evergreens in an enclosed 'outdoor' room

[squid_ink]

We've enclosed part of our outside deck ... it's now an enclosed porch. There is an area of dirt where I would like to have an 'indoor' garden, I think it would look nice. It will resemble a rock garden

Comments

[ladycelia]

How cold does the space actually get? That will help determine what might survive.

[squid_ink]

it gets below freezing, sometimes as cold as 15f

[virginiadear]

Hellebores? Ivy (if this area truly is outdoors)? You mentioned it being like a rock garden (although you don't say it's meant to be a rock garden), so possibly stonecrops, if they'd get enough sun?

[squid_ink]

I was looking more for evergreens, I'm set for perennials

[virginiadear]

Ah.
Well, to me if it doesn't die back and lose its color through the winter season, it's ever green, but I do hate making unhelpful answers.
Isn't there a dwarf arborvitae?

[squid_ink]

I've got plenty to choose from in terms of perennials... but I was looking for evergreens.

from above : Thus far I've found some dwarf arborvitae that I think may survive, they stay small and are evergreens.. anyone have any other ideas?

I'm looking for non arborvitae suggestions right now .. but I may just go with them, there are several varieties and I know they'll do well in that particular spot

as the days get warmer I migrate MANY plants from my dining room into that room, all in pots.It gets pretty crowded so I don't want to put too many permanent plantings in there

no snow here to day but wow is it cold. so over winter :(

[ladycelia]

How about bonsai? It's a more formal plant, but maybe a cedar or similar would be nice.

[rhysande]

If your low temperature in your outdoor room this winter was 15°F, you can probably grow some zone 7 and 8 (low temperature for Zone 8a is 15°F) plants if there is something tempting you. Speaking solely for myself, I'd be jumping at the chance to try my luck with Camellia sinensis (wind tender zone 7) if I were in your shoes; growing and harvesting my own tea has been a dream of mine for a long, long time

[squid_ink]

I want to get some evergreens planted first before adding to the landscape. I mentioned in the comments later on I have many houseplants that migrate out to this room as the weather warms up.

I've got four 'cold hardy' Camellia (Korean Fire, April Dawn, April Rose and Winter's Rose) that were REALLY suffering out there, I potted them up and they're in a warmer spot now. They're gorgeous but sadly it's not the right permanent home for them. I'm going to keep them potted up, they bloom nicely (the April Dawn and April Rose have blooms that should be ready to pop soon!)

Thanks for the shrub suggestions, I've been looking at some golden euonymus that I have in my yard that seems to stay small and not spread like crazy (I have no idea what the variety is called, it's been there forever).. Maybe I'll move it in come the thaw

[rhysande]

If you're happy with the golden euonynus in your yard you can probably propagate new plants for your enclosed porch from stem cuttings. That way you'll be sure you've got a cultivar that behaves the way you expect it to

[squid_ink]

I want to get the evergreens in and see how much room I have to monkey around with... as I said above, somewhere (not even sure where) I have ALOT of plants that go into that space when springtime rolls around.

I have many of the above plants outside and yes they're lovely but I'm not sure I want to put them in the indoor rock garden yet. It's still a work in progress

I've been dragging those camellias in and out of the house for a year now but it's so worth it. BEAUTIFUL flowers!! love them so much but yes they're fussy in this zone.