Recommendations for a shrub/bush

Lil_Me_2

I'm looking for some recommendations for something to go at the end of our front garden. It needs to be hardy, probably evergreen but I'd prefer a splash of colour.

Backstory is that we have a shared drive that runs adjacent to the garden, and the corner of the garden has been ruined by people driving over it; So we're looking to put something in there so that people know it's not part of the drive, but it also needs to not damage cars if they brush past it. More of a clear visual marker to aid when people are maneuvering.

Ideally we need something that can be bought quite large already so it's got some chance of surviving, anything too small will be destroyed the first time someone misses the corner.

This is the area (in better times!) -



I like what the other side neighbours have done, but putting in a curb will be seen as too aggressive to some of our neighbours (who would like us to concrete it and make it part of the drive!) So we're tying to be sensitive to them, but also don't want to lose the land as that could cause issues when we try to sell, and frankly it's our garden and I hate seeing people drive over it all the time!

Bananas123

kilmarnock willow ?; that way, they can hear the "rattle" on the car windows if they get too close / prior to impact ?

Davesnave

Good grief! That's the first time I've seen a good reason to buy a Kilmarnock Willow. I thought it might be too big, but it looks as if the neighbour has a birch on their side....?

I might go with a reasonably large berberis Darwinii: tough as old boots, evergreen and prickly enough for people to leave it alone.

However, I'd do what I liked with the landscaping of my own garden, so long as it didn't adversely effect the proper use of the shared driveway. Whether the neighbours found that 'aggressive' would be their sole concern, because I'd not try to guess what's in their heads.

sheramber

I was also going to suggest Berberis. You can get ones that grow to 3 feet or ones that grow to 6 feet.

Some also have autumn colour.

Lil_Me_2

Thanks so much for the suggestions! We think we're going to go for the berberis and just let the neighbours know that if it doesn't do the job then we'll have to put a kerb in... that should encourage them to not drive over the bush! I don't think the willow would be enough of a deterrent, normal folk would think twice when they hit it but it's the ground we need to protect. Last winter we had a muddy hole about 30cm deep and 2m x 1m wide. It's been filled in now so looks like the photo again but it's only a matter of time. Thanks again

jusnoneed

I maybe a bit late posting here but I would go for a Choisya Sundance. No one could claim they didn't see it, evergreen and has white flowers too. I have one at the side of my drive and it's always a nice bright splash of colour, easily trimmed. Berberis are very thorny.

arbrighton

jusnoneed wrote: »

I maybe a bit late posting here but I would go for a Choisya Sundance. No one could claim they didn't see it, evergreen and has white flowers too. I have one at the side of my drive and it's always a nice bright splash of colour, easily trimmed. Berberis are very thorny.

I think that's why Berberis was a recommendation so that people would tend to avoid it with their car....

Davesnave

arbrighton wrote: »

I think that's why Berberis was a recommendation so that people would tend to avoid it with their car....

Yes, although berberis darwinii, which I mentioned, has somewhat prickly leaves and no real thorns.

It's also likely to suvive in a wider range of soils and conditions than many alternative shrubs.

laurathree

Might be a bit late, but what about a Ceanothus? Evergreen bush, quite hardy, and a massive splash of blue in spring/ summer.

jusnoneed

I assumed as the original post said whatever they use was not to cause damage and to be a visual marker, the bright yellow of the Choisya would be an option. Mine stands out like a beacon lol.

Davesnave

jusnoneed wrote: »

I assumed as the original post said whatever they use was not to cause damage and to be a visual marker, the bright yellow of the Choisya would be an option. Mine stands out like a beacon lol.

It's an option if it doesn't mind being on the end of the planting, but it's really a shrub that likes a mild sheltered position and plenty of sunshine to give of its best. The same goes for the ceanothus.

I was playing safe as we haven't a location for the OP.

A variegated holly would be great, but slow growing.

I was wrong about the Berberis darwinii; it does have some spines. I checked mine today. Not as vicious as many of the others, though.