As the summer draws to an end, there is a note of sadness in the garden, with the knowledge that soon, many leaves will fall and plants will return to their winter dormancy. This can leave a bit of a gap in the landscape. Evergreen shrubs are the answer to your garden’s winter doldrums.
While I would never give up my flowering annuals and beautiful deciduous plants, there is something nice about a garden foundation made up of evergreen plants. The foundation of the garden is most often made up of shrubs.
Fortunately, there are a multitude of evergreen shrubs that can be used to build hedges and act as a foundation for all of those other lovely plants. By using these plants as a framework to build the garden upon, you will still have an attractive landscape, even in the dead of winter.
Let’s look at 27 of my favorite evergreen shrubs that can be used to build the foundation of your garden. These wonderful plants create a stunning backdrop for the flowering plants of the spring and summer while maintaining their foliage year-round.
Abelia
Several varieties of Abelia are available, making it suitable for different planting styles or garden borders.
 | botanical name Abelia spp. |
|---|---|
 | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
 | height 3’-6’ |
 | hardiness zones 6-11 |
Abelia is a lovely little shrub that is evergreen in zones 6-11 and deciduous in zones 4-5. It’s a great plant that provides year-round interest in most climates and is a tough, sturdy, and vigorous genus.
There are quite a few varieties of Abelia, many of which grow to a final height between 3’-6’, making them a nice small shrub or border in the garden. These plants bloom in the spring and have attractive foliage that changes according to the seasons in copper, green, red, pink, and purple shades.
Azalea
These striking azalea flowers are beloved in the American South during spring.
| | botanical name Rhododendron tsutsusi |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height up to 20’ |
| | hardiness zones 6-9 |
Once their own genus, azaleas are now considered members of the Rhododendron genus, with the evergreen varieties belonging to a subgenus called tsutsusi. If you’ve seen an azalea next to a rhododendron, it is not difficult to deduce why. The two plants strongly resemble one another.
These flowering phenomena are very popular in the American South, bringing a bounty of color to the spring blooming season. The warmer the climate, the earlier they bloom, with the occasional, sparser rebloom in the fall.
Azaleas tolerate many sun conditions but will bloom best with partial sun, emphasizing morning light. They grow beautifully, whether in the ground or in containers.
Arborvitae
Planting arborvitae in full sun ensures they develop the lushest and most dense foliage.
| | botanical name Thuja occidentalis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 15’-20’ |
| | hardiness zones 2-8 |
This wonderful member of the cypress family is also known as cedar. As you might have guessed, it has aromatic wood and foliage with a spicy, smoky fragrance. These conifers have amazingly good cold tolerance, remaining evergreen as far north as zone 2. Planting in full sun will create the densest foliage.
Arborvitae can get quite large. They can be trained into the shape of a tree if desired, but they can also be maintained as a large shrub. Most varieties are narrower than tall, growing in a pyramidal shape. Like other columnar-style trees, they make a great hedge.
Barberry
Adding a burst of color to the garden, barberry is a striking sight.
| | botanical name Berberis spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 8’-10’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Barberry is a beautiful and popular shrub to use in the garden landscape. They are evergreen in most climates but may be deciduous in colder areas. These shrubs are relatively large and make a wonderful privacy or noise screen with their dense foliage and imposing size.
The foliage is the focal point, as the new growth on barberry shrubs appears in various flashy shades of red, yellow, and purple. This is a fantastic way to add color to the garden. Use caution when pruning, as barberry plants have thorns. A good pair of bypass loppers with a long handle can simplify this job.
Japanese barberries are invasive and prohibited in many states. Check with your local extension office before planting.
Blue Holly
Winter becomes a visual delight with blue holly’s vibrant red berries standing out from their lush green foliage.
| | botanical name Ilex x meserveae |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 10’-15’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
The cheerful red berries of the female blue holly plant make the winter garden a more festive place to enjoy. The ‘Blue Princess’ variety is a female cultivar that, if planted near its mate ‘Blue Prince,’ will produce these brilliant berries in great numbers.
Blue holly loves cooler weather, so plant for best root acclimation in the fall, especially in warmer climates. The summer can cause stress to newly planted holly shrubs. These are nice, large shrubs with glossy and prickly blue-green foliage.
Boxwood
Boxwood plants feature small, dense leaves that withstand even the coldest months.
| | botanical name Buxus spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-20’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
If you love the look of topiaries and well-manicured hedges, boxwood is the shrub for you. These plants have small, dense leaves that take very well to pruning, and they are very cold tolerant so that the lovely foliage will stick around even during the coldest months. Most cultivars are hardy to zone 5, with one or two that can survive zone 4.
I think of the wonderfully structured hedge mazes of the classic English country garden when I think of boxwoods. Some varieties remain close to the ground, making an excellent border for a footpath. Still, others can be towering, making them excellent for a privacy hedge.
Camellia
These Asian natives bloom in winter with red, white, pink, or pale yellow flowers.
| | botanical name Camellia spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial sun |
| | height up to 20’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
Camellias have a special place in my heart. Growing up in zone 11, I had no idea that these plants existed until my college years in Gainesville, Florida, brought me to zone 9, where I encountered these stunning winter-blooming evergreen shrubs. With some varieties hardy to Zones 5 and 6, most are hardy to Zones 7-9.
C. japonica and C. sasanqua are most popular in the United States. These Asian natives have glossy, deep green leaves and bloom in the cooler months in red, white, pink, and pale yellow shades. The flowers are very sturdy and look gorgeous floating on a crystal bowl of water.
Cherry Laurel
Position cherry laurel in low-traffic zones if you have small children or pets.
| | botanical name Prunus laurocerasus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to full shade |
| | height 10’-20’ |
| | hardiness zones 6-8 |
Pretty evergreen shrubs related to stone fruit trees, cherry laurels are fast-growing shrubs that can reach up to 20’ tall in some cases. In spring, they produce highly fragrant flower spikes that are a huge draw for butterflies and other pollinators. The dark green, glossy foliage is attractive year-round and works well with other plants in the garden.
Cherry laurel can be pruned into a small tree by removing the lower branches or left with a low ground clearance to act as a shrub. All parts of the plant are considered highly toxic to animals and humans, so this one will be best planted a little ways off the beaten track if children and pets are a concern.
Daphne
Place your daphne plant in well-drained, acidic soil for optimal growth.
| | botanical name Daphne spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 8’-15’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Daphne shrubs can be a bit fussy and don’t take well to transplanting, so it is important to plant them where they are guaranteed to perform well. Once established, though, daphnes are easy to maintain and attractive plants.
Give your daphne a spot in well-drained, acidic soil. Aim for partial shade, as they will flower best under these conditions. Give your shrub plenty of water in its first year to help it establish roots. It will reward you with beautiful clusters of pink or white flowers.
False Cypress
Larger false cypress plants can be expertly pruned into a small tree or a substantial shrub in form.
| | botanical name Chamaecyparis spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
Every bit as lovely as their namesake, false cypress are evergreen shrubs with soft, fernlike foliage that adds texture and year-round interest to the landscape. There are several dwarf varieties if you like the look of this shrub but want to make it work in a smaller space. Larger varieties can be pruned into a small tree or a large shrub.
Give this shrub well-drained soil but plenty of moisture. Outside of that, there is very little maintenance required. These shrubs add a desirable vertical element to the landscape, growing considerably taller than their spread.
Fir
Thriving in cooler summer climates, fir trees grow slowly and require minimal maintenance.
| | botanical name Abies spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height Varies widely |
| | hardiness zones 3-7 |
You probably think of fir plants as trees- some species can grow to astounding heights, up to 150 feet! We are going to focus on the dwarf varieties, however. These shrubby conifers typically stay closer to seven feet tall, making them very nice, hardy, evergreen shrubs.
The fir genus’s dense, flat, aromatic leaves make it a popular Christmas tree. They are slow-growing and prefer climates that have cooler summers. They are very easy to grow, and their slow growth rate makes them easy to maintain.
Gardenia
With compact, glossy foliage, gardenias grace your garden with blooms from late spring to late summer.
| | botanical name Gardenia spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 3’-8’ |
| | hardiness zones 8-11 |
Another evergreen shrub that I appreciate in my garden year-round is the gardenia shrub. Gardenias prefer temperate climates with mild winters, but we have experienced some more severe temperatures in recent winters, and my ‘Frost Proof’ gardenias truly stood up to the cold with great vigor.
Best known for their wonderfully fragrant flowers, gardenias always make a great addition to the landscape. They are compact, with glossy, sturdy foliage, and have a long blooming season in late spring, often with a brief reprisal in late summer. You can’t go wrong with a graceful gardenia.
Indian Hawthorn
Guard this plant against fungal issues by ensuring adequate air circulation.
| | botanical name Rhaphiolepis indica |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3’-6’ |
| | hardiness zones 7-11 |
Indian hawthorn makes a great ornamental low shrub with its glossy foliage and flashy pink and white flowers. These star-shaped flowers bloom in spring and are lightly fragrant, attracting pollinators to the garden.
Give your Indian hawthorn a spot with full sun and well-drained soil. They can be prone to fungal issues, so ensure adequate air circulation around these plants. They are very drought tolerant once their roots become established and will require minimal supplemental watering, although they do like access to water if it’s available.
Inkberry Holly
This smooth-leaved holly shrub offers a thornless alternative to traditional holly leaves.
| | botanical name Ilex glabra |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 5’-10’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-11 |
Another type of holly shrub, the inkberry holly, is a smooth-leafed species that lacks the thorny quality of typical holly leaves. It is also fairly compact and slow-growing, making it a great choice for gardens with limited space.
In winter, deeply pigmented berries hang on the branches of female plants. While the berries share the common shape of other holly species, their color is such a deep red that it’s nearly black. Inkberry commonly grows in bogs or near ponds. It produces greenish-white flowers in the late spring. Inkberry shrubs look great in groupings.
Japanese Andromeda
This shrub boasts striking red foliage when young, ranging from rosy pink to fiery red.
| | botanical name Pieris japonica |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 9’-12’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-7 |
Japanese andromeda is ideal as an evergreen shrub that can tolerate partial shade and still look great. In addition to its evergreen foliage, this plant blooms very early in the year. It has even been known to produce flowers while snow is still on the ground.
The new foliage is red initially, with some varieties leaning toward pink while others are a deep, bright red. Japanese andromedas have a shrubby, rounded growth habit, often spreading to match their height. The clusters of delicate, bell-shaped, white flowers resemble lily-of-the-valley blossoms.
Juniper
The versatile juniper can serve as a shrub or tree, adapting to various landscaping needs.
| | botanical name Juniperus spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height Varies widely |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
A sturdy plant that does the job without much commotion, juniper can be grown as a shrub or tree. There are even varieties that stay low as a ground cover plant! The low clearance makes it a great plant for pruning into a large shrub, but the lower branches can be pruned off to create a more treelike shape. Its blue-green foliage is attractive and dense, making juniper a great noise screen or privacy hedge.
Junipers are members of the Cypress family and share similar fernlike, aromatic foliage. The seed cones of this evergreen look like deep blue berries with a pale, waxy coating. They are used commonly as a spice and during the distillation of gin.
Mahonia
Slow-growing and evergreen, mahonia provides year-round appeal.
| | botanical name Mahonia aquifolium |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to full shade |
| | height 7’ |
| | hardiness zones 6-9 |
Mahonia, or Oregon grape, is in the same family as barberry but more closely resembles a holly plant. The shiny, large leaves have a serrated or toothy edge. Mahonia is a great plant for spots in the year that don’t receive full sun, as they are happy in a wide variety of exposure conditions.
This is a slow-growing shrub that provides year-round interest. They produce bright yellow flowers, blooming at the tail end of winter and into early spring. Their grape-like fruits mature through the spring, drawing birds to the plant in summertime. This is a great ornamental with extra impact when planted in groups.
Mirror Bush
Planting in groups boosts this plant’s flower and fruit yield, creating a more stunning presentation.
| | botanical name Coprosma repens |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 5’-10’ |
| | hardiness zones 8-11 |
Named for its exceptionally glossy leaves, mirror bush is a fast-growing shrub that performs best in partial shade, although it will tolerate full sun. Also called a looking glass plant, this bush comes in many combinations of colors, commonly variegates, that include green, red, and yellow.
Many varieties have foliage that changes color in the fall, but the plant retains its leaves in warmer climates year-round. Small, inconspicuous flowers in spring give way to berries in late summer, but only on female plants. Plant these in groups for better flowering and fruiting.
Mountain Laurel
Mountain laurel displays many small white or pink flowers with purple markings in late spring.
| | botanical name Kalmia latifolia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to full shade |
| | height 6’-15’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
With a large North American native range, mountain laurel is a great addition to many garden climates. The smooth, shiny foliage is bright green and remains attractive throughout the seasons. Give your mountain laurel acidic soil for the best results.
The display of flowers in late spring makes this a particularly desirable shrub. Masses of small white or pink flowers with purple markings cover the shrub and leave behind small, brown fruits if not deadheaded. Mountain laurel makes a stunning hedge in a mass planting.
Mugo Pine
Despite its slow growth, mugo pine can ultimately reach heights of 20 feet or more.
| | botanical name Pinus mugo |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 20’ |
| | hardiness zones 2-7 |
The exceptional cold hardiness of mugo pine is a major draw, as is its dense, needlelike foliage. Most cultivars are prized for their spread, which can outgrow the plant’s height. Mugo pine is slow-growing but can ultimately reach 20 feet or taller.
Smaller varieties look wonderful in rock gardens or as bonsai trees. Prune larger varieties to look like small trees. They are not picky about soil, except for an aversion to clay, and they are well suited to urban living. Mugo pine will thrive in climates with cooler summers.
Rhododendron
Rhododendron plants shine in spring, producing a profusion of colorful flowers.
| | botanical name Rhododendron spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 3’-8’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Rhododendrons love cool weather. However, there are so many varieties with different preferences. Some rhododendrons are well suited to warmer climates. Grow dwarf varieties in containers if you live in climates colder than Zone 4.
The best season for these plants is spring, when they produce a massive amount of colorful flowers. Shades of purple, pink, coral, white, purple, and even red will dress up the landscape in late spring. They will bloom earlier in the year in warmer climates, with an occasional reblooming in early fall as the weather cools.
Rosemary
Unlike most herbs, allowing rosemary to flower doesn’t affect the leaves’ flavor.
| | botanical name Salvia rosmarinus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 5’ |
| | hardiness zones 6-10 |
Rosemary is a beautiful name and a delicious herb, and it also makes a wonderful ornamental shrub. The aromatic foliage of rosemary shrubs makes them ideal for planting near outdoor living areas. They also stay fairly compact, so they make great container plants.
Give your rosemary shrub a lot of sunlight. This is a true, full-sun type of plant. Rosemary produces beautiful purple flowers that are very popular among pollinators. Unlike many herbs, allowing your rosemary to flower won’t diminish the flavor of the leaves. Just be sure to trim back the flower spikes after they have bloomed to avoid the plant becoming too woody unless that is what you prefer.
Spruce
Suitable for Christmas trees, spruce plants have densely arranged needlelike leaves.
| | botanical name Picea spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height Varies widely |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Spruce plants vary widely based on variety, with the dwarf cultivars making very nice, mid-sized shrubs. They are hardy in a wide range of climates, although they do not tolerate drought, so they are not the best selection for climates that have dry, hot summers.
Most varieties have a pyramidal or conical shape and are used as larval food for several butterfly and moth species. The needlelike leaves are arranged densely on highly branched boughs. This plant makes a great Christmas tree!
Tea Olive
The tea olive’s subtle flowers form small clusters on branch tips during cooler months.
| | botanical name Osmanthus fragrans |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 15’ |
| | hardiness zones 8–11 |
In the South, tea olive shrubs are a sign of welcome, often planted by your front door, where the delicious fragrance of their small white flowers will greet guests as they arrive. They are moderately fast-growing shrubs that can reach up to 15 feet tall in just a handful of years.
Tea olive has shiny, stiff, deep green foliage. Prune to increase branching, making your shrub denser and fuller in appearance. The flowers are inconspicuous, appearing in small clusters at the ends of branches in the cooler months of the year. The amount of fragrance these tiny flowers produce is why they are popular. They smell divine!
Viburnum
The blossoms of viburnum shrubs offer a convenient source of nectar for pollinators.
| | botanical name Viburnum spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2’-30’ |
| | hardiness zones 2-9 |
Many viburnums are evergreen, like Prague viburnum, although there are deciduous varieties that have wonderful fall colors. They vary widely in size, with some dwarf varieties topping out at about three feet tall, while other, larger cultivars can reach 20 feet. They typically have a nice spread, making these an imposing shrub that makes a great focal point.
In spring, viburnum shrubs produce clusters of attractive white flowers that are sometimes fragrant. They are a huge draw for pollinators, especially bees. The large clusters of flowers provide a great nectar source to pollinators without requiring them to travel long distances, using precious energy.
Wintercreeper
In spring, inconspicuous white blooms emerge from wintercreeper’s lush greenery.
| | botanical name Euonymus fortunei |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2’-10’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
Wintercreeper, as the name might signify, is a shrub with a vining habit that can make a wonderful wall of leaves if given the proper support. It proliferates, so it needs some attention to prevent it from being invasive. The flowers are white and inconspicuous, blooming in the spring.
The larger varieties can reach heights up to 10 feet but climb to much greater heights if given support. Some varieties can grow up to 60 feet and taller. Dwarf varieties make wonderful ground cover. Full or partial sunlight is acceptable for wintercreeper.
Yew
The cone-like flowers and winter berries of the yew attract birds.
| | botanical name Taxus spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height Varies widely |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Yew bushes come in many different shapes and sizes. The larger varieties grow into tall trees, while dwarf varieties are better for groundcovers or shrubs. Their flowers are cone-like and very appealing to birds, as are the red berries that replace them in the winter.
Yews have flat, needlelike leaves that spiral around reddish-brown branches. Prune these slow-growing shrubs to maintain a compact size or specific shape. Easy to maintain, yew bushes are a great addition to the landscape.
Final Thoughts
By building your garden around an evergreen foundation, you never have to spend the winter looking at bare branches again. These great hedges help create a garden landscape that is attractive all year!
