Are you looking for annuals or perennials? For annuals you could use some of the trailing coleous, which would be good for shade, and the leaves aren't that big. German ivy does well in shade, but the leaves are a bit bigger. For perennials, you could try ajuga, creeping jenny or lamium, which all have smaller leaves.

I'm interested in what this topiary horse looks like, it sounds cute. I thought you wanted to know what kind of shrubs to use to cut a topiary hedge. I assume what you have is kind of a frame and you put potted plants all over it? I think Laurie's suggestions would be nice, or maybe impatiens because they grow densely. If you want a horse with flowers on that is, LOL.

"Ed" is about 2 - 2.5 ft tall and 3 ft long - he is a wire frame filled with moss and was planted last year with icicle plant as his mane and tail - which was awesome and a minifern type plant that didn't like the heat in my back yard. I would love to find something colourful and as dramatic as the icicle plant was last year but I need to move him into the shade because my backyard is way too hot and dry and bright for him to stay moist

fern

p.s "Ed" is of course for Mr. Ed the talking horse - I had to put my real horse Peppy down 3 years ago after 18 years of friendship

"he is a wire frame filled with moss"

Oh good! That's the kind of topiary that I was imagining. Can you post a picture of him from last year? He sounds adorable!

Laurie

Fern,

We were in Disney World 2 months ago and when in Epcot saw some of their topiaries.

They used fiscus in their topiaries. Our guide was mentioning that they bring the large dinosaurs and other figures out of the topiary nursery and put them on public display for a few years. Then, back to the topiary nursery to grow them back to health and replug any holes where the fiscus had died with more new fiscus. They also give their topiaries haircuts ('fiscus'cuts).

Here in Canada, you would have to grow your topiary in the house for the winter. You could use baby tears, coleus or Bolivian wandering jew. Buy a whole bunch of plugs and plug him full. Keep him moist enough for the plugs to take and be sure to post pictures of Ed later in the summer when he is in his full 'glory'.

Brenda

full shade northern exposure and colourful

Impatiens and CYMBALARIA muralis Kenilworth Ivy together.

Sharon

Wow thanks for the ideas. Unfortunately "Ed" will not come in for the winter but.... If I plant with annuals that won't be an issue. I could plant the impatiens in a "saddle" pattern on his back - cool

Thanks

Fern