Avatar for REEREETAYLOR
Mar 31, 2015 1:47 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sheree
(Zone 8b)
I have a one hundred ft porch and I'm looking to put a shrub (evergreen) along the side that blooms a lot... does anyone have any suggestions on what shrub that would work best....and will be able to handle the weather that falls between 15 degrees to 101 degrees throughout the year....
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Mar 31, 2015 2:03 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
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You can try Cotoneaster shrubs. They have blooms and lovely colorful berries too.
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Mar 31, 2015 2:29 PM CST
Plants Admin Emeritus
Name: Evan
Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA (Zone 6a)
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Hi REEREE, Welcome to ATP.
Could you describe your climate a bit or provide a general location? Dry or wet summers,...
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Mar 31, 2015 2:50 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
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Tell us the direction your porch faces, that would also help. eg. If it's on the north side of the house, the shrubs would need to tolerate shade but on the south side they'd be in the sun. Are there trees near the area you want to plant?

Does the roof shed water onto the bed where the shrubs will be?

How tall do you want your shrubs to grow? Are you looking for a privacy screen, or just a low, decorative easy care border?

Do you want evergreen shrubs or is it ok to have them lose their leaves in winter?
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." โ€“Winston Churchill
Avatar for REEREETAYLOR
Mar 31, 2015 7:02 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sheree
(Zone 8b)
Evan-I live in south Georgia... mostly dry summers wet winters, occasional freeze and frost... also the soil is mostly sand...
Elaine- the porch faces west so they would get full Sun from about 11a.m. until dark... there are no trees or shade at all and the roof does not shed water onto the bed cause the porch is about 14' wide...I would like the shrubs to grow about 6' tall...looking for easy care border... I would like for them to be evergreen yet I would like for them to bloom colorful flowers throughout the warmer months...
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Mar 31, 2015 7:08 PM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
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I wonder if Hibiscus would work. They sure tick all the boxes.
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Mar 31, 2015 8:12 PM CST
Name: Celia
West Valley City, Utah (Zone 7a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Irises Plant Identifier Hummingbirder Birds
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Some of the shrub crepe myrtles would do too.
Avatar for REEREETAYLOR
Apr 1, 2015 4:35 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sheree
(Zone 8b)
Hetty... I have had several hibiscus and the cold always gets them but they are beautiful... I have even tried bringing them in but they die every time...
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Apr 1, 2015 5:24 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Maybe some of the Hardy Hibiscus then? Not as flashy but nonetheless very satisfying.
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Apr 1, 2015 7:26 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- ๐ŸŒน (Zone 8b)
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Sounds like a perfect spot for Gardenias! I might also add a few Rosemary.
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Apr 1, 2015 8:46 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
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Gardenias would be lovely there, and they are evergreen plus stay about the size you want. A little slow-growing though.

There are now some varieties available that re-bloom so you wouldn't have one flush of bloom in the spring, and then nothing. 'August Beauty' is one that re-blooms and there are others.

The other one I'd consider is Sambucus 'Black Lace' Elderberry (Sambucus nigra Black Laceโ„ข) although it is deciduous. The foliage is just lovely, plus they are hardy and grow fairly quickly but take very well to pruning to keep them at a size you will like. It only blooms in the spring, though, but then has berries through the summer and fall for interest, and they attract birds. The foliage varies from dark green to burgundy, and turns a lovely red in the fall.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." โ€“Winston Churchill
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Apr 1, 2015 10:10 AM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
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There are quite a number of shrub roses that would be evergreen in your climate and bloom repeatedly much of the year. Look particularly at the Earth Kind and disease resistant ones.
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Apr 1, 2015 11:58 AM CST
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Greenhouse Plant Identifier Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Plumerias Ponds
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I vote for gardenias. Evergreen, bloom all summer, good for vase-cuttings, and they smell deviiiiiiiine! Lovey dubby
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Apr 1, 2015 12:14 PM CST
Name: Celia
West Valley City, Utah (Zone 7a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Irises Plant Identifier Hummingbirder Birds
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Cat Lover Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Hmmm...100' of gardenia fragrance. Seems a bit overwhelming?
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Apr 1, 2015 12:22 PM CST
Name: Tom Cagle
SE-OH (Zone 6a)
Old, fat, and gardening in OH
Azalea comes to mind.
Avatar for REEREETAYLOR
Apr 1, 2015 1:22 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sheree
(Zone 8b)
Thank you all for all your suggestions... its been really helpful... Hurray!
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Apr 1, 2015 1:29 PM CST
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Greenhouse Plant Identifier Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Plumerias Ponds
Foliage Fan Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tropicals Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Let us know what you decide, ReeRee. I live vicariously off other's gardening plans. Rolling on the floor laughing
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh
uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.
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Apr 1, 2015 4:05 PM CST
Name: Celia
West Valley City, Utah (Zone 7a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Irises Plant Identifier Hummingbirder Birds
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Cat Lover Butterflies Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Me, too!!!
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Apr 1, 2015 8:05 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
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I agree
And, of course, we always like to see photos !! Thumbs up
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C/F temp conversion
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Apr 1, 2015 8:25 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
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Sheree welcome to ATP! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Okay, I'm in north central Fl. just 35 miles south of the Ga. line. How about Loropetalum? Pretty, pretty, pretty! And TOUGH!!! You never saw anything so tough! They bloom off & on all year long. The take heat that melts your face off & freezes and they are evergreen! The leaves change colors --- they can be deep green & then the leaves change to red, bronze, pink off & on throughout the entire year so the plant is always fascinating. It's like having different plants all the time. Ours face southwest and some face west. They don't get ANY shade from 10 am now but in summer it will be more like 9am until dark @ 9pm. I love these things!!!!! They're amazing! The birds love hanging out in them & we find several nests each year. They make wonderful thick hedges. Oh, BTW, I have sand - Fl. sand. Here's a link for the genus so you can browse them:
http://garden.org/plants/brows...

This is the one I have:
Chinese Witch Hazel (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum)

Those bright blooms just knock your socks off. Oh, and I have never seen any pest problems or disease problems.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Last edited by flaflwrgrl Apr 1, 2015 8:26 PM Icon for preview

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