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Small border shrub suggestions

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Hi clever MSE gardeners,

I have removed 2 tiny caterpillar/slug munched shrubs from our front border and an looking for one to replace these. I would love to hear suggestions of anything you think may work and the more of the following "boxes" it could "tick" the better.

*Not going to grow tall or spread out- ideally staying the same height/ width- maybe a foot high and a foot in diameter?

*flowering mid/ late summer/ early autumn- the only colour in the garden from late August is a peach Rose bush and a blue hydrangea.

*maybe flowering in pink/ lilac/ purple?

*attractive to butterflies/ bees and ideally off-putting for pests (and cats if possible but not dangerous for cats)

*safe to have in a garden with children & pets- nothing poisonous.

We are in Scotland so fairly hardy, absolutely no idea of what the soil is like etc, things that currently grow well in the garden- the hydrangea/ roses/ peony roses/ a pieris/ the usual spring bulbs- daffodils/ tulips/ crocus' etc.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
MARCH GROCERY CHALLENGE £118/ £250

Comments

  • floss2
    floss2 Posts: 8,030 Forumite
    How about a hebe? Or have a look on here: RHS
  • Leif
    Leif Posts: 3,727 Forumite
    floss2 wrote: »
    How about a hebe? Or have a look on here: RHS

    You beat me to it. I have one that grows to 12" high and wide. Also look at Parahebe. As said above, the RHS site is useful, but you might also do well to take a gander round a good local garden centre, the RHS site is not complete.
    Warning: This forum may contain nuts.
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    12" x 12" ? That's a small shrub all right! :rotfl:

    Oh, and it has to flower.....:eek:....Now...:( !

    I see Parahebe is taken, so I will go for Ceratostigma willmotanum.

    Maybe it's larger than a foot square, but it's prunable and it's nearly purple.....

    Err OK, it's blue! :D
  • Leif
    Leif Posts: 3,727 Forumite
    A few more come to mind, though I'm not sure they will survive Scotland, and they are maybe not what you had in mind. Lavender is nice, the Hidcote variety is compact and attractive, and mine is still flowering. Bees and other insects love it. A rosemary from the prostratus group might be a bit bigger than you want, but again insects love it, and I love the oily scent. Cotoneaster comes in low growing forms, but they sprawl, so they need pruning, but that is easy to do. Also it produces red berries for winter birds.
    Warning: This forum may contain nuts.
  • Thanks guys, I'll have a wander round a garden centre this week armed with the suggestions.

    Davesnave- The list wasn't intended to be rigid/ exhaustive but I'm glad it presented a good challenge! :p
    MARCH GROCERY CHALLENGE £118/ £250
  • A._Badger
    A._Badger Posts: 5,881 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    A late vote for hebes.

    I've never bothered with them until a couple of years ago and now I have I am kicking myself for not having discovered their charms before. I have one particular bed that is very difficult indeed (rubbish soil, shallow and over a drain, sucked dry by a large holly tree )-I planted two hebes a couple of years ago are (only two?! Eat your heart out, Miss Jekyll!) and they have shrugged off everything - 2012's slug and snail armies, included.
  • Yup, a hebe sprang to mind as soon as I read OP!
    You never know how far-reaching something good, that you may do or say today, may affect the lives of others tomorrow
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