Not all evergreens are closely related — they come from many different families of tree , and there are evergreen members of largely deciduous families. When most people think of evergreens they probably think of conifers. There are about species of conifer and several dozen of them are popular garden trees. They range from dwarf firs to massive specimens like the Scots Pine , which can reach over feet high. What sets conifers apart from other trees is the cones they grow — these are elaborate protective seed stores.
Conifer leaves are very different from most deciduous trees. They take the form of needles or scales, which are less efficient than broad, flat leaves but withstand the weather better.
The slender, robust leaves of northern conifers can survive freezing temperatures that would destroy the more fragile structure of a broad leaf. At the same time they can also handle hot, dry weather better because they have less surface area for water to evaporate from. The shape of the trees themselves are often adapted to resist the weather — the classic cone shape of northern conifers helps them shed snow before it builds up enough to break their branches.
Conifers make up several related families, some of them containing dozens of species. Here are a few of the most common ones:. Because they can survive cold temperatures conifers are the most common evergreens in most of the central and northern United States. Instead, by being evergreen, they can continue growing all year round. This tree can handle dry rocky soils as well. When soils prove to be too nutrient deficient for other evergreens, pitch pine is a good choice.
Give this plant plenty of sun. Instead, do so in spring so the tree has time to heal the wound before harsh weather arrives. Spruce trees often feature a perfect pyramidal form. These trees are likely to grow to great heights at high elevations. Their needles are usually stiff and sharp. Below are two spruces with very different colors and branching habits.
The best aspect of blue spruce is its striking color. This vibrant blue stands out all year round as it gives a stark contrast to the greens offered by other species. In the winter, it is especially noticeable.
Blue spruce also has a consistent pyramidal form. It maintains this Christmas tree-like shape throughout its life. The needles of blue spruce are stiff and sharp. They cover the majority of each stem and are often painful to grasp. Because of its colorful foliage, blue spruce makes for a great specimen tree.
However, it can also grow as a part of a mass planting for privacy or wind screening. Blue spruce also carries the name Colorado spruce. This is because it is native to the Rocky Mountains. Plant blue spruce in acidic soils with full sun. This species is tolerant of harsh winters up to zone 2. Not much pruning is needed since blue spruce has a consistent growth habit. Prune in early spring if you wish to control growth. Native to central Europe, Norway spruce is a fast-growing conifer. This rapid growth rate is especially prevalent in youth.
They grow in all directions covering the entirety of each stem. The cones are large and long. The hang in the same pendulous manner as the branches. Prune in late winter. For those interested in a dense screen, consider clipping the central leader. This will promote more horizontal growth. It is easy to mistake fir trees for spruces. Many species share the same Christmas tree-like shape. But the needles offer an easy way to tell the difference. While spruce trees are sharp, fir trees are soft.
The fir trees listed here are both great evergreen tree options. One is a staple plant of the Pacific Northwest. The other offers vibrant foliage. Douglas fir is a massive conifer that is native to the Pacific Northwest. It is one of the most prominent trees in the forests of this area. It can grow in low-lying coastal areas as well as higher mountain elevations.
One of the best ways to identify this tree is by the bracts on its cones. These bracts are unlike those of any other conifer.
They have a forked pointed shape like a v or a trident. The needles are thin and short. They can be green to blue-green in color. Sometimes they have a shiny appearance as well. This tree also has a unique branching habit. The mid-level branches are stiff, growing horizontally to the ground. The branches below droop downward, the branches above reach more towards the sky. Because of its extreme mature size, Douglas fir can be challenging to grow in residential settings.
Prune in late winter to attempt to control the height. White fir is native to the mountain regions of the American West. They often grow in rocky soils. In those settings, it can grow much taller than in residential and commercial plantings.
White fir offers a consistent color that is similar to the color of blue spruce. The difference between the foliage of these two species is in the feel. If you grab a white fir tree, you will find that the needs are soft and flexible. The needles of blue spruce are sharp and painful. White fir is generally conical in form.
It often has a thin central leader that sticks straight up out of the canopy like a spire. Cedar trees may be best known for the fact that they produce great wood for construction.
But you will find that they have many other uses in the landscape as well. These trees make for some of the best privacy screens. While they are overplanted in some areas, it is for good reason. Their dense evergreen foliage effectively blocks both sight and wind. Eastern white cedar, also known as American arborvitae, has a large native range in the eastern united states.
This plant commonly grows in the wild and in residential and commercial settings. The dense foliage of this tree makes it a top choice for privacy screening. That foliage consists of bright-green scale-like needles.
Eastern white cedar typically has a single trunk and a conical form. At times it is slightly pyramidal. The wood of this tree is rot-resistant making it useful in construction. This use goes back to the indigenous people of North America who used this tree to build canoes.
Prune eastern white cedar in spring or summer. This tree can tolerate shearing. Generally, this tree prefers neutral to alkaline soils and areas of full sun. Eastern white cedar is a great option for year-round privacy hedges or windbreaks. Much like the eastern white cedar, western red cedar has wood that is fantastic for building. It is one of the most commonly used woods in carpentry.
Because it is so massive, western red cedar is sometimes called giant red cedar. It can reach hundreds of feet tall but it maintains a narrow pyramidal shape. Like other arborvitaes, this tree can contribute to a quality hedge. But many consider this to be one of the most attractive cedars, so it is suitable as a specimen as well. The leaves are dark green and lustrous. They consist of small scales. In areas of extreme sunlight and heat the leaves can turn brown at times. While being extremely large, western red cedar is also long-lived.
In ideal conditions, their lifespan can exceed years. Western red cedar prefers cooler areas with moist soils.
But, it can both partial shade and full sun. The soil should have a neutral ph. Remember this is a large plant so provide plenty of space.
Use pruning to thin branches as needed. The story of hemlock trees is a relatively sad one. Currently, there is a pest called the wooly adelgid that threatens to wipe out the entire population of hemlocks. But that does not exclude them from our list. Not only are these trees an essential part of their ecosystems, but they are also some of the most attractive evergreens around. Canadian hemlock is a pyramidal conifer native t north America.
It tends to grow in moist woodland areas often near bodies of water. The short needles appear in regular intervals along each branch. They have a deep green color. On their bottom sides, they have two whitish bands.
The whitish bands are not to be confused with wooly adelgid. This pest threatens the entire Canadian hemlock species. This tiny insect attaches itself to the underside of Canadian hemlock leaves. As it does, the insects become engorges. In aggregate, they create a wooly appearance. This pest is an unfortunately common identification feature.
Canadian hemlocks are currently dying off as a result. To tell the difference by looking at cones growing on the tree, fir tree cones stand erect on the branches but pine and spruce cones droop down. For a small garden choose a dwarf cultivar of eastern white pine.
Also called the soft pine, this type of pine tree is fast-growing and is a beautiful ornamental evergreen tree for gardens and landscaping. With proper pruning, you can also use eastern white pines as a privacy hedge if you plant a few together.
These pines grow to ft. Eastern white pines have bluish-green needles, slender light brown cones, and evenly spaced branches. Scots pines are used as Christmas trees due to their scent and needle retention. The Scots pine tree is an attractive type of evergreen conifer for landscaping.
They tend to have a mass of flat foliage at the top of the tree that looks like an umbrella. These grow well in containers and are a popular type of Christmas tree. Scots pines are slow-growing landscape trees that grow to ft. Cones are red that turn to brown as they mature.
The Norway pine is a cold hardy evergreen tree. Also called the red pine, some species of Norway pine have drooping branches that give this evergreen tree a weeping look. Other types of landscaping Norway pine have a conical shape and with upturned branches. These are cold hardy pine trees that grow well in full sun and acidic soil. Large specimens can grow to between 66 and ft.
Pinyon pines are hardy small evergreens that grow slowly. Pinyon pine trees are well-suited evergreens for landscaping as they are slow-growing and can create shrub borders or specimen trees. These hardy pine trees survive well in warm climates and can survive periods of drought.
Pinyon pines are also good trees to grow if you want to harvest their edible pine nuts from the cones. These small pine trees have a wonderful pyramid shape and they grow to 20 ft. Their upturned branches, yellow-green long needles, and small cones make this an attractive species for a landscaped garden. The Japanese Black Pine is an ornamental evergreen tree. The wide-spreading nature of its foliage and crooked branches of the Japanese black pine gives this evergreen landscape tree an exotic oriental look.
This Asian pine species is good for pruning to create beautiful decorative pine trees. It is also a perfect tree to create miniature trees and bonsai trees. As its common name suggests, these pine trees are identified by their unique black bark.
Although called a fir tree, the Douglas fir belongs to the family of evergreen pine trees. These evergreen conifers have soft flat needle-like leaves. The conical shape of the tree gives it an important ornamental value that adds year-long greenery to garden landscapes. Douglas firs grow to between 70 and ft. They have needles that are 1. Large tan-colored scaly cones droop down from the branches. The Norway spruce is a fast growing cold hardy evergreen tree. Norway spruces have a distinct pyramidal shape with soft green needles that have blunted tips.
These are fast-growing conifers that can be used in landscaping to create large privacy hedges or a singular specimen tree. Norway spruces are suitable for colder environments and they are popular Christmas trees. Norway spruce trees grow to between and ft. Also called the Alberta spruce, this fast-growing coniferous evergreen tree has a distinctly conical shape.
Some mature varieties look like skinny conifers with slightly drooping branches. These are perfect for foundation plantings, hedges, or as a specimen plant. The pyramidal shapes of the Colorado blue spruce, its blue-green foliage, and sharp spiky branches make this a great addition to the garden landscape. This ornamental tree grows well in most zones and enjoys plenty of sun.
Looking at pictures of this spruce specimen, you can recognize it by the distinct blue color of the leaves and foliage. Colorado blue spruce trees grow up to 49 ft. The pale brown 4-inch cm long cones contrast well with the silvery-blue foliage.
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