Three Types of Evergreen Shrubs
The number of evergreen shrub varieties is pretty wide and diverse. When looking for evergreen shrubs, it helps to be familiar with three primary types.
Needle-leaf evergreen shrubs. Yes, coniferous evergreen shrubs do exist. Yew shrubs (Genus: Taxus) are a very popular needle-leaf evergreen. Yew shrubs are coniferous but don't produce cones. Juniper is another popular needle-leaf evergreen.There are a lot of Juniper varieties that have many uses from privacy to groundcovers. Mugo Pine and False Cypress are 2 other popular conifer evergreen shrubs.
Broadleaf evergreen shrubs. The 5 most popular broadleaf evergreen shrub varieties are Holly shrubs (ilex), Boxwood shrubs (Scientific name - Buxus), Euonymus (about 130 species), Firethorn (Scientific name: Pyracantha coccinea), and Photinia (Over 40 varieties).
Flowering Evergreen shrubs. There are numerous flowering evergreen shrubs as well. A common misconception is that most are best suited for warmer climates. Azalea's are a great example. Predominantly considered for grow zones 7 though 10, there are now azalea varieties that are tolerant to grow zone 4. Other popular flowering evergreen shrubs are Gardenia, Rhododendron and Camellia.
The evergreen shrub varieties listed below are, or have been, available for sale on at least one of the online nurseries we evaluated. Be sure to check out our gallery. As they saying goes; a picture is worth a thousand words. We add more images frequently to help you identify evergreen shrubs & get a feel for what they look like at various growth stages. We will also post pictures we take of different shrubs we have ordered online.
View our entire list of evergreen shrubs for sale online. It is not intended to be a list of every evergreen shrub available anywhere online. We list what is for sale from the top rated sites we review. All availability and pricing are updated daily.
| Variety | Scientific Name | Grow Zones View Map | Details |
Arborvitae |
Thuja |
2 to 8 | Arborvitae is Greek for 'tree of life'. Many people have heard of the popular arborvitae privacy trees, including the fast growing tree, Thuja Green Giant. There are, however, arborvitae shrubs. They make a great alternative to boxwoods as foundation plants. |
Abelia |
Abelia x grandiflora |
6 to 9 | evergreen zones 8+, semi-evergreen cold winters. Could lose up to half its leaves during extended cold weather. |
Aucuba |
Aucuba japonica |
6 to 10 | Loves shade. NOT deer resistant. |
Azalea |
Rhododendron |
4 to 9 | There are over 1,000 rhododendron varieties, including azaleas. |
Barberry |
berberis |
4 to 9 | There are a few that are deciduous. Has winter interest |
Boxwood |
Buxus |
4 to 10 | Roughly 70 species. Most can handle a lot of pruning |
Camellia |
Camellia |
4 to 9 | Known for winter flowers but some also bloom fall & even early spring. Tea plant is considered a camellia. We found 15 varieties of camellia's for sale online from our top 20 online nurseries. |
| Cryptomeria | Cryptomeria japonca | 5 to 9 | There are also cryptomeria trees; we're just listing shrubs. Sometimes called dwarf japanese cedars. |
| Daphne | Daphne x burkwoodii | 4 to 8 | Can be evergreen, semi-evergreen & deciduous. Toxic! Berries & leaves. Some reports of skin irritation. |
| Distylium | Distylium | 7 to 9 | Some varieties flower in winter. Part of witch hazel family. New hybrids getting some good buzz in horticultural circles. |
| Euonymus | Euonymus | 5 to 9 | Some varieties, like burning bushes, are not evergreen. Some are ground covers. |
| False Cypress | Chamaecyparis | 4 to 8 | Not all varieties have green foliage. Wide variety of shapes and sizes. |
| Firethorn | Pyracantha | 6 to 9 | Related to cotoneasters. Large, thorny evergreen shrubs. Can also be a small tree. |
| Gardenia | Gardenia jasminoides | 7 to 11 | Can also be shaped as a small tree. Over 140 species. Blooms have amazing scent. |
| Holly | Ilex | 5 to 9 | Over 400 varieties. Many can be grown as shrub or tree. There's even a few newer introductions of hollies that have unique, yellow foliage! |
| Juniper | Juniperus | 3 to 9 | Roughly 50 species. Conifers. Wide variety of sizes, including ground covers. |
| Laurel | (Cherry & Mountain) | Cherry Laurel (Laurus) & Mountain Laurel (Kalmia) are not really laurels. Its just a reference to their laurel-like foliage. | |
| Leucothoe | Ericaceae | 6 to 9 | Also known as coastal doghobble, it is a native shrub. Vase shaped broadleaf grows slowly to about 4 feet tall. Prefers part shade, making it useful to be tiered in front of larger shrubs that may block some sun. Also used as a hedge. Pretty showy spring white flowers are fragrant & attract pollinators. |
| Loropetalum | Loropetalum | 7 to 10 | Very unique flowers. Also called Chinese Fringe Flower. |
| Mahonia | Mahonia | 5 to 10 | Also called Oregon Grape Holly. Unique form. Yellow spring flowers. |
| Mountain Pine | Pinus mugo | 3 to 7 | Also known as mugo pine |
| Nandina | Nandina domestica | 6 to 9 | Also known as Heavenly Bamboo. Can be semi-evergreen above zone 6. |
| Photinia | Photinia glabra | 7 to 11 | Used in south as hedge or privacy screen. |
| Pieris | Pieris japonica | 5 to 8 | Unique, bell shaped flowers. Some thrive in full shade. |
| Privet | Ligustrum | 5 to 8 | Fast growing, classic tall hedge. Some referred to as ligustrum. Depending on your grow zone & variety some are semi-evergreen or deciduous. |
| Rhododendron | Rhododendron | 4 to 9 | Azaleas are considered rhododendron. Over 1,000 varieties! Because Azaleas are so popular, we have separated them with their own listing above. |
| Sweet Box | Sarcococca | 6 to 9 | Thrives in shady areas. |
| Yew | Taxus media | 5 to 10 | From ground covers to hedges. Yews serve many uses. |
| Yucca | Yucca | 4 to 10 | Some varieties are perennial shrubs. Some are considered succulents. |
Don't forget to read our review, ratings and grade for the top online nurseries selling evergreen shrubs.
Most Popular Landscape Uses For Evergreen Shrubs
Here are the five most popular evergreen shrubs by 'type'. In other words, what are the most popular uses for them?
- Foundation plants. As the moniker implies, these are shrubs that are planted close to your home, along your foundation. Sometimes referred to as 'home hugging' shrubs. They should enhance your curb appeal. Tradional evergreen foundation shrubs include Hollies, Boxwoods and Junipers. More an more flowering evergreen shrubs are being use so homeowners can add a little color and pizazz to their landscape.
- Privacy evergreen shrubs. Some of the best selling evergreen shrubs are being used to create a 'living' privacy fence.
- Evergreen shrubs for hedges. Usually in the range of 2 to 5 feet tall, these are evergreen shrubs that can provide a nice hedge. Many times used along property lines.
- Groundcovers. There are quite a few evergreen shrubs that stay low to the ground & are used as groundcovers. Sometimes they're used on slopes to help with preventing soil erosion.
- Ornamental for the color. A group of 3 or 5 flowering evergreens in your garden would look amazing. There are evergreens that bloom different times of the year. Some even do well in shade, something that is always a struggle for home landscapes.
Evergreen Shrub Pictures
Make sure to check out our gallery where we try to help you identify evergreen shrubs. We'll also post pictures of plants we have delivered from various online nurseries.
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