Best evergreens for fence above the pond

Hello guys
I am new here and am eager to seek your help and advice.
I would like to plant an evergreen plant(s) on my south-facing fence over my new pond/ waterfall. The site is in the corner (the other side is east-facing). In the very corner I intend to plant a red-berried pyracantha, which will in time close the entry spot into my garden to all marauding cats (sorry cat lovers - but I really do not like cats using my garden for toilet purposes). For the remaining 2 south-facing panels I was considering the following;
1. - Clematis armmandii (?)
2. - Evergreen carpenteria californica
3. - Ceanothus
My questions are:
- is carpenteria californica an easy plant to train(?) along the fence and how "fragrant" are the flowers (never seen it, just the photos!)
- which form of ceanothus would be the best for training on the fence
- any other plant worth considering
There are few requirements which I consider quite important: the plants really need to be evergreen as do not wish to look on bare fence plus no leave drop into pond, with fragrant flowers (summer), interesting leaves (i.e. variegated, different shades of green, so the fence does not look monotone) and if possible with more than one season of interest.
I would be most grateful for any suggestions/ ideas.
BTW - the garden is in SW London
Thank you
Joanne

Re: Best evergreens for fence above the pond

Reply from Katy Elton

Hi Joanne,

Carpenteria californica, or the tree anemone is very fragrant when in bloom, and is a good choice for training up a fence. It will require that you put up support wires and tie the plant to these, but this is fairly straightforward and can result in a lovely plant. The upright then spreading habit of this plant makes it ideal for training into a fan shape. It’s not the hardiest of plants though, so consider your location and conditions before investing in this.

More hardy is the Ceanothus. A few known for being suitable for training are:

Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithin Blue' http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/ceanothus-arboreus-trewithen-blue?referrer=%2Fplant%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DCeanothus+arboreus+%27Trewithin+Blue%27
Ceanothus impressus http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/ceanothus-impressus-puget-blue?referrer=%2Fplant%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DCeanothus+impressus
Varieties of Ceanothus thyrsiflorus http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/search?q=Ceanothus+thyrsiflorus++
Ceanothus 'Italian Skies' http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/ceanothus-italian-skies?referrer=%2Fplant%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DCeanothus++%27Italian+Skies%27
Ceanothus 'Pershore Zanzibar' http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/ceanothus-zanzibar?referrer=%2Fplant%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DCeanothus++%27Pershore+Zanzibar%27 This is a bit different as it has much yellower leaves than other Ceanothus.
Ceanothus ‘Concha’ http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/ceanothus-concha?referrer=%2Fplant%2Fsearch%3Fp_q%3DCeanothus+%E2%80%98Concha%E2%80%99


In terms of alternatives, how about something like a honeysuckle, such as this Lonicera Japonica var. Repens http:// http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/lonicera-japonica-var-repens?referrer=%2Fplant%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DLonicera+japonica. You get the lovely fragrant flowers in summer, and black berries in autumn.

cont..

Re: Re: Best evergreens for fence above the pond

Reply from Katy Elton

Other than this your other option Clematis armandii is always a safe bet. The scent from the blooms in late spring is beautiful, and it’s hardy and reliable. A real fail safe option. There’s always ivy but I’m guessing you want something that offers a little more interest than that.

Of course this is all presuming you are constrained to hardy specimens. If you live somewhere fairly mild you could always take a risk with some slightly more tender, more interesting options – things like Trachelospermum, Campsis or passion flower. The fence is south facing so in the right geographical location you may well find success with these.

Hope this helps. Let us know what you go for.

Katy

Re: Re: Re: Best evergreens for fence above the pond

Reply from Joanne

Dear Katy
Seems like ages since I posted that question and you kindly answered. I have taken your comments and suggestions on board and have purchased and now planted both plants. Ceanothus looks as it's got new growth by now, however the carpeneria has got some yellowing leaves at the very bottom, which I will need to watch!

I also need to tell you that I have a very large plant of Trachelospermum jasminoides a little further along the same fence, by our sun soaked decking. It mingles very nicely with a climbing rose Compassion on one side and the red flowered Trumpet wine on the other. So we are very much on the same wave lenght!

I note that you have also suggested passion fruit, but I must say that its flowers always look a little OTT to me.

However I have recently been looking at (and considering) a Berberis darwinii, Stenophyla or x lologensis "Mystery Fire".??? They all look very similar and I still have to discover their own individual merits. But must say that a prospect of having a lovely evergreen screen of unpenetrable growth, covered by a multitude of beautiful golden/yellow flowers and later by an abundance of berries is very tempting. Perhaps the neighbours would have a tougher job "trimming" it down for me, unlike the poor Akebia Quinata, which they have absolutely decimated by cutting all its growth of my pergola's trellis!

I enclose 2 photos of my mentioned Trachelospermum, rose Compassion and campsis, which has got a variageted holly as a neighbour on the othe rside.

I shall definitely post any photos of my new plants and the pond, once they get a little bit more established.

In the meantime thank you so much for your in-depth reply.

Joanne

Re: Best evergreens for fence above the pond

Reply from Valerie Munro

Hi Joanne

I would add to Katy's comments by offering you the suggestion of Trachelospermum jasminoides or star jasmine.

As you are in London, you can consider this plant to be evergreen, it has very attractive leaves that (should) stay on the plant, and when it gets a a little cold, the leaves will tinge with red - that's their way of displaying stress, in a nice way! So there will not be a big issue of dropping leaves into the pond.

The plant will also give you a wonderful covering of small white smelliferous flowers throughout the summer.

It really is one of my top 10 favourite plants, and I can commend it to you - it might be a little slow to get going, but when it does, it will look really great!

Good luck
Auntie Planty
www.auntieplanty.com