Chinese Evergreen Shrubs

Many Chinese evergreens can thrive in North American gardens.

A range of evergreen shrubs share the common, descriptive moniker of "Chinese." Not all of these species originated solely in China. The Chinese juniper is also native to Mongolia and Japan, while the Chinese loropetalum is also indigenous to Japan and southeast Asia. Regardless of origins, before choosing a Chinese evergreen shrub for your landscape, determine each shrub's specific light, soil and moisture requirements as well as its mature size before choosing the most appropriate site for that particular plant.

1 to 5 Feet Tall

Dwarf Chinese holly can thrive in full sun to partial shade. This 3-foot-tall evergreen has glossy green foliage and produces bright red berries. The dwarf Chinese holly is hardy between the United States Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zones 6 to 9. The San Jose Chinese juniper grows to 2 feet tall, but spreads to 8 feet. This prostrate shrub has long branches and can be grown as a ground cover. San Jose Chinese juniper is hardy in zones 4 through 9 and prefers sun to light shade and well-drained soil. Sargent's Chinese juniper also grows to 2 feet high, but spreads up to 10 feet wide. Also hardy between zones 4 and 9, Sargent's Chinese juniper has fragrant, gray-green foliage and prefers full sun.

6 to 10 Feet Tall

Chinese abelia, a semi-evergreen, is hardy in zones 7 to 9. A fast-growing shrub, the Chinese abelia has dark green leaves with light green bottoms and produces aromatic white flowers in late summer. Plant Chinese abelia in moist, well-drained soil and sun to partial shade. Chinese sweetspire grows from 6 to 10 feet tall. This arching shrub blooms with white, drooping flower clusters in spring and has shiny, deep green foliage. Chinese sweetspire thrives between zones 7 and 9 and tolerates sun to shade and moist, well-drained soil. Other evergreen shrubs between 6 and 10 feet tall include Chinese mahonia and Chinese loropetalum.

10 to 15 Feet Tall

Chinese privet, an evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub, grows to 15 feet tall with an equal spread. A fast grower, the Chinese privet can thrive in sun to partial shade and a variety of soils. Chinese privet has shiny, dark foliage and produces odorous white blossoms in spring. This shrub is hardy from zones 6 though 9. The Chinese snowball bush is hardy in the same zones and grows to 15 feet tall with a slightly narrower spread. The snowball bush blooms with bright green flowers that grow into 8-inch-long, white spikes. This dense shrub prefers moist, acidic soil and tolerates full sun to partial shade. Other moderately tall evergreen shrubs include the Chinese podocarpus, Chinese fighazel, Chinese yew and Burford, Fineline and Needlepoint Chinese holly cultivars.

15 to 25 Feet Tall

Two evergreen shubs share the common name of Chinese photinia. Photinia serrulata, also known as Oriental photinia, grows to 25 feet tall. A drought- and disease-tolerant shrub, this Chinese photinia has glossy, dark green foliage and produces foul-smelling white flowers. Photinia serrulata is hardy between zones 6 and 8 and grows best in well-drained soil. Photinia davidiana is also hardy between zones 6 and 8 but only grows to 20 feet tall. This sun-loving evergreen blooms with clusters of white flowers followed by long-lasting red fruit. Plant this Chinese photinia in full sun and moist, well-drained and slightly acidic sites. Other tall shrubs from China include Chinese juniper.

References

• Floridata: Juniperis Chinensis
• Floridata: Loropetalum Chinensis
• Texas A&M University: Outstanding Shrubs for Texas
• University of Missouri Extension; Selecting Landscape Plants Broad-leaved Evergreens; Christopher J. Starbuck; August 2007
• North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension; Shrubs; Erv Evans

Resources

• Stephen F. Austin State University; Plant Hunting for the 21st Century; Dave Creech;