About Evergreens

Evergreens, unlike deciduous trees and plants, do not shed their leaves and stay green throughout the year. Evergreens in the conifer division such as pines, spruces and firs produce cones and have needles rather than leaves. Evergreens not only beautify a landscape, but they also provide habitat for wildlife in any season. Landscape evergreens also require very little maintenance.

Japanese Yew

Japanese yew, also know by the scientific name taxus cuspidata, is a slow-growing evergreen that grows well in sun and partial shade. This evergreen prefers well-drained or dry soil conditions. Japanese yew produces red berries that are poisonous to humans. (See Reference 2)

Spruce Trees

Spruce trees come in several varieties such as the Colorado blue spruce, which has silvery blue-green needles. The Colorado blue spruce can grow up to 25 feet wide and 75 feet tall in most regions of the United States. (See Reference 1)

Scotch Pine

Scotch pines or Scots pines are native to Norway, Spain and parts of Asia. They thrive at elevations of 1,000 to 1,500 feet. Because these pines are drought tolerant and wind resistant, they are widely planted in the United States. These evergreens attract owls and many pine-seed-eating bird species. (See Reference 1)

Juniper

Blue harbor junipers are blue-green in color and have a slow to medium growth rate. Junipers grow best in acidic soil and prefer full sun. This drought tolerant evergreen produces berries that attract birds and other wildlife, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. (See Reference 1)

Deodar Cedar

The deodar cedar can grow to 70 feet tall and is widely distributed in California and parts of Washington and Oregon. This species also grows well in Midwestern states such as Arkansas and Oklahoma. This evergreen native of the Himalayas attracts woodpeckers. (See Reference 1)

References

• Arbor Day Foundatin
• The Morton Arboretum