Shrub, Hedge or Tree reccommendation needed in VA

[vagard]

I need a shrub, hedge or tree recommendation in zone 7 with the following characteristics:

-Evergreen
-Fit for zone 7
-Full shade
-Can be grown in a large pot
-Is not poisonous (kids and animals around)
-Preferably column or cone shaped

Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

[hendi_alex]

I'll toss out a few.

Wax Myrtle: hardy to zone 7, easy to maintain both size and shape.

False cypress 'black dragon' - slow grower in a pot, easy to maintain at five feet or shorter, hardy to zone 5, pyramidal shape (my two in containers are more vertical in shape.

Camelia: hardy to zone 7, nice flowers, grow slowly enough to grow for several years in a 3-5 gallon container. I prefer the sasanqua types as the flowers rarely get hurt by frost in our area.

[rainbowgardener]

Sweet box, yew, holly, in terms of being relatively easy to maintain in the kind of shape you mentioned. Kalmia (mountain laurel), mahonia, rhodendron are more informal and loosely shaped, but all have nice flowers.

[vagard]

Thank you. Those suggestions are helpful.

The Yew was ideal from a shape/size standpoint, but unfortunately it is poisonous and this area gets a lot of pet/kid traffic. I believe Holly is also poisonous.

I also considered a Boxwood, but I understand they need at least partial sun.

[rainbowgardener]

Sweet box (sarcococca confusa) is different from boxwood (buxus sempervirens) and is more shade tolerant.


https://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/shrubs/Sarcococca_confusa.html

"Light: Deep or partial shade. "

[applestar]

Exterpolating the Camelia suggestion: Camelia sinensis -- tea shrub. Also Rosemarinus officinalis -- Rosemary herb.
(Now that I've chosen "edible landscaping" as my basic gardening theme, I'm always thinking why choose an ornamental if I can grow something edible. ) You'll be shaping these shrubs because you'll harvest the leaves anyway.