There’s no denying the magic of deciduous shrubs. Year after year, their branches come alive in the spring with new leaves. But for privacy, protection from the wind, and wildlife habitat, evergreen shrubs are ideal – and native evergreen shrubs are even better. If you’re considering planting some evergreens, native evergreen shrubs should be at the top of your list.
Native plants are self-sufficient and resilient, and the range of wonderful native evergreens is more diverse than you might think. Whether you’re looking for best evergreens for hedges Or specimen plants for quiet corners, these plants are among the best native evergreen shrubs to consider.
Choosing the Best Native Evergreen Shrubs
Native evergreen shrubs are great for providing protective shade for hedges and make great specimen plants, providing evergreen foliage in all seasons. Small easy-care native evergreen shrubs garden edging ideaswhile larger shrubs are better suited for windbreaks and privacy fences. Here are some of the best landscaping choices for durable and attractive evergreen native shrubs.
1. Delight Juniper Blueberries
(Image source: Botanic World / Alamy)
These junipers (Common juniper) is a small and very attractive native evergreen shrub. Its needle-like foliage is two-toned, forest green on the upper surface and silvery-green on the lower surface. Its cones look like berries and birds love to eat them.
With incredible tolerance to a wide range of soil types, these juniper (if grown in clumps) will spread and provide effective ground cover for small mammals and birds. Grow this beautiful evergreen in full sun in USDA hardiness zones 3-6. It grows to two feet tall and one foot wide (60cm x 30cm).
Common Juniper ‘Alpine Carpet’
For anyone who wants to try Common juniper‘Alpine Carpet’ from Green Promise Farms is hardy enough to adapt to more challenging areas, such as steep slopes and rocky soils. Compact native evergreen.
2. Inkberry
(Image source: Donna Bollenbach / Shutterstock)
Inkberry is an evergreen holly that grows naturally in the eastern and south-central parts of the country. If you like boxwood but prefer native evergreens, inkberry Inkberry plants are typically found in moist soils in the wild, but they are very hardy and adaptable, and grow well in sunny or shady backyards and gardens. They thrive in USDA hardiness zones 5-10.
To make it work on its own, inkberry (Ilex glabra) grows multiple stems up to 10 feet (3.3 m) tall and 8 feet (2.6 m) wide. The leaves are glossy green above, lighter and duller green below, and oval with a few serrations near the top. Each bush has either male or female flowers, and both are needed to form berries. They are not particularly ornamental, but these native evergreen shrubs attract wild birds and mammals. They are also the host plant for the larvae of Henry’s dwarf butterflies.
Ilex Glabra ‘Shamrock’
This beautiful inkberry holly from Green Promise Farms looks great, holds its shape well, is cold hardy, and is virtually pest free. It is a lovely native evergreen for hedges and specimen plantings.
3. American Holly
(Image source: LC Ballard / Getty Images)
If you want a beautiful holly tree, you can’t do better than this. American Hollyalso known as Christmas holly (Ilex opaque). These are red berries and pointed, lobed leaves that are often decorative in porches. These trees are great native evergreen shrubs for shade, as they can grow up to 30 feet (10m) tall and about 15 feet (5m) wide and remain green in all seasons.
These shrubs can be male or female, and while both produce fragrant flowers, you need two in the landscape to get berries. And they are worth it, turning bright red or orange in the fall and providing decorative foliage throughout the winter. They thrive in USDA zones 5-9, in full sun and a site with moist, acidic soil.
4. Southern magnolia
(Image source: Edita Medeina / Shutterstock)
The magnolia is a beautiful evergreen tree with huge, fragrant white flowers and bright green leaves that are covered with a hairy back. These are native trees but are very tall, perhaps too tall for home landscapes, reaching up to 75 feet (25m) tall with a dense canopy. Southern magnolia (Magnolia) take a decade or two to reach adult size.
If you want a smaller native evergreen, consider the Little Gem cultivar, which is compact. In addition to being ornamental, these native evergreens make great privacy screens. Southern magnolias thrive in USDA zones 5-9.
frequently asked Questions
What native evergreen shrubs grow fastest for privacy?
Shrubs grow at different rates depending on growing conditions and weather. However, tree of life (Thuja) is extremely popular as a hedge and windbreak and is one of the fastest growing native shrubs.
What native shrubs should I plant instead of boxwood?
If you like boxwood but prefer native evergreens, the glossy blue inkberry is a good choice. One of our four recommended native evergreen shrubs, inkberry is easy to grow in full sun or partial shade and adapts well to a wide range of soil types.
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