Who wants a plant challenge?

[GinGeum]

I need help picking a plant for a specific spot. At the moment, I have a tall rose, two lavender plants and a hellebore in the spot, and only the hellebore is happy. (The rose has been there at least 10 years though, so that might be why it's less happy)

I want something a bit...different there. Tall is good, but it's next to a path, so not something that is going to be huge from top to bottom. If I could, I'd have a Musa Basjoo banana plant there, but it's not sunny enough.

It doesn't get full sun all day. It gets a bit in the early morning, and then sun from midday onwards. It's a fairly dry spot as it's quite near leylandii.

Ideally something evergreen would be nice. Not overly particular about whether it needs flowers or not, I'm more after attractive leaves.

What would you pick?!

monkey puzzle tree?

Schefflera taiwaniana
Or
Illicium simonsii

Ooo thanks, I think the Schefflera is winning so far! I've seen those leaves around a few times and always wondered what plant it is.

If there others nearby, how about a Holly? (you need a female one, and nearly males to pollinate it to get the berries)

We do have a Holly nearby, but I think the leaves might be a bit spikey next to the path! I did wonder why we didn't have berries on our Holly though, so I might find another spot to put a second one.

Why not something that is not evergreen but interesting. A Betula Jacquemontii or an Acer Griseum? We have an Acer Griseum [paper barked maple] next to a path in our forest garden and it is gorgeous. So tactile.

Beware Betula Jacquemontii! It can grow to enormous proportions, as I've found - albeit over many years. My late husband planted one in our garden 20 years ago, and I had to have the crown reduced in April as it had got so tall, and was still nowhere near the potential height it could achieve.

How about fatsia japonica - I wanted one in my border but I think my garden is too sunny on that side!

I really love the foliage on pittosporum tenuofolium and there are loads of different varieties in different colours. They always attract my eye in a border.