Appreciation: Favourite evergreen shrub - go!

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by heavypetal, Mar 11, 2020.

  1. heavypetal

    heavypetal New Member

    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    I'm finally ripping out the sad lawn in my front yard and boulevard, and am designing a garden for this small, part-shade space. I'm not so much looking for recommendations for this particular garden (though smaller, shade-tolerant evergreen recos would be great), but I am curious about your all-time favourite evergreen shrubs, and why you love them.

    I'll start with mine: Daphne odora, or winter daphne. That fragrance! That tidy growth habit! What are your favourites? Why do you love them?
     
  2. Margot

    Margot Renowned Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    2,613
    Likes Received:
    1,413
    Location:
    Nanoose Bay, BC Canada
    What an interesting challenge! Not sure what you mean by 'recos'
    though.

    I'm crazy about rhodos but my number one favourite shrub is Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum). Let me count the ways . . . first is that is a BC native plant and I always give priority to garden-worthy BC native plants. Even if it were not 'one of ours', it is a gorgeous shrub, every season of the year. It is evergreen. It is pest free. It doesn't grow too fast or too slow. It can grow in sun or partial shade. It produces delicious berries that persist for weeks in late summer and early fall (don't know why the birds don't gobble them up).

    And, as a completely surendipidous experience, it provided me with one of my most treasured memories when I discovered 2 of these enormous moths recently hatched in its branches.
    220px-Polyphemus_Moth_Antheraea_polyphemus.jpg
    Antheraea polyphemus - Wikipedia
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2020
  3. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,030
    Likes Received:
    2,376
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Recommendations, not a type of plant. :)
     
  4. Heathen

    Heathen Active Member

    Messages:
    57
    Likes Received:
    23
    Location:
    Victoria
    Common though it is, I'm a fan of Arbutus unedo. Tasty fruits, plenty of growth, and nearly every one I've looked after in clients' gardens has had a resident hummingbird. :)
    Second place is Pacific Wax Myrtle. It attracts a great variety of birds, and grows big enough to screen out the neighbours. Deer don't bother it much either. Big plus!
     
  5. heavypetal

    heavypetal New Member

    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    I love our native huckleberry as well :) Will definitely consider this for my front garden as I'd love include more native and edible plants. Thanks!
     
  6. heavypetal

    heavypetal New Member

    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    I don't have first-hand experience with either of these - thanks for helping to broaden my horizons :)
     
  7. Georgia Strait

    Georgia Strait Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    2,042
    Likes Received:
    784
    Location:
    South Okanagan & Greater Vancouver, BC Canada
    From the Salish Sea Coast nr Vanc

    I realize you said evergreen

    However I like the plain old original huckleberries w red berries in summer ... the leaves fall off in autumn but the twigs are really pretty red then spring brings little bright green leaves and the cycle continues. birds love the red fruit

    Plus once established - minimal water in a forest type garden

    Not really a shrub - but somewhat evergreen and low maintenance and minimal summer water once established in forest type garden : SWORD fern

    What else - minimal water and fuss and trimming ... Oregon grape (mahonia )

    For sure NO to laurel - holly - ivy and maybe even Pieris Japonica for my style tho the leaves look nice in floral arrangements
     
  8. heavypetal

    heavypetal New Member

    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Vancouver
    I love Western sword fern and mahonia as well. Reminds me of the forested half-acre surrounding my childhood home - I think those childhood plants will always have a special place in the heart.
     

Share This Page