After the hebes

[WeAreTheHeroes]

Following on from my thread about the dead hebes, I thought I'd ask what you've got that's thriving despite the weather extremes of the last year - inspiration as to what to plant in their places.

I'm particularly interested in small/compact evergreens and extra bonus points for flowers and scent. I'm thinking of myrtles to replace the two hebes of the same variety. We have clay soil. The bed can get waterlogged.

I've got a daphne which has flowered beautifully in its second year. Also a broom which is looking good - not flowering yet, but good new growth. Also winter honeysuckle which I always think I've managed to kill but which has the most beautiful scent to its flowers and the leaves are just coming through. My favourite is the sweet box I've planted as a hedge around a shady bed alongside a path.

Gardenia?

Are gardenias hardy?

My hellebores are doing great - evergreen and flowers in the winter when not much else does.

Hmm - I'm after shrubs for the bed where the hebes are that I've cut back to see if they revive really though, but yes hellebores could work elsewhere.

My hebes also didn't make it and I'm on heavy clay. The choysia, Acuba and Pittosporum are all doing well though (I just prune to keep them small).

My hebes, Daphne and broom all bit the dust, my myrtles are just sticks too, but I think they just might be breaking into leaf again soon. I had escalonias which survived well which have been moved into the hebes space, although they are small atm.

Not all, but some are. I believe the most hardy one is called summer snow or something like that. I've just got 3 and am keeping my fingers crossed for next winter.

My roses seem to be doing really well in my clay soil so worth a look.

Yes, the roses are fine. It's something evergreen I'm really after though.

Try azaleas, ours sit in a particularly waterlogged part of the garden and are doing well.

We've got quite a few azaleas already and rhododendrons so I'd like to try something else really. I'm going to go to a couple of different garden centres this weekend and see what looks good. There's also an independent nursery nearby which may have something.

I've bought a couple of evergreen round leaved viburnums and an osmanthus. Given the hebes were supposed to be perfect for the location I've decided to chance the viburnums. If they're not looking happy I'll move them to another part of the garden.