Evergreen flowering trees


9 Evergreen Flowering Trees for Your Front Yard – The Tree Care Guide

Avoid the embarrassment of an ugly, leafless, winter front yard. The following are evergreen flowering trees that will keep your front yard looking beautiful year-round.

thetreecareguide.com gathered information and tips about 9 flowering evergreen trees, their hardiness zones, and soil requirements.

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

Crape Myrtle trees grow to an average of 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, making them appropriate for nearly any size front yard. This tree species flourishes in lean soil, while an abundance of fertilizer will lead to more leafy growth than that of flowers. These trees are hardy in zones 7 through 10.

Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)

Often referred to as smoke bush, smoke tree adds both color and texture to any yard. Flowers are small and bloom in early summer, but each bloom has a long pink filament, creating a smoky or puffy look throughout the summer months. This species can easily be showcased as a specimen tree or be included in a garden bed. This tree species is hardy in zones 5 through 8.

Pear Tree (Pyrus)

This species flowers at the peak of spring. This pear tree species is tall, growing 25 to 30 feet and up to 20 feet wide. Pears thrive in full sun and tolerate heavy clay soil. The species is hardy in zones 4 through 8.

Dogwood (Cornus)

Flowering dogwoods can grow to a height of 35 to 40 feet. It is considered a shrub or small, low-branching tree, usually with a flat and broad crown. Creamy-white flowers (depends on the variety) with 4 petals each appear in early spring. This tree is hardy in zones 5 through 9.

Texas Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

This variety grows to be a large shrub or small tree, reaching 10 to 20 ft. in height. This tree species is an excellent selection for small yards, pathways, or sidewalk planting. This tree also flourishes as an understory tree or displayed as a specimen. It thrives in well-drained, calcareous, rocky, sandy, loamy, or clay soil types, usually limestone-based. Hardy in zones 6 through 9.

Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata)

This species compliments small yards very well, growing to about 25 feet tall with a spread of 15 feet. Pink flowers bloom in early spring, while its dark green leaves appear after flowering. This tree has a hearty disposition, thriving in well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soils that all support the cherry species and tolerating insect and disease attacks. This tree is hardy in zones 6 through 8.

Evereste Crabapple (Malus Evereste)

With white blooms that linger through spring, this tree species is a gem for front yard diversity. This species is also perfect for pots. Evereste crabapple flourishes in moderately moist, well-drained soil and prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. This crabapple species is hardy in zones 4 through 8.

Fragrant Tea Olive Tree (Osmanthus fragrans)

This species also compliments small yards very well, growing to about 10 feet tall with a spread of 6 to 8 feet. White flowers bloom in late fall and early spring, while its dense evergreen foliage persists year-round. This tree has a hearty disposition, growing best in fertile, moist, well-drained, acidic soil. The species is moderately drought tolerant once established. This tree is hardy in zones 8 through 11.

Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

The imposing dark green leaves of Magnolia grandiflora contrast to its large white blossoms in spring, followed by randomly blooming flowers all summer long. This species can grow from 20 to 80 feet, depending on the variety. Southern magnolia can be grown in full sun or full shade. It thrives in moist, well-drained, acidic soils. This tree species is hardy in zones 6 through 9.

Flowering Evergreen Trees

In this article, you discovered 9 stunning evergreen flowering tree species to help keep your yard full of life year-round.

Growing flowering evergreen trees in your yard helps you present lush green foliage all year and show off stunning flowers when your tree blooms.

Without evergreens in your yard, winter months can be challenging as its vegetation may appear to be dying or dead.

Sources:
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lagerstroemia-indica/
landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/cotinus-coggygria
web.extension.illinois.edu/hortanswers/plantdetail.cfm?PlantID=29&PlantTypeID=11
hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/corfloa.pdf
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST145
landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/prunus-serrulata-kanzan
s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2109/2019/12/CrabapplesWesternWA.pdf
canr.udel.edu/udbg/?plant=osmanthus-fragrans
selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/845

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10 Evergreens With Beautiful Blooms

Home › Ornamental Gardens › Flowers › General Flower Garden Care

General Flower Garden Care

By: Mary Ellen Ellis

Image by nemoris

Every garden should have evergreens to provide year-round color and visual interest. In addition to some of the typical evergreens, like spruce trees or boxwood hedges, you can find flowering plants that hold onto their leaves all year. Add greenery and pretty blooms with these evergreen flowers. 

Flowering Evergreen Trees

These trees provide glossy, green leaves all year in the right climate, as well as pretty spring flowers: 

  1. Southern magnolia. For southern states, this tree is a classic. Magnolia grandiflora are native beauties, but they do take several years or growth before they begin blooming. 
  2. Mandarin orange. In a warm climate, this fruiting tree is evergreen. They also produce tasty fruit and white spring flowers that attract pollinators and have a gorgeous fragrance. 
  3. Rhododendron. Most species of this forest-growing evergreen flower are shrubs, but some grow as small trees. Rosebay can grow up to 12 feet (3. 6 m), while McCabe rhododendron may ultimately become 50 feet (15.2 m) tall. 

Flowering Evergreen Bushes

Use evergreen flowering shrubs as hedges or borders, or in a more natural state in a native bed or planting. 

  1. Azaleas. Most botanists consider this showy shrub a subspecies of rhododendron. They produce masses of bright flowers in a range of colors. 
  2. Mountain laurel. This is a large shrub that prefers partial shade. Native to the eastern U.S., it is evergreen and produces unusual and showy spring flowers. 
  3. Rosemary. In climate zones 7 through 10, this woody herbal shrub remains evergreen. It produces delicate lavender flowers that attract pollinators. A similar option is lavender. Both can be shaped into hedges or borders or left to grow naturally. 
  4. Chinese fringe flower. Enjoy early spring flowers on this evergreen shrub that grows up to three feet (. 9 m.) tall. 

Flowering Evergreen Ground Cover

As a grass alternative, try these evergreen ground covers that stay green all year and bloom in winter or spring. 

  1. Winter heath. Growing no taller than about six inches (15 cm.), this evergreen plant produces striking purple flower for months, including in the winter. 
  2. Creeping myrtle. Also known as periwinkle, this is a vine that many people use as groundcover in shady areas. It has evergreen leaves in zones 4 through 8 and produces delicate, blue-purple flowers.
  3.  Creeping phlox. For masses of flowers and evergreen leaves in a sunny location, try this plant. While the leaves are evergreen, the showy masses of bright flowers are the stars. 

When choosing flowering evergreens, keep in mind that some are deciduous in colder climates. Some may also be invasive in your area, so do your homework first.

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7 evergreens for the garden: photos and names, what to plant in the country

Evergreens - a win-win option for decorating the site. In summer, their juicy greenery sets off the bright inflorescences of flowering plants, in winter it looks great against the backdrop of white snow. At any time of the year, they decorate the local area. We will understand the features of "undying" cultures and get acquainted with their best species.

All about evergreens for the garden

What it is
7 best garden varieties
— Coniferous
- Deciduous

Many people think that only conifers belong to evergreen crops, and even then not all of them. In fact, this is not so. Many plants retain their greenery all year round, but they do it in different ways. In evergreen foliage "lives" for several years. It does not fall either in the warm or in the cold season. This group includes mostly trees and shrubs.

There are also winter green crops. Their foliage remains throughout the winter season, and it completely retains its color. New leaves appear in the spring, after which last year's leaves fall off. This group includes mainly shrubs and herbaceous perennials. nine0003

Both groups can be used to decorate your garden with perennial greenery. It is important not to confuse them, because the care of crops should be different. Evergreens are less whimsical, better adapt to various conditions. Therefore, they are often chosen for growing on the site. They are suitable for spacious areas and for small areas. There are many varieties of them: from tall to dwarf.

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All crops that preserve greenery all year round can be divided into two groups. Let's talk about each of them.

Coniferous

Their main difference from other plants is the leaves in the form of thin long needles. Some conifers have flat, scaly foliage. The seeds of almost all ripen in cones, the shape, size and shade of which depend on the species. We list the most popular evergreen conifers among gardeners.

1. Spruce

Beautiful fluffy tree with short needles and brown cones. The average tree height is 25-30 m, under favorable conditions it grows up to 50 m. Spruces tolerate shading well, can grow in partial shade and in the sun. Sensitive to humidity and air purity. Prefer slightly alkaline light soils and moderately moist loams. There are more than 45 varieties of conifers. For the site, you can recommend such types.

Spruces are good in single and group plantings, for example, at the main entrance to the house or as the central figure of a multi-tiered composition. Dwarf and undersized specimens are planted in mixborders or rockeries, they make up hedges. nine0003

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2. Cypress

Tall conifer with scaly leaves. The crown can be pyramidal or spreading. Dislikes bright sunlight and strong shade. The best option is penumbra. Prefers loose fertile soil mixtures. It does not tolerate waterlogging, in the lowlands it is planted only on drained soils. We list the best varieties for decorating the local area. nine0003

Cypresses are undemanding and tolerate pruning well. Low-growing varieties can be used as the basis for a topiary.

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3. Yew

Beautiful slow growing conifer. There are shrub and woody varieties. The needles are short, soft, very pleasant to the touch, deep green. Forms fruits in the form of scarlet berries. Yew shade-tolerant and unpretentious. It takes root well on any soil, but prefers a fertile neutral substrate without excessive moisture. We list the best varieties for landscaping the site. nine0003

All cypress trees tolerate pruning well, which is used in landscape design to create topiaries and park sculptures. You need to know that cypress cones, bark and needles contain substances that are toxic to humans and animals. Therefore, it is necessary to plant it with caution where children and pets will walk.

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4.
Thuja

Decorative conifer with many varieties. Among them there are dwarf shrubs growing up to half a meter, and seventy-meter giant trees. Tui are unpretentious, frost-resistant, grow well in partial shade and shade. Young seedlings have soft needles, which eventually turn into scaly needles. For the adjacent territory, such varieties can be recommended. nine0003

Tui are very different, which makes it possible to choose the most suitable type for your site. They go well with other plants, especially boxwood, juniper, barberry. Suitable for arranging hedges, flower beds and single plantings.

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Deciduous

Deciduous plants differ from conifers in the presence of lamellar petiole foliage. Its shape and size can be very different. We offer names and photos of deciduous evergreens for the garden. nine0003

1. Heather

A monotypic creeping shrub from 25 to 70 cm high. It has many upwardly directed branches covered with small triangular leaves. They are bright green in color, slightly rolled into a tube. Heather blooms in mid-summer. It is covered with bells of a lilac-pink hue. The plant is unpretentious, prefers open areas and slightly acidic soils. Feels good on poor soils. For landscape decoration, you can recommend these varieties of heather. nine0003

Heather is suitable for uniform plantings. For a greater decorative effect, you can choose different varieties. The evergreen bush goes well with other crops, for example, with juniper or thuja.

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2. Boxwood

These are slow growing shrubs or trees from 2 to 10 m high. The crown is compact and very dense. The branches are covered with glossy dark green leaves of round or oval shape. Starting from the age of 15-18, boxwood blooms with small yellowish flowers with a pronounced honey aroma. Prefers a slightly acidic or neutral fertile substrate of moderate humidity. Here are the varieties recommended for landscaping. nine0003

Boxwood goes well with flowering plants such as hydrangeas, roses or rhododendrons. It is planted in multi-tiered flower beds, in mixborders. It easily tolerates pruning, so it is used to create topiaries, hedges.

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3. Honeysuckle

Differs in great species diversity. It happens one- and perennial, grows in the form of a liana or shrub. There are deciduous and leafy varieties in winter. Honeysuckle is decorative and edible. In the latter case, in addition to greens, you can also get a crop of large sweet and sour berries. The shrub is covered with oval-shaped leaves with wavy edges. The flowers, depending on the variety, can be white, pink or reddish. We list the best representatives of decorative honeysuckle. nine0003

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Undersized honeysuckle looks good in rockeries, upright bushes are used in group plantings. Creepers are planted along arbors, other small architectural forms on the site or in the form of a hedge.

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Dacha Plants nine0000 list of plants for garden landscaping

When choosing evergreens for the garden, most prefer needles. There is nothing surprising in this, because coniferous plants retain their appearance for a long time, they are easy to cut, so they are perfect for creating hedges or “living” sculptures. However, needles are not the only crop that can please the eye in winter, because there are many horticultural crops that perfectly tolerate even severe frosts. nine0003

Evergreens adorn our gardens in any season, at any time of the year

Evergreens in landscape design

Western

  • Yew
  • Cedar
  • Hem
  • Juniper
  • Cypress
  • Deciduous trees and shrubs – description with photo

    The most spectacular garden compositions are based on a harmonious combination of various forms of evergreens

    Winter-hardy plants are planted not only in open areas, but also in flowerbeds and flower beds. Evergreens are combined with many annual or perennial crops. In flowerbeds, it is better to plant them in such a way that they act as the main decoration of the created composition. This is important, because otherwise they will not be noticeable against the background of those plants that “fall asleep” for the winter. nine0003

    Evergreens can improve the microclimate. Such cultures relieve the site of monotony, go well with other garden crops.

    Coniferous evergreen trees and shrubs - description with photo

    The choice of evergreens is very rich. Among them are not only conifers, but also evergreen deciduous shrubs and trees. Different in size, growth rate and height, evergreen crops will be appropriate not only in large areas. Low-growing varieties are no less popular, especially when the size of the plot does not allow planting other types of crops. The list of evergreen conifers is long, consider the most common. nine0003

    When choosing conifers, you should pay attention to the most unpretentious plants that do not require special care.

    The popularity rating among conifers is headed by spruce

    Pine

    Despite the dense crown, pines begin to thin out over time. The trunk of the tree is quite long, and the bark has a dark brown tint. As a rule, there are no problems with pruning, only the crown is given the desired shape in the summer, until the movement of the juice has stopped. To obtain side shoots, pinching is carried out in the spring. It is not recommended to choose pine trees for making a hedge, as they thin out, which can ruin the entire composition as a whole. nine0003

    Pine trees are drought-resistant and thrive on poor sandy soils

    Mountain pine with a squat crown is often planted on alpine hills. Thanks to a large selection of varieties and a variety of decorative forms, arborvitae today can be found in almost every landscape project.

    Western thuja does not do well as an ornamental shrub and natural hedge

    Along with tall thujas, there are low-growing and spherical plants. The latter grows well in the shade of tall trees

    Thuja occidentalis is the best suited for creating a green hedge. It grows rapidly and after 3-4 years allows you to get a full-fledged "live" fence.

    Since the thuja has a shallow root system, it can be transplanted at any time of the year. However, the ideal period for this would be spring. You need to know that thuja does not grow quickly in order to get an even crown, it needs uniform lighting. nine0003

    Yew

    This plant can rightfully be called a long-liver among evergreen crops. The tree has been growing for three millennia. It is characterized by rich green needles, as well as small red cones. Yew loves the shade, so a site where there is not enough sun will be an ideal place for him.

    Yew is the leader among conifers in terms of shade tolerance and unpretentiousness to the soil

    Bark, needles and cones contain toxic substances, it is strictly forbidden to eat them. Wash your hands thoroughly after completing the work. nine0003

    The yew is easy to cut, which makes it possible to give it absolutely any shape.

    Cedar

    Like other conifers, cedar is decorative all year round. Of course, this is a real decoration of the site, because its bright green branches look especially beautiful against the backdrop of white snow.

    Siberian and European cedar are distinguished. The first is more suitable for mild climates, the second can easily withstand the most severe frosts

    Cedar is considered an unpretentious plant, its stem is small but powerful. In height, the tree can reach 40 m, and its diameter is about 2 m.

    Despite its impressive size, this evergreen tree will look good not only on a large plot. A free-standing cedar will also become a real decoration of even a compact area.

    Hem

    This is a small evergreen tree from the pine family. Despite the fact that hemlock is a short tree, this evergreen plant attracts attention with its beautiful wide crown. In landscape design, hemlock is often chosen if it is necessary to add zest to a rocky area. nine0003

    Canadian Hemlock has a weeping crown shape and prefers moist, fertile soils

    Even in a small area, this conifer will look great. Hemlock can be planted both separately and together with other conifers.

    Many people make the mistake of planting conifers too close together. Despite its large growth, hemlock takes a lot of nutrients from the ground. It's worth considering!

    Juniper

    There are coniferous plants that have both shrub and tree forms. Juniper is one of them. Its height can reach 3 m, but the tree can grow up to 12 m. The bark of seedlings is mostly reddish-brown in color, in an adult plant it is brown in color. nine0003

    Junipers grow well both in sun and partial shade. The photo shows a spectacular composition of juniper and fern

    Rocky junipers look great as single compositions

    The needles of the juniper are in pairs, between the conifers you can see large cones that look like berries. Ephedra can be planted together with other ornamental plants, such as tapeworm. Juniper fits perfectly into various styles of landscape design. It is planted in flower beds, lawns are filled with it, and the conifer also looks great as a hedge. nine0003

    Cypress

    When planting cypress on the site, you should know that this conifer does not like shade. Otherwise, the tree is unpretentious, can be planted on any soil, easily tolerate drought. Separately, it is worth highlighting the types of cypress that have a pyramidal and curved crown. Very often, a monumental cypress can be seen on the territory of sanatoriums and recreation centers.

    Cypress - a resident of the southern regions and does not tolerate severe frosts

    Deciduous trees and shrubs - description with photo

    Evergreen deciduous trees and shrubs native to tropical countries, most of them require warmth. Consider the most popular types.

    Boxwood

    This is a small tree, rarely exceeding 10-12 m in height, the leaves are small and dense. In the axils of the leaflets you can see small white flowers forming a spikelet. Boxwood is ideal for framing roads, and thanks to easy pruning, the tree can be given a variety of shapes. However, it grows rather slowly. nine0003

    Boxwood is often recommended for beginners, because it is extremely difficult to ruin it by negligence. The plant is not afraid of both short-term drought and waterlogging of the soil

    Guayacum

    This is a low plant (6-10 m) with a diameter of 0.7 m. The tree has many curved branches that form a dome shape. The leaves are a rich green hue, leathery dense. Guayacum is unpretentious, tolerates drought well, and can be planted on any soil.

    Guaiac tree is cultivated for ornamental and medicinal purposes

    Laurel

    A low tree with dense glossy leaves that have a pleasant aroma. All parts of the laurel contain essential oils. The flowers are small, the fruits are similar to berries.

    Laurels are ideal for shearing, suitable for creating hedges and garden compositions of the most diverse forms. The leaves are dark green in color. Inflorescences in diameter no more than 6 cm. This is a heat-loving plant, all year round in open areas can only be located in the south, where the air temperature does not fall below + 8 degrees. nine0003

    Oleander is used as a specimen, in group plantings, when decorating alleys, stairs and terraces

    Star anise

    An evergreen shrub that can grow up to 15 m in height. Leaves are dense, their length reaches 15 cm. Flowers come in different shades: burgundy , red, yellow. Star-shaped fruits. The plant is unpretentious, but prefers partial shade. To form a beautiful bush, it is regularly pruned.

    Star anise prefers partial shade, blooms from March to May

    Camellia

    This evergreen shrub will make a spectacular addition to any garden. Dark green foliage retains its appearance throughout the year. Camellia flowers, which are very similar to roses, come in different shades: red, white, pink. Due to the rapid development, the shrub will embellish the site in a short time.

    Blooming camellia brightens up every corner of the garden

    Japanese camellia often used as a hedge

    Ivy

    With this climbing plant, you can create amazing compositions that will transform any site. The plant is tall, grows up to 30 m. More often, common ivy or the Hedera helix species is used in landscape design. Another famous species is Hedera colchica. Ivy has large leaves (up to 25 cm) of green, yellow color, and brown color is also found. In autumn you can see umbrella-shaped inflorescences, in spring black berries appear.

    Many landscapers choose ivy for vertical gardening

    This evergreen creeper is often used to decorate fences, terraces and balconies.

    Holly

    The leaves of the holly are dense with teeth on the edges, saturated green. The plant also ripens berries, which come in different shades: black, white, yellow, red. Among the decorative forms, it is worth highlighting the common holly, which has a domed shape. The culture is not demanding, it makes excellent hedges. Planted singly or in groups with other plants. nine0003

    Bright holly berries remain on the branches until spring

    Olive

    Deciduous shrub resembling a small tree.


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