Japanese Yews or Japanese Euonymus

[C Marc Ritcher]

I live in 5b planting zone in Utah, were the winters are normally harsh and the summers are hot and dry. I have a long, narrow garden bed along the side of my concrete driveway that currently holds a dozen rose bushes. I am not a fan of roses and am looking to replace them with either Japanese Yews or Euonymus plants. Any suggestions on which way to go? I want the area to eventually develop into an evergreen hedge.

Which plant is hardier? Which is a quicker growing plant?

[Chris_W]

Hi and welcome to the forums. From what you are asking, I would go with Yews. Although a lot of people may not like them they are easy to shape and shear into a hedge and are fairly fast growing and hardy. I'm not a fan of euonymus, it tends to grow unevenly and can suffer from winter damage and different diseases, so if it was up to me I'd go with yews.

[ogrefcf]

Welcome! I'm right next door to ya in Springville. As for the question I haven't grown either so I'm no help. I like the look of the Yews better though. Good luck.

[Schattenfreude]

Hello, Marc, and welcome!

How narrow is the bed? I was thinking that a boxwood hedge might fit the bill, too. Or a holly, even. But I'd plant yews instead of euonymus, as Chris mentioned.

Kevin in KC

[Midnight Reiter]

I haven't had any luck with any type of euynomous. Manhattan euynomous was eaten up by caterpillars and the E. fortunei Emerald Gaiety was just covered in aphids. I was fed up and got rid of both! The yews need to be watered when it's dry. We lost some of ours that I had for five years. They didn't get enough water.

Is there something drought tolerant that you like?