The 10 Best Evergreen Shrubs for Your Garden
Keep your outdoor areas green all year long thanks to these verdant plants.
Now that we are spending even more time outdoors—even during the chillier months—it is important to keep your garden as lush as possible. Look to evergreen shrubs for making your outdoor spaces looking their best all year long. Some of the choices below are perfect for privacy hedges, some are made for adding shape to your garden, and some will offer blooms during some seasons while remaining green during the rest. Some have beautiful dark leaves, while are some are more sage or variegated in nature, but they all add interest and variety to a garden, terrace, or patio.
Camellia
The camellia, one of the South's most beautiful flowering shrubs, is part of the Theaceae family and blooms in white, red, pink, and mottled in several colors. The bush remains green even when not in bloom, with dark, shiny leaves.
Where to plant: Partial shade
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Boxwood
The prim and proper shrub for those desiring a more manicured look, boxwood is relatively easy to grow, easy to prune and shape, and not as prone to disease. It maintains its beautiful green hue year-round and has adorned gardens since Julius Caesar's time, when he introduced the first topiaries in Roman gardens.
Where to plant: Full to partial sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6
Arborvitae
Meaning "tree of life" in Latin, the arborvitae shrub makes for a great hedge due to its column-like shape that it takes as it grows. This dense, evergreen plant grows quickly and is easy to care for, making it very hardy.
Where to plant: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3
Wintercreeper
Wintercreeper, which was given its scientific name forutnei in homage to plant explorer Robert Fortune, grows low to the ground and spreads through creeping stems. With support, it can climb vertically as well as horizontally.
Where to plant: Full sun to dense shade
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Yew
The yew plant produces a soft texture that makes it a handsome, and low-key addition to any garden. Yew, like the boxwood plant, responds well to shaping and trimming and is fairly hardy when it comes to staving off illnesses.
Where to plant: Full to partial sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Weeping Hemlock
Weeping hemlock—also known as Canadian hemlock—can reach heights anywhere from 10 to 15 feet and grow in a graceful, draping form. The plants, which appear delicate, are actually quite hardy and do best in full sunlight.
Where to plant: Full to partial sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Azalea
The azalea bush, which is a flowering bush that remains green and leafy when not in bloom during the spring months, is a member of the rhododendron family and is a deciduous plant. The blooms dazzle in red, pink, white, and purple.
Where to plant: Full to partial sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Yucca
The yucca plant (it's debated as to whether it's a true shrub) retains its beautiful sage green hue throughout all four seasons. It's very hardy and is the perfect choice for more arid, dry regions. As the yucca plant ages, it produces twists, which adds texture to its already unique look.
Where to plant: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 10
Mahonia
This evergreen shrub boasts yellow flowers that bloom in late winter through early spring. They eventually turn to berries by late summer. Mahonia, which is native to Asia, Central and South America, and the Himalayas, is a low-maintenance shrub.
Where to plant: Full to partial sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9
Rosemary
This aromatic plant, which originated on the Mediterranean coast, grows best in warm areas with a bit of humidity. Rosemary, which can grow to be several feet tall and can overtake a plot if not cared for, can be brought inside during the winter in a pot to continue thriving.
Where to plant: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
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