Garden Design and Plant Suggestions Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:51:08 +0000 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:51:08 +0000 UBC Botanical Garden Forums https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/garden-design-and-plant-suggestions.218/ Wed, 09 Jun 2021 20:20:27 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pushing-the-limits-of-cold-gardening.60504/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pushing-the-limits-of-cold-gardening.60504/ invalid@example.com (Canadianplant) Canadianplant
Basicly, I would like suggestions, no matter how far fetched on what to try up here. If you ever wondered " i wonder how cold this can take?", or " I wonder how cold tolerant this actually is?", please let me know. Ill take any plant suggestions from, fruit trees, bamboo,...

Pushing the limits of cold gardening!!!]]> 45 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 22:41:49 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/what-to-plant-under-cedar-trees.13156/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/what-to-plant-under-cedar-trees.13156/ invalid@example.com (raughy) raughy
What to plant under cedar trees?]]> 14 Mon, 31 Aug 2020 02:38:22 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/small-garden-in-front-of-house-ideas-please.60161/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/small-garden-in-front-of-house-ideas-please.60161/ invalid@example.com (camikins) camikins
Just moved, and the previous house owners didn't do anything with the lawn or garden.

The garden is very small, and I need some ideas. It's about 4 ft deep, in front of the house.

I was thinking of something like having a small boxwood hedge, then lavender, then roses, to have 3 levels / layers to the garden.

Any thoughts? Does this sound reasonable? I want to make sure there is some colour, and layers, while keeping the design simple.

Oh - and any other suggestions...

Small Garden in front of house - ideas please!]]> 6 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:59:54 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/evergreen-magnolia-grandiflora-a-good-choice.27009/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/evergreen-magnolia-grandiflora-a-good-choice.27009/ invalid@example.com (Chloris) Chloris
Evergreen Magnolia Grandiflora-a good choice?]]> 6 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:26:09 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/shrubs-perennials-to-go-under-conifers.40681/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/shrubs-perennials-to-go-under-conifers.40681/ invalid@example.com (Olafhenny) Olafhenny I have the task of landscaping an 8' x 50' patch which is fully curb enclosed and dominated by three fairly large pine trees. The objective is to make this area low maintenance and suppress weed growth. Periwinkle will do that trick, but I am looking for some suggestions for shrubs or perennials between 2 and 6 feet high, which will grow under pines and break up the monotony of the periwinkle.
The problem is, that most woodland plants like a fair amount of humidity and while I have...

Shrubs & perennials to go under conifers]]> 12 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:18:21 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/evergreen-huckleberry-as-prunable-hedgerow.33987/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/evergreen-huckleberry-as-prunable-hedgerow.33987/ invalid@example.com (Gieselmann) Gieselmann
evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) is suggested by April Pettinger and Brenda Costanzo in "Native Plants in the Coastal Garden" as a prunable hedgerow.

Are you aware of a location of a evergreen huckleberry hedgerow in or around Vancouver (BC)?

I would love to look at such a hedge beforehand.....?

Any general comments re. evergreen huckleberry as a hedgerow?

Thank you.]]> 9 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:12:47 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/landscaping.16679/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/landscaping.16679/ invalid@example.com (alves) alves
Need your help in 2 questions.

1) I am making a strip with several short and colorfull plants (lavender, hosta, blue fuscue...) . I am not worried with it flowers or not, just want the color to be there all year (even it changes with the season) and no much water needed. The problems is that I am missing the red color, any suggestions?

2) my neighbour was this ugly and I mean ugly (there is no other way to describe it than incredibly ugly) small building 3 meters tall. so I...

Landscaping]]> 3 Fri, 20 May 2011 16:28:57 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/quick-tall-privacy-screen.35468/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/quick-tall-privacy-screen.35468/ invalid@example.com (kotybc40) kotybc40 10 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:02:13 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/looking-for-deciduous-vine-non-toxic-with-dogs.35660/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/looking-for-deciduous-vine-non-toxic-with-dogs.35660/ invalid@example.com (LanietheBerner) LanietheBerner
I'm looking for a deciduous vine that is fast growing and non-toxic to dogs, and a bit showy. We have a 11 month old Bernese Mountain dog female and I'd hate to make her sick....

We have an earth sheltered home in Grass Valley, California that uses solar energy to heat the house, and we're looking for a vine that will go over a trellis system that we just built across the front of the house. During the summer, when we get many days of sun exposure the house heats up to...

Looking for deciduous vine non-toxic with dogs]]> 31 Thu, 27 May 2010 17:48:17 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/clematis-climbing-rose-combination.60045/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/clematis-climbing-rose-combination.60045/ invalid@example.com (lily) lily cedar trellis fence dividing my backyard from the neighbors. I want to plant clematis and climbing roses. I've never grown either before, so I'm new to this part of gardening. Can someone please recommend a pretty combination of rose and clematis that wouldn't be difficult to look after? I would like disease resistant AND hopefully fastgrowing. I don't really care if it is evergreen or deciduous but evergreen would be nice. The fence is about...

Clematis /climbing rose combination?]]> 12 Sun, 23 May 2010 18:27:34 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/hedge-to-hide-condos.38721/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/hedge-to-hide-condos.38721/ invalid@example.com (titanUT7) titanUT7
Are there any regular hedges that grow tall enough to hide them?

If not what would you recommend? I only prefer the idea of a hedge because it would only be a metre or so think.]]> 8 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:47:24 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/hedge-help.60697/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/hedge-help.60697/ invalid@example.com (zenshack) zenshack
I had been seriously considering a Laurel hedge but after reading a few threads we definately do NOT want English Laurel. Are there other types of Laurel that are not as invasive? We like the look of the smaller leaf laurels we have seen, don't know the...

Hedge Help?]]> 10 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:13:34 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/how-can-i-turn-my-back-yard-into-a-garden.60611/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/how-can-i-turn-my-back-yard-into-a-garden.60611/ invalid@example.com (peja) peja 6 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:52:22 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/fast-growing-tree.60551/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/fast-growing-tree.60551/ invalid@example.com (vulcan) vulcan 9 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:08:24 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/deer-resistance-revisited.46621/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/deer-resistance-revisited.46621/ invalid@example.com (shiraz dindar) shiraz dindar
My neighbour feeds the deer (approved by the local wildlife officer, apparently!) and living out in Sooke on Vancouver Island as I do, this means, *tonnes* of deer.

Same neighbour have an eyesore gravel virtual parking lot behind their house, and I want to block the view with some hedges.

Last year I went to my local nursery, who apparently specialize in deer resistant plants, and she recommended California Liliac (Victorian) both for its deer resistance and quick...

deer resistance revisited]]> 10 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:33:41 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/need-to-cover-big-rocks.60608/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/need-to-cover-big-rocks.60608/ invalid@example.com (sharan) sharan
i have these big rocks set up in rows in my garden, they were put there because it was a sloping garden at quite a seetp angle. there are three rows, i want to cover the bottom layer of rocks with a plant that will cascade down from the soil above them. the rocks are about 3-4 feet wide by two-three to four feet high. does anybody have any suggestions?]]> 12 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:58:36 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/scented-and-aromatic-plants-your-faves-for-indoors-and-outdoors.59127/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/scented-and-aromatic-plants-your-faves-for-indoors-and-outdoors.59127/ invalid@example.com (ErWe) ErWe
One of my personal favorites is Aesculus parviflora, a shrubby chestnut, increasing moderately (at least in my garden) by suckers. In early July it is covered in ephemeral flowers, resembling bottlebrushes. Almost never mentioned in literature is the delicious scent of these, which is wafting quite a distance through the garden....

Scented and aromatic plants - your faves for indoors and outdoors?]]> 22 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:48:03 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/how-wide-should-i-make-my-flower-bed.60404/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/how-wide-should-i-make-my-flower-bed.60404/ invalid@example.com (lily) lily 4 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:48:29 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ideas-for-privacy-hedge-by-pool-narrow-garden-bed.46270/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ideas-for-privacy-hedge-by-pool-narrow-garden-bed.46270/ invalid@example.com (seanjenny) seanjenny
We look into our backyard and all we see is the vinyl siding of a two-storey house behind us. There is a 2' wide garden bed that runs behind the pool, in front of the fence dividing the two houses. The backyard faces east. I would love to have something that will grow fairly quickly and provide some sort of privacy. We don't mind doing some trimming but would prefer something evergreen to avoid too much mess in the pool. We...

Ideas for privacy hedge by pool, narrow garden bed]]> 8 Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:56:08 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/narrow14-ft-high-privacy-hedge-around-pool.60403/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/narrow14-ft-high-privacy-hedge-around-pool.60403/ invalid@example.com (divednet) divednet
Narrow14 ft high privacy hedge around pool]]> 4 Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:02:50 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ideas-for-existing-pond-smaller-and-bog-or.59938/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ideas-for-existing-pond-smaller-and-bog-or.59938/ invalid@example.com (Charles Richard) Charles Richard We have a pond 7' x 14' x 3.5' deep (in for the 10yrs.). Sited with a beautiful Gunnera beside it.
In the past three years we have had a mink get in and clean it out. The first year it was covered with a net and the fish had been in it since its conception. The have since covered the hole thing with black wire mesh and the mink chewed through the wire.
We are pondering (no pun intended), either going smaller and/or turning it into a march or bog garden, simply because it is to...

Ideas for existing pond - Smaller and Bog or ?]]> 8 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:11:25 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/gleditsia-triacanthos-sunburst-vs-robinia-pseudoacacia-%C2%91frisia%C2%92.60039/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/gleditsia-triacanthos-sunburst-vs-robinia-pseudoacacia-%C2%91frisia%C2%92.60039/ invalid@example.com (Justine M) Justine M I'm not really familiar with either type.

I am looking for a tree to cover up ugly overhead wires and to provide privacy. I laid out my situation with photos in another thread. (At first I was thinking rhodo or arbutus fix... but now I am looking at deciduous options)
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?p=240109#post240109

Any advice greatly appreciated. I am always so impressed...

GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS 'Sunburst' vs ROBINIA PSEUDOACACIA ‘Frisia’]]> 4 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:24:45 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/need-advice-on-giant-overgrown-shrub-pic.59239/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/need-advice-on-giant-overgrown-shrub-pic.59239/ invalid@example.com (bijjy) bijjy
If I could have it my way I would just rip out the whole thing and start anew with something that would let in more filtered sunlight rather than casting heavy shade on my friend's house. I also dislike how it makes the house seem even tinier than it...

Need advice on giant overgrown shrub (Pic)]]> 11 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:24:50 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/annual-garden.59240/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/annual-garden.59240/ invalid@example.com (goatz) goatz
Annual Garden]]> 4 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:24:30 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/fast-growing-privacy-hedges-bushes-trees.59031/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/fast-growing-privacy-hedges-bushes-trees.59031/ invalid@example.com (PassionFruit) PassionFruit
I want something fast growing.....

I have an area about 400 feet long where the fencing is rotting and I am wanting a more "green" approach]]> 10