Hi all, I am currently looking to do some landscaping around a natural area of our pool. I am looking for some sort of bush/hedge that will look tropical or go good in a tropical setting as a background. I want them to be flower/berry free and low maintenance., not messy. Always green, so evergreen a plus, but doesn't have to be green. 4-6' height and be able to cut back, so leaves along stems would be preferred.Full sun till around 6pm in summer. Any suggestions would be great. Oh yeah, I am outside Raleigh NC zone 8a-8b. Thanks Ed

HI Eddein, Have you visited the J C Raulston botanical Gardens and checked out what does well in your area? It is always nice to see plant material in its mature state. Another good nearby place to check out is Juniper Level Botanical Gardens AKA Plant Delights Nursery. Tony Avant has some interesting material you will not find elsewhere. Good Luck.

Ardesia, Thank you so much, didn't even know that they existed. My last resort was going to be contacting NC State, now I can go look and speak with someone. Also, I agree, looking at species is way better. Beats driving around to small nurseries not seeing anything, they all seem to have the same stuff that flowers. We will be adding flowers on a more focused area etc. just don't need a 45 foot hedge/screen to drop flowers in masses to blow in pool. I will add some pics as I go, suggestion will be taken. Trying to make my wife her own oasis and we love Jamaica so as tropical as I can get for our zone. Thanks Again, just told wife we have plans this weekend. Ed

Also check out the Plant Delights nursery in that area, sure they will excellent suggestions

https://www.plantdelights.com/

@crawgarden, will do, actually right around the corner. Never new. I just can't understand why I do not know these places are around here. I can only think if they marketed better people would be there instead of large box stores. Thanks

Another nearby option is Big Bloomers Flower Farm in Sanford. Although they are not a Botanical Garden but a retail nursery, they are an experience not to be missed. If you have not already been there be prepared for sensory overload. Another plus is their prices are the best around.

Ardesia, Wow I am besides myself on how you all know these places, another one I didn't know about. You must of lived here at one point, lol. Sanford isn't too far, I'm in Fuquay Varina. We cannot wait to visit all these places, Covid-19 interfering with everyone's life these days. Hopefully not for too long.

LOL, no, but I lived in Columbia, SC and regularly made plant buying trips to your area. Tony Avant used to run (may still) some fabulous classes. His propagation class was definitely worth it.