Question
QUESTION: Dear Marc, I have 3 columns on the front of my house.  I want an evergreen, zone 9, facing east, dark green, maybe berries or flowers occasionally, doesn't have to be constantly pruned.  Recently had Junipers that were sparse on bottom and back, grew spindly. What can I plant to take the Junipers place?  Thanks for your help.  Marilyn

ANSWER: Hello, Marlyn... I like to accent columns with vertical plants.  In your case, I would recommend the Sky Pencil Holly (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil').  Stays under 4 feet, and green year-round, with little pruning needed.

There are other narrow junipers, but you said you'd just taken one out...Maybe it was the wrong form and type for the planter, as there are literally HUNDREDS of types of juniper.

J. chinensis 慒airview?
J. c.慚ountbatten?
J. scopulorum 慚offettii?
J.s.'Moonglow','Skyrocket', or the
J. squamata 態lue Arrow?br>
All of these are all tall/narrow in nature & habit.

Also, even though it faces east, maybe you are not getting enough light, because of trees or other buildings.  The Boxwood (Buxus x microphylla 'Green Mountain') is evergreen and will do well in part-shade.

Hope it helps.  For furhter suggestions, talk to your local nursery. They are eager to help, if it might mean a "sale".  ~Marc





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Marc, In trying to find a picture of the list "All of these are all tall/narrow in nature & habit," the response is "no results."  How can I see pictures of these shrubs? Thanks, Marilyn

Answer
My apologies.  I was using plant-name "short hand" (J.c. = Juniperus chinensis, etc.)  You have to use the FULL name in Google to find the images.  Here they are with Google links (hopefully they'll work for you):

Juniperus chinensis 慒airview?br> http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Juniperus+chinensis+%E2%80%98Fairview%E2


Juniperus chinensis 慚ountbatten?br> http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Juniperus+chinensis+%E2%80%98Mount

Juniperus scopulorum 慚offett?br> http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=

Juniperus scopulorum 'Moonglow'
http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Juniperus+scopulorum+%27Moonglow%2

Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket'
http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Juniperus+scopulorum+%27Skyrocket%

Juniperus scopulorum 態lue Arrow?br> http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=Juniperus+%E2%80%98Blue+Arrow%E2%8

If these didn't work, just cut/paste the full latin names into the image search box at images.google.com

~M

PS I also made a spelling boo-boo on the last one; it is J. scopulorum, not J. squamata (means "low & squatty" in latin)