I think I'm looking for a unicorn......

[Irritatedcashier]

I wonder if anyone can help?

I need a cold hardy, evergreen plant/shrub that's non invasive, slow growing, works in borders and is happy in an exposed spot in what is practically a wind tunnel in the winter. Also needs to be relatively inexpensive.

Bonus points for interesting colours/flowers/berries.

No thorns.

Please and thank you ☺️

I don't like photinia as whilst the new growth is a lovely colour, it quickly matures to a plain boring green. Pieris new growth does the same but at least it also has flowers and you can get variegated versions for leaf interest.

Was hoping the thread would be about an unusual garden pest, leaving spearholes and glittery gold manure on the lawn.

I also dislike photina, I don’t get the love for it, for me it’s quite boring and best as a hedging plant.

personally I’d go for a camellia op. They are ever green , slow growing, beautiful flowers, and can tolerate wind, just stake it in the early years.

Choi's is is good for this.
I live in a pretty windy place and they have survived 20 years plus now. No windburn which the camellias suffer from. If you prune them then they don't get too leggy which makes them susceptible to branches snapping in gales.

Do you mean choisya?

Mahonia - pretty tough, there’s a low growing one or the more common tall one. Slow growing. Evergreen.
Lonicera nitida - tough
I have a large purple beriberis - not one of the fancier variegated - it seems to survive everything.

Hellebores do wellin the shade.

Mahonia can have some absolutely evil thorns

agree with choisya

also look at the shrubs planted in municipal places in your area - I know that sounds unappealing but they are likely to be low maintenance and you will see which ones you like and doing well in the conditions

Yes, mahonia and berberis have thorns but being thornless wasn't a requirement.

It says “no thorns” in the OP

Oh, sorry missed that.

escallonia pinks elle. Evergreen, can tolerate cold, wind, sun. Flowers in June and July, the insects absolutely love it. Grows to about 4-5 feet height and spread.

We have this Euonymus - ticks all the boxes. Our front garden is a wind tunnel.

Golden Irish yew (taxus baccata fastigiata aurea). Has an upright habit so good as a focal point too.

Variegated euonymus is also pretty bomb-proof, although it can get a bit floppy in a high wind once it's big enough.

You can get yellow pencil yew, which I like, but it is slow growing. Choisya grows very fast, imo.

One we have here that work well:
Osmanthus burkwoodii
Sarcococca
Spiraea
Viburnum tinus

Eleagnus is pretty tough. Not sure if you want a tall shrub or low one.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/shrubs/evergreen-for-situations