TREE AND SHRUBSLeaf it to me

Help with plants in Scotland please?

Hello Yahooas, I live in the north east of Scotland, very windy at times (Nr Aberdeen) and am wanting some evergreen shrubs for the (large) garden. Did have a beautiful Broom bush until the last gales just ripped it out. The winter here is so dreary it would be nice to have some greenery/colour wintertime, PLEASE any advice or ideas greatly appreciated?

Junipers are very nice with a lot of different shapes and textures. Juniperus chinensis Tortulosa is a great upright with a twisting character and large berry (great texture) and the Japanese garden juniper is low and compact but can be trained in cascades if backed up to a rock or staked. A fun trick that I enjoyed was to get a collection of three or four deciduous Azalea that come in those nice fire colors, red, orange and yellow and mix them into a mass planting. When they gorow in, and when blosseming, it is like a fire and very striking. Get some more Cytissus and keep them cut back to they stay full but not to high as the wood is weak and heavy wind will beat them up as you have already experienced. Burkwoods red broom is very nice. Chinoides white Rhododendron has a nice leaf form and stays low, not taking over your windows and doors holding you prisoner. Rhododendon Impeditum stays to about a foot or so in height with a wonderful tiny leaf and flower (dark purple) and “Starry Night” is as close to a blue (very deep!) as you will ever find in the Rhodo’s. Has little yellow dots like stars at night. Don’t forget the English Hollies. I use Pyracantha under my windows (he he he) and that has a great orange berry set for those dreary winter days. If you are really a good gardener and you can find it, try Oregon Grape Holly. It has an amazing wood, a deciduous (semi) leaf like a holly in shape, but has huge sets of berries like grapes. That one needs protection though, from wind, and shade in the summer but sun in the winter. Hard to grow but if you get the right place you will see it’s value. Also, Cotoneaster is a great shrub with a nice winter appeal (wood has great shape and some well berried) and frequently semi evergreen. I could go on all day.

Abriachan Nurseries The Garden On Loch Ness