Edible plant for unfriendly location? (forum)

Brad starts with ...
What plant might you recommend for this spot in front of an air con? (i.e. what plant is a masochist?)

I used to have a huge old jade obscuring the A/C (I found roots running over 5m away!). I dug that out and have some very happy rosemary growing on the side by my verandah, but the gardenia I put right in front of the air didn't like it at all, so there goes my idea of that scent wafting in the front door. I don't need another rosemary. Nearby I've planted lavender, sage, groundcover thyme and an existing frangipani :)

Any ideas on a replacement that can obscure the air-con and cope with morning only sun, and intermittent hotter air summer and winter?

Would lemon grass fit the bill? (I'm still waiting to be given the one a friend potted up)

thanks in advance

Time: 12th October 2009 2:57pm

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About the Author Brad2
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VLR says...
I don't think the lemon grass would cope. They're pretty tough but I think it would start looking straggly and brown during summer. My parents grow it in soil that's almost sand in the full sun and it struggles when it's dry. So though it might grow it probably wouldn't look very nice. A lot of native plants are pretty tough - my dog chewed up a couple of pots of natives the other day while I was at work and I couldn't find them until the next day. Even though they were bare-rooted by then and slightly chewed they hadn't wilted at all. If you want to go with the herb theme then bay trees are pretty tough. You could keep it to a reasonable size with regular pruning. I've got a potted one in mostly shade that I hardly ever water and it's in excellent condition.

Time: 13th October 2009 12:19pm

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About the Author VLR
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amanda says...
Hi Brad - what type of aircon is it? I have a split system - which oozes water thru' summer and blasts freezing air in winter? I have Albany woolly bushes next to mine - they very happy.

I guess all u can do is have a go really. A lemon grass bush is not an expensive outlay at the end of the day? It also depends on the sun/shade aspect too?

Time: 13th October 2009 8:53pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Brad says...
Thanks Amanda.
Mine is also split system. But it doesn't drip useful water that I've noticed. Just blow dry air. Its full morning sun, and then shielded by the house. I'll make sure to get some water retention in the soil, build a basin and mulch well, but I'm still looking for plant ideas.

thanks VLR: I've got a small curry tree in a pot, but it seems to need to move under cover in winter. (Maybe in the ground it would be ok?). I've not grown bay leaves, i imagine they're similar. I'd have to keep leaves near the ground to obscure the aircon.

Time: 14th October 2009 3:55pm

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About the Author Brad2
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VLR says...
You're welcome Brad. My parents grow a small shrub about 2 feet away from their split system aircon and it thrives despite the hot and cold air. I think it's some kind of conifer because it gives a piney smell when pruned but has foliage all the way to the ground. They come in dark green with white flowers or yellow-green with pink flowers. I'd have to ask what it is but you see it grown around the place a lot. It's in the shade for half the day because it's right near their patio (only afternoon sun). My pet rabbits would hide in it when I was a kid :)

Time: 14th October 2009 6:52pm

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About the Author VLR
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