches weeping towards the ground. Pete's reply is 'greyed out' so I reproduce the whole thing he "Sacha" wrote in message ... I think there might be some confusion here. I didn't recommend Amelanchier but people who are happy with it did and I made the "Sounds good" remark. I don't know if will suit the OP's needs. One other thought occurs to me and that is a Wisteria, grown as a standard. We have 3 on a lawn here and the 2 best flowerers look superb. The oldest is no more than 5' tall after about 5 years and of course, is on a 'trunk' with the branches weeping towards the ground. -- Sacha Well -- I would not call standard wisterias naturally tall and thin, although some pruning could assist. (see one of my 20 yr olds ). http://www.flickr.com/photos/8130344...in/photostream Very beautiful, but in need of Very strong support. I have had to resort to guy ropes a la tent style ! Pete Your Wisteria is simply beautiful. We're letting ours do something rather different and allowing the branches to arch over towards the ground. I saw this first at a friend's house in Jersey, about 25 years ago. Their Wisterias had been in for a very long time and looked like ball gowns, sweeping the grass with their blossom. I wonder if Myrtus communis, would answer the OP's requirements. While they seed, it's not so badly as to be uncontrollable or a nuisance, imo. But would it be hardy enough? I thought they were borderline hardy and the OP is in the Midlands. It depends very much on her particular area. We've had some lasting cold snaps here that they've sailed through. But we're not talking months. Greece, where they grow most beautifully, can be very cold but it's very well drained. Personally, I'd be tempted to try it, if it's the right tree for the setting in terms of shape etc. But I wouldn't be prepared to risk a lot of money on it if the ground is soggy and holds winter wet. The OP is on slightly acid clay, so I'd be a bit worried about drainage. All the same, if drainage were improved, it could work. It's a lovely shrub and can be clipped to keep it within bounds, so it may work. Well, we're a mix of loam over clay over shillet and a garden where you can't walk on the big lawn in winter but where, in summer, it has fissures a man could put his whole arm into! We grow Rhodos and Camellias but Hyams was told by Kew that they'd never 'do' here. So.......! Yup .. anything goes! Plants don't read gardening books, and there's the proof if we needed it. I think the OP could be fairly relaxed. She's been given a reasonable list of plants. All she's got to do now is say "if, skip, sky blue .." and if the sky is ever blue long enough, she'll probably get away with it;~). -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 15/12/2012 17:47, Sacha wrote:
On 2012-12-15 17:29:28 +0000, Spider said: On 14/12/2012 22:42, Sacha wrote: On 2012-12-13 22:43:41 +0000, Spider said: On 13/12/2012 21:13, Sacha wrote: On 2012-12-13 19:29:05 +0000, Spider said: On 13/12/2012 18:16, Sacha wrote: On 2012-12-13 12:24:07 +0000, "Pete" said: "Sacha" wrote in message ... I think there might be some confusion here. I didn't recommend Amelanchier but people who are happy with it did and I made the "Sounds good" remark. I don't know if will suit the OP's needs. One other thought occurs to me and that is a Wisteria, grown as a standard. We have 3 on a lawn here and the 2 best flowerers look superb. The oldest is no more than 5' tall after about 5 years and of course, is on a 'trunk' with the branches weeping towards the ground. Pete's reply is 'greyed out' so I reproduce the whole thing he "Sacha" wrote in message ... I think there might be some confusion here. I didn't recommend Amelanchier but people who are happy with it did and I made the "Sounds good" remark. I don't know if will suit the OP's needs. One other thought occurs to me and that is a Wisteria, grown as a standard. We have 3 on a lawn here and the 2 best flowerers look superb. The oldest is no more than 5' tall after about 5 years and of course, is on a 'trunk' with the branches weeping towards the ground. -- Sacha Well -- I would not call standard wisterias naturally tall and thin, although some pruning could assist. (see one of my 20 yr olds ). http://www.flickr.com/photos/8130344...in/photostream Very beautiful, but in need of Very strong support. I have had to resort to guy ropes a la tent style ! Pete Your Wisteria is simply beautiful. We're letting ours do something rather different and allowing the branches to arch over towards the ground. I saw this first at a friend's house in Jersey, about 25 years ago. Their Wisterias had been in for a very long time and looked like ball gowns, sweeping the grass with their blossom. I wonder if Myrtus communis, would answer the OP's requirements. While they seed, it's not so badly as to be uncontrollable or a nuisance, imo. But would it be hardy enough? I thought they were borderline hardy and the OP is in the Midlands. It depends very much on her particular area. We've had some lasting cold snaps here that they've sailed through. But we're not talking months. Greece, where they grow most beautifully, can be very cold but it's very well drained. Personally, I'd be tempted to try it, if it's the right tree for the setting in terms of shape etc. But I wouldn't be prepared to risk a lot of money on it if the ground is soggy and holds winter wet. The OP is on slightly acid clay, so I'd be a bit worried about drainage. All the same, if drainage were improved, it could work. It's a lovely shrub and can be clipped to keep it within bounds, so it may work. Well, we're a mix of loam over clay over shillet and a garden where you can't walk on the big lawn in winter but where, in summer, it has fissures a man could put his whole arm into! We grow Rhodos and Camellias but Hyams was told by Kew that they'd never 'do' here. So.......! Yup .. anything goes! Plants don't read gardening books, and there's the proof if we needed it. I think the OP could be fairly relaxed. She's been given a reasonable list of plants. All she's got to do now is say "if, skip, sky blue .." and if the sky is ever blue long enough, she'll probably get away with it;~). I do have to get into my default setting that not everything that grows here will grow further north - and there's a LOT of further north. I was very tempted to suggest Mahonia lomarifolia but it's frost tender. Apparently. Ours, however, is not but again, we don't hold onto frost for very long by some standards. We have a couple in the garden that have come through the last two winters without blinking... Yes, that's a lovely plant, too, but I would rule it out simply because it's quite spiny and the OP said the plant is to go next to an access path. Otherwise it's got a lot going for it. Even some conifers could, in summer, cause skin iritation if they were brushed passed with bare arms. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
On 15/12/2012 23:51, Sacha wrote:
On 2012-12-15 22:50:43 +0000, Spider said: On 15/12/2012 17:47, Sacha wrote: snip Yup .. anything goes! Plants don't read gardening books, and there's the proof if we needed it. I think the OP could be fairly relaxed. She's been given a reasonable list of plants. All she's got to do now is say "if, skip, sky blue .." and if the sky is ever blue long enough, she'll probably get away with it;~). I do have to get into my default setting that not everything that grows here will grow further north - and there's a LOT of further north. I was very tempted to suggest Mahonia lomarifolia but it's frost tender. Apparently. Ours, however, is not but again, we don't hold onto frost for very long by some standards. We have a couple in the garden that have come through the last two winters without blinking... Yes, that's a lovely plant, too, but I would rule it out simply because it's quite spiny and the OP said the plant is to go next to an access path. Otherwise it's got a lot going for it. Even some conifers could, in summer, cause skin iritation if they were brushed passed with bare arms. Curious you say that about conifers! My household helper has many red marks on her arms from dealing with her Christmas tree! Indeed. I think it's quite common. I used to have a very irritable rash after pruning an old juniper. Once I was aware of it, I wore gauntlets or long sleeves. Haven't noticed a problem with Yew yet, even though that is very toxic. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
In article ,
Spider wrote: Indeed. I think it's quite common. I used to have a very irritable rash after pruning an old juniper. Once I was aware of it, I wore gauntlets or long sleeves. Haven't noticed a problem with Yew yet, even though that is very toxic. Toxic and irritant aren't the same! Yew isn't as toxic as all that, despite Shakespearean myth. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Tall thin shrub recommendation??
"Kate" wrote in message ... Thanks for all the suggestions so far :) I'm in the Midlands, slightly acidic clay soil. It's a corner behind a raised bed with an access path behind, that's why it can't spread too far but also needs to be fairly tall to be seen. But not too tall or it will be out of proportion with the bed. Don't mind about deciduous or evergreen... flowers are always nice :) Another suggestion - a much admired "ever yellow" form of Yew. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8130344...in/photostream More a miniature tree really but very slow growing. Mine is about two metres high after about twenty years of growth. Never needs pruning and is as naturally tall and thin as you go ! Small red berries form the fruit. Pete |
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