Question
QUESTION: I'm hoping you can help.  I live in Connecticut, Zone 6.  Our house is a shade of taupe with white trim.  We have no plants around our house right now.  I am looking for plant suggestions that offer a variety of heights, have a limited spread of 2-3 feet and are evergreens or semi-evergreens so the beds maintain their personality during the winter months.  I love reds, blues and greens and prefer clean manicured beds, nothing too bushy.  I need to stay away from poisonous plants or plants with berries (we have young kids).  Some plants I have in mind are:
- Skyrocket Juniper
- Crimson Pygmy Barberry
- Boxwood (of some sort)
- Emerald Gaiety Euonymus

I also need one tree that won't grow too large too fast and I'm thinking about a Japanese Maple or a Purple Leaf Plum.

I know I asked a lot of questions, but please give me your thoughts.  Thanks so much.


ANSWER: Plant selections sound fine.  The Skyrocket Juniper can get quite large, and possibly over-power your space: (https://www.securemgr.com/sites/folder12665/site_images_system/user/skyrocket.jpg)

The tree selections sound great ?I would include the Crabapples, as they give you a nice spring bloom, and fall color卆nd the berries are not toxic (they are related to the apple tree)

For other plant ideas, go to University of Connecticut抯 website:
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/fmi/xsl/search.xsl

~M


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

QUESTION: Hi Marc,
Will Euonymus Scale be a problem here is Connecticut for the Emerald Gaiety?  If so, can you recommend a different plant that will have similar variegated leaf coloring and a strong winter presence.

Answer
Euonymus Scale information:
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef428.asp

I don抰 know if your area is prone to it ?

If so, I抎 try variegated holly (Ilex aquifolium 慓old Coast? I. a. 慉rgento-marginata? 慡ilvery? Silver Queen? 慡ilver king? 慡ilver Star? etc.)

Also for winter interest, Buxus sempervirens 憊ariagata?or 慉ura pendula?br>
For their pictures go to:  http://www.camberlygardens.com/index.html?body=/shrubs.html

I have suggested "variagated" plants to match the style of Euonymus most heavily planted here - the E. japonica 'Aureo-variegata'.  But the lush & COMPLETELY GREEN parent plants (Ilex & Buxus species) are no less attractive in the winter time.

Hope it helps.  ~M