shrub for exposed area

bugslet

Hello, hoping someone can suggest an evergreen shrub for an exposed, windy area.

Long version!

I've been completely renovating our side garden which is about 60' x 10-15' wide as it broadens at the top. I'm on a hill on a road that leads down to the Mersey Estuary. It's fenced in, slopes gently at the bottom, but rises quite sharply in the last 15' and suffers from being battered by the wind .

I've had two short flights of steps on the steep bit, built to divide a large area of soil up and create beds. The lower end of the garden is sort of separated by a large laurel bush, so continuity of planting is not vital.

I've pretty much sorted the planting, with a bit of leeway to evolve. However I'm struggling to come up with an evergreen shrub, around 3' - or one that mind being cut back - that will live there. Soil is pretty good, neutral, neither sandy or clay. I did think of Choisya Aztec Pearl ( Mexican Orange Blossom) but have read that they don't like cold and wind. At the moment I seem to be stuck with a cornus if I want to get some winter interest, which I don't mind, I'd just rather have evergreen.

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom:)

ERICS_MUM

Photinia (Red Robin), Pyracantha, shrubby honeysuckle such as Baggesens Gold are worth looking at.

Also maybe an Escallonia - one with larger thicker leaves rather than the small leaves on the Apple Blossom variety. In my north facing front garden I've got a Viburnum Tinus which seems tough as old boots. Not a thing of beauty but it's evergreen and has white flowers in early summer. Then there's the larger leafed euonymus - the leaves are quite waxy and seem to be unaffected by wind.

bugslet

Thanks Eric's mum, I've had a look and the Photinia looks really promising. Viburnum is another maybe as well.

I_have_spoken

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/plcid.1/vid.190/vid.228/numitems.100/

Davesnave

The viburnum tinus or eleagnus ebbingei would be my choice for toughness in the situation described....or the berberis darwinii if you don't mind prickly leaves.

ERICS_MUM

Davesnave wrote: »

The viburnum tinus or eleagnus ebbingei would be my choice for toughness in the situation described....or the berberis darwinii if you don't mind prickly leaves.

Oh yes, I forgot about eleagnus and Berberis - mine has just finished flowering (bright orange ). 2 good suggestions

bugslet

Thanks Davesnave.

I was thinking about putting a berberis a bit further up against the garage.

Vibernum tinus is now on the list.

Many thanks again, I'm going from diddly squat in gardening knowledge to a full garden renovation:eek::D

ERICS_MUM

I've got a Mahonia which is a spikey vicious little devil but it grows fast, has unusual leaves and has bright yellow flowers in winter. I hack mine back every spring and it thrives.