Marianne's Response

Foundation plant

I am looking for low and slow-growing evergreen flowering, easy-care shrub for foundation planting in front of my full sun garage foundation with well-draining soil. I planted a row of Gardenia “Frostproof” (rated for zone 7-11) last year and a few look like they may not have survived (I’m going to give them a little bit more recovery time) the winter although I live in Port Townsend, zones 8a, 8b and 9a. My yard did get 13+” of snow last winter, melted a little, them about 3″ more of snow on that. I don’t know if that very atypical winter weather is the cause of their stress and I should replace the few I think I’ve lost (I’m going to give them a little bit more recovery time) or if I need to give up and move on. If you think I should move on, what are your suggestions?

Posted by Debbie Nighswonger on May 27, 2019

Marianne's Response

I think you should move on. Gardenias do not like the heat reflected off of buildings or the cold winters. Instead look into the variety of dwarf conifers for evergreen color. Some of these dwarf evergreens grow as little as half an inch in a year. They come with foliage in blue, gold and green so mixing in some different varieties will give color without flowers. Add some dwarf barberries with gold or red foliage and you have lots of color with drought and heat resistance. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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