Entertaining, privacy producing, driveway bed plants

Question

I'm looking for a small tree or shrub recommendation for the bed on the side of my driveway. I live in Providence, RI (zone 6, maybe zone 7 since we're in the middle of the heat island that is our city.) The bed is ~2 & 1/2' wide by ~25 feet long, raised, in full sun and has good (perhaps somewhat acid) soil. I'm looking for something that'll give us some privacy from our neighbors: I think that means evergreen or something deciduous with a dense branching structure, and grows to at least 8' (as large as 20'.)

I'd also love something that flowers: Elderberries might work there but I'm not sure if it fits the description (bonus re: this plant, I can make wine from the fruit and, double bonus, it's native to RI.) What I definitely don't like is juniper/arborvitae/hemlock/cypress. As far as I'm concerned those plants just sit there and do nothing. C'mon, do something to entertain me, plant. At least have foliage that changes, or flowers, etc.

It would also be helpful to be able to hedge/train/prune the plant into an upright form so our car can get by.

What would you suggest!?

Answer 1

Highbush blueberries or highbush cranberries both come to mind, and also make fruit you can use in various ways. If you're up to the initial work and long-term maintenance pruning, espaliered or cordoned peaches, plums, apricots, cherries or dwarf apples. Place some scaffold wires for those.

Rosa Rugosa will provide a nice harvest of hips and can grow to quite a dense hedge, in the 7 foot range of height. It has trouble being tidy, but it can be trimmed/shaped.

Northern Bayberry would be another good choice, evergreen in your climate (probably) and with a different harvestable (if inedible) product.

Getting out of "useful to humans" fruit, burning bush offers some fall color and a pretty dense growth habit.

Answer 2

I'd recommend Amelanchier lamarckii, and I chose that variety because it reliably produces good autumn colours, usually bright red, before the leaves fall. Has blossom in spring, green leaves all summer, fruits (inedible) followed by fall colours, and the multi stemmed nature of these shrubby trees is attractive in winter, with a reasonably interesting bark. There are different varieties of Amelanchier - commonly known as Serviceberry in the States, see here for nine varieties: Meet 9 Species of Serviceberry Trees and Shrubs - Amelanchier lamarckii is the last one mentioned - has the RHS Award of Merit.

However, whilst this tree fits the interest requirements you've listed, whether you'd want more than 2 or 3 of these is another matter - they won't give privacy in winter, so you'd likely need to interplant with some evergreen shrubs.

Answer 3

Well, Ecnerwal's suggestion is GORGEOUS and very very needy of a full time gardener. But this should show you there are many ideas for a 3' space to make privacy.

25' at 3' width gives you quite a bit of room. I would definitely be thinking of at least 2 or 3 different species at different height that love the same type of soil. Amelanchier is one of the rare 4 season beautiful trees you'll be able to find. Use no less than 3. There are also different varieties of Ilex such as Sky Pencil that are designed to be vertical and they are evergreen. They would work well with small trees. Then you should think about a filler and you could go crazy with one mind boggling perennial such as Crocosmia. The more of one plant will give you the biggest bang.

The most immediate and valuable would be a 'screen' with an arbor top. Similar to a fence yet allows air and light and space to flow through...yet extremely private.

This is my screen I have used for almost all privacy. These will be allowed to go dove gray. I use this UV stain that allows the wood to gray as well as be protected. 2X2 lapjointed...it isn't the easiest to make but to make it any simpler would be a waste of money.

Using screens like this; offset if you are able will allow many more choices in plant material. Just an idea.