Due to the large number of neighbors endowed with ex-domus (outside of the house) hoarding tendencies in the Southeastern US, homeowners are always looking for unique evergreen screening plants over 6′ tall. While there are plenty of choices for full sun, the choices for shade are quite limited to plants like Fatsia, Illicium, Thujopsis, Taxus, Cephalotaxus, and Fargesia. As you move into deep shade, the choices become even more limited. A plant that we think has incredible potential is a little-known selection of Japanese aucuba, ‘Big Mamma’. It has everything you’d want from a screening plant, dense growth, great foliage, fast growth, and grows well in fairly dry shade once established. Did I mention that it’s a female, and will produce clusters of red fruit if a willing male is nearby. The only downside is that it’s only winter hardy from Zone 7a south.
We have SC nurseryman Ted Stephens of Nurseries Caroliniana to thank for bring this one to the US. On one of Ted’s Japanese plant hunting adventures in Japan, he spotted this 9′ tall giant, growing in the garden of the renown Japanese nurseryman, Mr. Yamaguchi. Ted was able to acquire a cutting and send it back to the US, with the rest of his horticultural booty. Our plant in the garden below is 5′ tall, after only four years, and shows no sign of slowing down. We’re sure when this makes it into the wholesale nursery trade, you’ll start seeing this offered at your local and on-line retailers.
We’re in the process of putting together a mixed evergreen screen and when available I’d like to take a look at Acuba japonica ‘Big Mamma’. A quick search suggests that JLBG and JCRA may be the only local gardens growing this one. Perhaps Camellia Forest and/or Nurseries Caroliniana will be selling this in the future? In the mean time another “robust evergreen” that’s captured my interest is the doghobble/fetterbush; swamp, coastal and Florida. A few years ago I discovered a couple of 50+yr old thickets of Agarista popufolia (Florida Doghobble) growing on an estate just south of Raleigh NC. (see picture). Though I understand the most northern native population is in South Carolina and the species somehow jumped from Florida to SC bypassing Georgia. I think these are magnificent evergreens, so we’ve obtained several from Ted Stevens’ Nurseries Caroliniana to place in spots where there’s enough space to stretch their tall arching limbs and indulge their thicketing tendencies. They seem to be vigorous growers; we’re just hoping it will not take 50 years for those thickets to get here.
We also like Agarista populifolia, and a great evergreen for shade. Unlike aucuba, which prefers dry soils, Agarista loves wet, moist soils. The open, rangy habit is great for an informal, less-tailored look.