The magic of deciduous shrubs cannot be denied. Year after year, their branches come alive in spring with new leaves. However, for privacy, wind protection and wildlife habitat, evergreen shrubs are ideal – and native evergreen shrubs more so. If you are considering planting some evergreens, native evergreen shrubs should be at the top of the list.
Native plants are self-sufficient and resilient, and the range of great native evergreens is more varied than you think. Whether you are looking for the best evergreens for hedges or specimens for quiet corners, these plants are some of the best native evergreen shrubs to consider.
Choosing the Best Native Evergreen Shrubs
Native evergreen shrubs are wonderful for offering hedge protection shade, and make excellent specimen plants, offering green foliage in all seasons. Small native evergreen shrubs make low-maintenance garden border ideas, while larger shrubs are better for windbreaks and privacy hedges. Here are a few of the best landscaping options for enduring and alluring evergreen native shrubs.
1. Blueberry Delight Juniper
These junipers (Juniperus communis) are small native evergreen shrubs and are very appealing. Their needle-like foliage is two-tone, forest green on the upside, and blue-silver on the upper side. Their cones look like berries and birds love to eat them.
Incredibly tolerant of different types of soil, these junipers (if massed) will spread and provide small mammals and birds an effective groundcover. Plant this evergreen beauty in full sun in USDA hardiness zones 3-6. They grow to two feet tall and one foot wide (60cm x 30cm).
For anyone keen to try Juniperus communis, ‘Alpine Carpet’ from Green Promise Farms is hardy enough to cope with less-forgiving areas, like slopes and rocky soils. Compact native evergreen.
2. Inkberry Holly
Inkberry is an evergreen holly that grows naturally in the eastern and south-central regions of the country. If you like boxwood but prefer a native evergreen, inkberry holly shrubs fit the bill. Inkberry trees are usually found in wet soils in the wild, but they are very resilient and adaptable, and work well in sunny or shady backyards and gardens. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5-10.
Left to its own devices, inkberry (Ilex glabra) grows multiple trunks to 10 feet (3.3m) tall and 8 feet (2.6m) wide. The leaves are glossy green on top, lighter green and dull below, oval with a few teeth near the top. Each bush has either male or female flowers, and both are required to form berries. They are not particularly ornamental, but these native evergreen shrubs attract wild birds and mammals. This is also the host plant for Henry’s elfin butterfly larva.
This pretty inkberry holly from Green Promise Farms looks good, holds its form well, is cold-tolerant and is almost pest free. It is a lovely native evergreen for hedges and for specimen planting.
3. American Holly
If you want a showy holly, you can’t do better than American holly, also called Christmas holly (Ilex opaca). These are the red berries and lobed, pointy leaves that conventionally deck the halls. The trees are great native evergreen shrubs for shade, since they can grow to 30 feet (10m) tall and some 15 feet (5m) wide and stay green in all seasons.
These shrubs are either male or female and, while both grow fragrant flowers, you need two trees in the landscape to get the berries. And they are worth it, turning brilliant red, or orange, in the fall and decorating the trees through the winter. They thrive in USDA zones 5-9, in full sun and a site with moist, acidic soil.
4. Southern Magnolia
The southern magnolia is a magnificent evergreen tree with huge, fragrant, white flowers and rich green leaves that have a hairy covering on the back. These are native trees but very tall, perhaps too tall for a home landscape, growing to 75 feet tall (25m) with dense canopies. Southern magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) need a decade or two to achieve their mature size.
If you want a smaller native evergreen tree, consider the cultivar Little Gem, a small compact tree. In addition to being ornamental, these native evergreens make a great privacy screen. The southern magnolia thrives in USDA 5-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fastest Growing Native Evergreen Shrub for Privacy?
Shrubs grow at different rates depending on their growing conditions and the weather. However, arborvitae (Thuja) are extremely popular as hedges and windbreaks and are among the fastest growing native shrubs.
What is a Native Shrub to Plant Instead of Boxwood?
If you like boxwood but prefer a native evergreen, then the glossy green inkberry fits the bill nicely. One of our four recommended native evergreen shrubs, inkberry is easy to grow in full sun or partial shade, and adapts well to a variety of soils.
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