Eight Great Evergreens

Posted by Jessie Jacobson on Jun 26th 2024

Eight Great Evergreens to Plant Now

One of the most challenging pursuits of perennial gardening is ensuring that there is always something to provide interest throughout the year. Evergreens provide all year interest and act as great point of interest and anchor for your garden design. Evergreens are excellent for framing landscapes and buildings in foundation plantings, or for providing contrast and relief in background plantings.

Be sure to water new evergreens thoroughly up until the ground freezes in the fall to keep them thriving and green all winter long.

Evergreens prefer a humus-rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil. Water deeply and regularly during the first few growing seasons to establish an extensive root system. Feed with an evergreen specific fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. We love Espoma's Evergreen Tone.

Let's check out 8 great evergreens that got it going on!

Arborvitae

'Mr. Bowling Ball' Arborvitae

A naturally rounded, compact evergreen with dense, medium green foliage. Lacy, rich green foliage has excellent year-round color. Useful as a low hedge and in foundation plantings; especially useful in areas where space is limited.
 
Exposure: Full Sun
 
Size: Slow growing; eventually reaches 24" to 30" tall and wide.
 
Hardy to zone 3

Arborvitae

'Tall Guy' Arborvitae

Arborvitae 'Tall Guy' is a moderate to fast growing, upright, columnar arborvitae. This arborvitae matures quickly and has no gaps. This evergreen thrives in warm climates and does equally well in cold climates. Use 'Tall Guy' to create hedges or screens, or to anchor the landscape with vertical appeal year-round.
 
Exposure: Full sun
 
Size: 8'-12' Tall, 2'-3' wide
 
Hardy to zone 4

False Cypress

'Golden Mops' Threadleaf False Cypress

A ground-hugging mound that is truly mop-like. With thread-like leaves that color best in full sun. The perfect accent to add contrast all year long. Tailored to rock gardens and slope plantings too!

Exposure: Full Sun
 
Size: 3' tall, 4' wide
 
Hardy to zone 4

Juniper

Green Columnar Juniper

An attractive, upright evergreen with a pyramidal form highlighted by crisp, bright green foliage on dense, tight branches. Prized for its versatility, this juniper works well as an evergreen screen or background planting. Let grow in natural form, or shape to your liking. An excellent specimen for topiary use in formal gardens.
 
Exposure: Full Sun
 
Size: 15' tall x 5' wide in natural form.
 
Hardy to zone 4

Pine

'Mops' Mugo Pine

With dense, symmetrical growth and compact, rounded habit, this mini-pine is perfect for confined spaces. Blue-green spring and summer foliage takes on a golden hue during colder months. Slow growth habit makes this evergreen ideal as a specimen in small gardens, or massed to make a bold statement in larger landscapes.
 
Exposure: Full sun to partial sun
 
Size: Very slow growing; may reach up to 4' tall and wide over 30 years.
 
Hardy to zone 2

Pine

'Mini Twists' Eastern White Pine

A great fit for the smaller landscapes, ‘Mini Twists’ with its small twisted and curvy needles creates an unusual texture in the garden. This variety responds well to annual candle pruning which encourages an even, compact, full-foliaged small tree.
 

Exposure: Full sun

Size: 6’H x 4’W

Hardy to Zone 3

Spruce

'Jeangenie' Colorado Blue Spruce

This beauty, a variety of the classic Colorado Blue Spruce, but slower growing. Perfect for smaller landscapes. A handsome pyramidal form with a dense growth habit and bright blue needles. Use as an evergreen windbreak or screen, or as a specimen plant in large landscapes. Resistant to deer and rabbits.

Exposure: Full Sun

Size: 10'-15' tall x 6' - 8' wide

Hardy to zone 2

Yew

'Huber's' Tawny Gold Spreading Yew

A dense, spreading evergreen with attractive tawny-gold needles. Provides excellent contrast when massed under the canopy of trees. This versatile and durable shrub has a naturally attractive vase shape and tolerates shearing well. Ideal for use as a specimen plant, in foundation plantings, or as a low hedge, and in borders.
 
Exposure: Full sun to part sun
 
Size: Slow growing; reaches 3'-4' tall, 4'-6' wide
 
Hardy to zone 4
!