[Goosegirl]

Further to my previous post re-conifers, I want some hardy and wind-resistant specimen shrubs and/or plants to put in some large oak barrels to sit on this sunny slate-covered area. As we have an old cottage and the garden is full of cottage plants, I just need some ideas but nothing pretentious. I thought of conifers because they are evergreen and change colour with the seasons (a pinus might do) but could maybe also have a mixture of non-seeding grasses, a small pyracantha for flowers and berries, a silver-blue-leafed cotoneaster, and a skimmia for the same reasons. I also thought of underplanting with miniature narcissi and tulips for early spring colour and interest. Anyone have any other ideas?

[snowdrops]

An acer, I know it's not evergreen but under planted with spring bulbs looks lovely,then when the leaves appear it covers up the dying down bulbs.

[jaydig]

I know it's not exactly what you asked for, but blueberry bushes can look very pretty. There are the racemes of flowers in the spring, followed by the striking blue berries, and the autumn colour is wonderful. An attractive shrub that will also give a crop.

[Flowertot]

An acer, I know it's not evergreen but under planted with spring bulbs looks lovely,then when the leaves appear it covers up the dying down bulbs.

Snowy took the words out of my mouth! Beautiful, especially a red-leaved one.

[surbie100]

A strawberry tree (arbutus unedo) is pretty, evergreen and fruits are edible if pippy. I brought mine back from Italy where it's used as hedging often.

[Goosegirl]

Funnily enough, I was thinking about an acer. I have one at the back that seems to stand up to the winds we get here. It has yellow leaves in spring that turn to green then red in autumn. As soon as it stops bleating down here, I'll take a pic of the area.

[jaydig]

Acers are beautiful, but be careful not to put one where it's too windy.  They suffer from 'wind burn', particularly the fine leafted, red ones.  The leaves are killed by the drying effect of the wind, and it can even kill the entire shrub if the wind is too cold or strong.  We lost two lovely ones some years ago because I hadn't known about this until it was too late.

[Goosegirl]

That's my problem. We get lots of sea winds here and it will be right in their path.

[New shoot]

You seen this page GG?  Lots of ideas here 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=472