Nice Evergreen Shrub

Can anyone recommend some nice EVERGREEN shrub/bushes that don't mind living in very wet clay based soil please?

 

Hi PB
A lot depends on whether your moist clay is in shade/sun & whether its acid, neutral or alkaline. For acid to neutral soil on sun or semishade try Magnolia (make sure you get an evergreen one)or Camellia - both flower in spring (some forms have later flowers). Good bets for shade are Rhododendrons -spring flowers(acid to neutral soil); Skimmia japonica -winter flowers(acid-neutral); Pieris spring flowers (acid); Sarcocca - fragrant winter flowers (not fussy). Others to consider: Prunus laurocerasus - flowers spring if unpruned(Laurel); Clethra arborea -fragrant flowers late summer/autumn(lily of the valley bush); Myrtus communis fragrant flowers spring-summer (sweet myrtle, bog myrtle)or you could go for Bamboos such as Phyllostachys or Fargesia or evergreen ferns such as Polypodium, Asplenium, Blechnum.
Have a look at the RHS website to see what they look like or better still get hold of a copy of one of their encyclodpaedias to choose the variety/cultivar/form that appeals to you. Most shrubs have many different varieties & cultivars offering different habits/flower colours & its a good way to learn, looking for something that appeals to you. Although the above are all fairly safe bets, and if you go along to your local nursery or garden centre, with a list of them, you can cherry pick the ones you really like. Remember to improve the soil before you plant by adding lots of grit, well rotted organic matter & pelleted chicken manure!
Have fun!

[ April 21, 2005, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: Bayleaf ]

 

Hey Thanks Bayleaf,plenty for me to look into there.

Thanks for your help and advice !

 

If I could only have one shrub it would have to be a pierris, preferably variagated. Green (and creamy yellow) all winter, Lovely white (or pink) 'lilly of the valley' flowers in spring followed by dazzling red leaves gradually changing coluor over the early summer and if your really a second flush of red leaves in the autunm. Clay is ussually neutral to acid so add some organic matter as bayleaf suggests, they seem to do well in full sun or full shade.