20 Evergreen Shrubs for a Year-Round Lush Garden

We could argue that evergreen shrubs of all shapes and sizes have a captivating aesthetic. The cherry on top is that they keep their structure and lush foliage throughout the year.

With so many different varieties available, choosing an evergreen shrub that’ll suit your preferences may seem overwhelming. Continue reading to find out more about the 20 evergreen shrubs that are worth considering!

Top 20 Evergreen Shrubs

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best evergreen shrubs that’ll perfectly complement any landscape:

1. Blue Holly

Blue holly has distinct glossy dark green leaves with a blue undertone. It can grow to be 10 feet wide and 15 feet tall.

The female cultivar of this shrub produces bright red berries when pollinated by a male holly. They brighten up the landscape and are perfect for Christmas decorations! However, you must be careful because these berries are toxic to both humans and animals if consumed.

Generally, blue holly is a low-maintenance shrub. The most important thing is to keep it in well-drained soil.

2. Mahonia

How about growing a fabulous shrub and using its berries to make delectable desserts? That sounds like a pretty good deal to us!

Mahonia shrubs have dense, broad green leaves and bright yellow flowers that bloom from January to April.

They also produce dark blue berries, which are used to make tasty jelly and jam. To top it all off, this shrub requires little maintenance; all it needs is enough space to thrive and protection from frost.

3. Boxwood

Boxwood shrubs have long been admired because of their unique flair and are a common sight in modern landscaping. They have several varieties that differ greatly in size, ranging from 1 to 20 feet tall.

This slow-growing shrub has beautiful small, rounded green leaves. That said, unless you’re growing it as a specimen plant, you’ll need to prune its leaves regularly.

4. Mirror Bush

Mirror bush is a fast-growing shrub that can reach a mature height of 10 feet relatively quickly. This shrub’s foliage is shiny and comes in several varieties.

The leaves can include tints such as pink, creamy white, and purple. Interestingly, as autumn approaches, these colors become more vibrant!

This stunning shrub is extremely easy to grow and can withstand harsh conditions. Nonetheless, it prefers full sun, requires moisture and thrives in well-drained soil with a neutral or slightly acidic pH.

5. Mountain Laurel

The shade-loving mountain laurel shrub adds a lovely touch to any garden. It can grow to be 15 feet tall and wide.

This flowering shrub blooms in late spring as well as early summer and has shiny deep green broad leaves. Its flowers grow in clusters and can be white, rose, or pink. To ensure that you get these lively blooms, keep the plant in partial shade, not full shade.

6. Japanese Holly

Japanese holly is a top choice for gardeners due to its lush foliage and versatility. It can grow to be 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide, making it ideal for tall ground covers, borders, hedges, etc.

This shrub has a neat pattern of branches and tiny rounded glossy green leaves. In fact, the pyramidal holly cultivar grows in a pyramid shape and maintains it without pruning!

Japanese holly blooms small white flowers in late spring, followed by tiny rounded black fruit. Although this shrub can grow in a variety of soil types, it does best in loose, loamy soil with good drainage.

7. Canadian Hemlock

Hands down the Canadian hemlock is one of the most elegant shrubs to grow. This evergreen shrub belongs to the pine family. It has a pyramid shape and can grow to be 50-70 feet tall and 25 feet wide.

The way their green soft needlelike foliage grows on gracefully arched branches makes Canadian hemlocks an ideal specimen plant. Just make sure that this shrub gets enough direct sunlight and is planted in a wind-protected location.

8. Skip Cherry Laurel

The fast-growing skip cherry laurel shrubs are a fantastic option for privacy hedges. They grow into dense bushes and have a sweet scent, thanks to their blooms.

This shrub blooms white flowers in the spring as well as carries red berries in the fall and winter. These magical vibrant berries attract birds and actually turn black when fully matured.

This low-maintenance shrub is best planted between October and March.

9. Gardenia

Gardenias are incredibly rewarding to grow. They have gorgeous dark green leaves, creamy white flowers, and an amazing fragrance!

There are over 200 gardenia cultivars, so they come in a variety of sizes. Their typical size ranges from 2 to 12 feet tall and wide.

This shrub can’t tolerate frosts and strong winds. If you want to plant them outside and live in an area where these conditions are common, it’s best to do so in a container. This will make it easier to relocate them during the winter.

10. Dwarf Mugo Pine

The dwarf mugo pine stands out with its upright dense branches and dark green needlelike leaves. Not only that, but it’s well-known for its ability to survive both heat waves and bitterly cold winters.

Besides, mugo pines are considered moderately drought-tolerant plants, so once established, they won’t require much watering. This hardy shrub has a slow growth rate but can reach heights and widths of 5 feet.

11. Juniper

Juniper comes in different shapes and sizes since it exists in over 170 cultivated varieties! It can be found as a low ground cover, trees, rounded or pyramid shapes, and other forms.

What’s impressive about this lush shrub is its high tolerance for unfavorable growing conditions. In fact, you won’t have to do much for it except provide it with moist, well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight.

12. Rhododendron

Rhododendrons are great for adding a wow factor to your garden. This shrub produces colorful flower clusters up to 12 inches in diameter!

The majority of its varieties bloom primarily in May and June. Some of the flower shades include red, pink, yellow, white, and orange.

Rhododendron shrubs require little care, but they must be planted in the proper location to grow a healthy bush.

13. False Cypress

False cypress, also known as gold mop, is available in a variety of sizes and hues. It’s classified as a medium to large shrub, growing to 6-70 feet tall and 4-20 feet wide.

This evergreen shrub has a pyramid shape and densely packed scaly foliage on its branchlets. It’s extremely easy to maintain once developed since they’re cold, heat, and drought tolerant. However, severe frosts may cause their leaves to burn.

14. Japanese Pieris

Japanese Pieris are mesmerizing to look at during all stages of their growth. When this shrub’s leaves first emerge, they have a distinct reddish-bronze tint that gradually turns into a gleaming deep green.

Moreover, Japanese Pieris blooms stunning white or pink dangling flowers for about 2-3 weeks in late winter and early spring. It’s worth noting that this shrub thrives in moist, organic-rich soil.

15. Rosemary

If you want to give your garden an unrivaled fragrance, we strongly advise you to grow a rosemary shrub. It comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1 to 6 feet tall and from 4 to 6 feet wide.

This aromatic shrub blooms in the spring as well as fall and has dark green needlelike foliage. The flowers usually have a delightful blue hue. To ensure you witness this flowering, keep the plant in well-drained soil and a sunny location.

16. American Arborvitae

When it comes to privacy trees, American arborvitaes are a go-to for landscapers. They have a pyramid shape and grow quickly to mature heights of 65 feet. They’re also quite hardy, surviving most soil types and weather conditions.

By the way, arborvitae is the Latin version of the French phrase “l’arbre de vie,” which means “life tree.”

17. Wintercreeper

Wintercreeper is a broadleaf shrub that tolerates a wide range of soil and weather conditions. It can climb up to 66 feet if supported; otherwise, it spreads out to make an excellent ground cover.

This evergreen shrub’s color varies depending on the cultivar. Its foliage shades include dark green, gold, and purple. Some varieties have distinct light-colored veins that are truly breathtaking!

18. Yew

Yew shrubs are quite versatile, serving as a great foundation, topiaries, hedges, etc. There are multiple yew varieties available, almost all of which are hardy and easy to care for.

This shrub is a conifer so it produces robust cones as well as needlelike leaves. Depending on the variety, it can grow to be 4-60 feet tall and spread out 4-20 feet.

19. Azalea

Azalea shrubs are a sight to behold during their blooming season. In the spring, they bloom lovely flowers in an array of colors, including pink, red, and orange. Depending on the variety, this shrub can grow and spread out from 3 to 30 feet.

When planted in the right conditions, caring for this plant is a breeze. The key to its flourishing is acidic, loose, and well-drained soil.

20. Fir

Fir trees are evergreen conifers that come in over 40 different species. The most famous are grown as ornamentals, such as Christmas trees!

These majestic trees have soft, needlelike leaves arranged in rows on all branches and carry upright cones. They prefer cool, humid climates and don’t do well in high heat as well as humidity.