North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[list@ginda.us]

Well, it's not completely off-topic, as it would be fun to get a  
fruiting plant. . .

I have a sort of built-in concrete planter between the driveway, the  
house, and the staircase to the front door.  It's 3' by 3' wide, and  
at least 4' deep - I doubt there's actually a "bottom" but there's  
probably not great dirt lower down, since there's foundation and  
stuff under there.  Right now it holds a large arborvita, which is  
currently weighed down with snow and bent over the staircase.   
There's a matching arborvita on the other side of the garage (at the  
corner of the house) and a much nicer one at the other corner of the  
house.

The arborvita that blocks the staircase has to go.  I am looking for  
a suitable replacement.  I might replace the one on the other side of  
the driveway at the same time, for symmetry.  Whatever I get needs to

*thrive in zone 6, with the protection of the house
*do okay in shade from nearby white oaks
*stay no more than 3' wide when mature
*be satisfied with the 3'x3' pot
*be at least 4' tall.  Anything up to 15' or 20' could be okay, and a  
mature height of 8'-10' is probably optimal
*look nice year round

The house faces south east, and white oaks don't cast deep shade, so  
there's enough light for many plants (the arborvita is pretty happy,  
and I grow impatiens and yew and grass in slightly heavier shade  
nearby.)  But maybe not enough light for fruit?    The soil is  
probably somewhat acid, this being New England, and is otherwise  
pretty good.  Sort of mixed loam and chunks of granite and rotting  
oak leaves.  Actually, I wonder if the proximity of the concrete  
changes the pH of the soil?

Ultimately, I suppose I'll go to some nearby nurseries and see what's  
available, but I'd like some ideas of what I ought to look for.    
I've been experimenting with cold-hardy camellias, thinking that  
might be fun, but they aren't reliable enough for such a prominent  
position.  I've also considered an upright sort of blueberry - one  
with red stems might be nice in the winter, but they grow awfully  
slowly, and I'm not sure there's enough light there.

Thanks,
Ginda

eastern Mass., zone 6, digging out slowly. . .