Re: alternative to a boxwood hedge
I don't know how hot it gets where you are planning to plant an
interesting privacy screen in front of your bedroom window, but here
are some suggestions:
rosemary - a tall upright form. Looks neat, so your husband will
like it. Can be kept neat by keeping it pruned for the kitchen.
Pleasant blue flowers. Smells wonderful, unlike box.
pieris - forms are available in various heights. A shrub that always
looks interesting. In winter the buds are coloured, in spring, the
flowers are pretty, followed by coloured new foliage and then
clusters of green pearls (the seedpods). Never a boring moment.
camellias - some of the species have a more slender shape than the
usual japonicas, and Nuccio's list ones with interesting foliage
separately. I have a silvery-leaved one from them. Plus flowers
that range in size from acceptable to huge (you can tell my bias
here), and can be scented.
You can grow a few non-vigorous vines over your evergreen hedge so
that you can enjoy flowers at other times of year.
Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
zone 8, sunset zone 5, cool mediterranean climate
