Hello, I am helping someone design their garden, and they would like some broad-leaved evergreen trees for their front, entry-area. I would like some advice on tree selection please. There is a fairly mature western red cedar that has been retained in this front garden, and there are numerous other native conifers towering over it. As such, the theme for this garden's planting was decided to be a low-maintenance, native woodland one. The garden has room for 3 trees, and the form they require is that of an overhead canopy, as they will be arching over a pathway. I had proposed vine maples (to keep it native) but to give more options, i proposed non-native trees that i thought were appropriate for a woodland setting, such as Cornus kousa, Styrax japonicus, and Acer palmatum. All suggestions were rejected because evergreen trees were desired. Here are the trees I am considering now, and the thoughts I have about them, grouped in 3 sections: 1) I found these trees in this book, but am unsure if I can get them locally, if they will be of a reasonably substantial size when I get them, and if they will perform the way I want: Cornus capitata (evergreen dogwood) Quercus myrsinifolia (Chinese evergreen oak) Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum' (Japanese Privet) Ligustrum lucidum (Chinese Privet) Laurus nobilis (Bay laurel) 2)Magnolia grandiflora and Magnolia virginiana could work, but I feel they don't fit into the woodland theme...your thoughts?? 3)I read somewhere about a sterile English Holly, i believe it was called San Jose Holly. Does any one know anything about a sterile English Holly tree? Any other thoughts? I've left out Arbutus as an option since I've heard they are challenging to grow, and finding a large one for sale that will transplant successfully is very rare. I would appreciate any advice or feedback, this is my first major garden design. Thank you
If they want native then Myrica californica. The exotics you listed all have unsuitable aspects, in addition to being exotic.
Thanks for the advice Ron B. Could you elaborate on the unsuitable aspects of the exotics that I listed please? Also, i'd like to know your experiences with the Myrica californica...on the kwantlen website it is listed as a 4m shrub....have you seen it be successfully trained and grown as a tree here in Vancouver? Do you think it would work as an entry way tree (arching over a pathway)? I ask this because (again referring the kwantlen website) it is apparently an upright, dense canopy shrub. https://appserver1.kwantlen.ca/apps/plantid/plantid.nsf/lookup/139B0BE6E826598B882571A20081B5D3?OpenDocument
