Versatile Evergreens

• Choose the space where your evergreen will be planted rather than impulse buying, only to decide when you get it home, there is no place to put it!
• Decide how big you want your evergreen to grow in terms of height and diameter.
• Determine what light conditions your space has (deep shade – full sun).

Good for privacy or a windscreen when used in groups or individually.

• Silver and Fraser Fir, and Colorado Spruce – Symmetrical pyramid shape.
• Austrian Pine, White Pine – Irregular open shape, shorter and rounder, long needles.
• Weeping Nootka False Cypress – striking with ascending branches with pendulous threadlike foliage.
• Weeping White Spruce and Weeping White Pine – similarly unusual and makes a lot of impact.

Good for horizontal balance and great textural contrast to the upright evergreens especially the broadleaf varieties whose leaves remain all winter.

• Euonymus – are highly versatile and maintain dense form (125 cm/4’ tall or less. They are easily pruned any time of year. There are variegated (2 colour) leaved varieties available for both shade and sun locations. The golden varieties should all be planted in sun to maintain their colour but Emerald Gaiety with its green and white foliage can also grow in full shade.

• Rhododendron, Pieris, Mountain Laurel, Mahonia (Oregon Grape), and Holly (with red berries in winter on the female plants).

• Rose Daphne – Only 40 cm (16″) tall and with very fragrant rose-pink flowers in May.
• Yuccas – Bold spiked foliage with flowers on 150 cm – 175 cm (5’ – 6’) spikes in July.

Good for designing or renovating a foundation planting or mixed border where vertical elements are needed. Topiary uprights are great for a focal point but require trimming to maintain their effect.

• Junipers and especially the blue/grey varieties prefer sunny locations.
• Cedars are more shade-tolerant (with the exception of the yellow leaved varieties) and vary in mature height from 3 m – 8 m (10’ – 26’)
• Upright Yews with their dark green needles can be planted in full sun or shade. Since they grow slowly and live a long time, they don’t require much maintenance.

Requires little pruning and their shape contrasts well with softer-textured Junipers and Yews.

• Globe Cedars
• Dwarf Spruces
• Green Gem Boxwood
• Green Velvet Boxwood (introduced by Sheridan Nurseries in 1973)
• False Cypress (dwarf forms of that are very slow growing with irregular shapes and vivid colour)

Good for cascading over a retaining wall or water garden, to fill in bare patches, and anywhere else a very low growing plant is required. They are a great, low-maintenance alternative to grass.

• Siberian Cypress (turning coppery- brown)
• Compact Andorra Juniper (deep plum)
• Wintercreeper (purple)
• Blue Juniper (purple/blue)

• Vancouver Jade Bearberry
• Japanese Spurge
• Periwinkle
• Wintergreen
• Spring Heath
• Mountain Cranberry
• Paxistima, Bearberry Cotoneaster
• Heather

• Sarcoxie Euonymus – can easily climb 2 storeys high on the side of a house in sun or shade supporting itself on strong, woody stems.
• English Ivy – best planted on the east or north side of a house to avoid winter burn to its dark green leaves.
• Hall’s Honeysuckle – fragrant creamy-yellow flowers, requires a trellis for support.

• Emerald Cedar – Has an incredibly rich “emerald” colour that stays true through winter. These do not need any trimming if you are happy with its ultimate height, 4 m (13’).
• Green Gem and Green Velvet Boxwood – Ideal for a low fence. Boxwood hedges lend a formal appearance to the garden; they look good beside walkways and patios outlining herb, rose, or perennial gardens. These Broadleaf Evergreens grow only about 5 cm (2″) a year so they do not require much trimming to remain small and neat.