Evergreen shrubs are the backbone of stunning landscapes, offering year-round structure and beauty that never fades. They thrive where other plants falter, standing resilient through winter’s chill and summer’s heat.
But not all evergreens are created equal—some excel at framing homes, while others shine as ground covers or privacy screens.
With 15 versatile options, each bringing unique charm, these shrubs can transform any outdoor space. Ready to uncover which ones will redefine your curb appeal?
1. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
These classic evergreen shrubs offer timeless elegance with their dense, deep green foliage and versatile growing habits. Boxwoods can be meticulously trimmed into formal hedges or geometric shapes, making them perfect for creating borders along walkways and framing entryways.
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Their adaptability to different pruning styles allows homeowners to maintain a polished, sophisticated look throughout the year.
- USDA zones: 5-8
- Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining, slightly acidic
- Height: 2-8 feet depending on variety
- Water: Regular watering until established
- Maintenance: Annual pruning to maintain shape
2. Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)
Gardenias captivate with their glossy, dark green leaves and intoxicatingly fragrant white blooms. These southern beauties provide an elegant backdrop for any home’s entrance while filling the air with their signature sweet scent during the flowering season.
Their compact growth habit makes them ideal for foundation plantings or as standout specimen plants.
- USDA zones: 8-11
- Light requirements: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Rich, acidic, well-draining
- Height: 3-8 feet
- Water: Consistent moisture
- Maintenance: Regular feeding during the growing season
3. Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)
This native holly variety showcases a naturally rounded shape that requires minimal pruning to maintain its attractive form. Inkberry holly’s bright green foliage creates an excellent alternative to boxwood for foundation plantings.
Its compact size and low-maintenance nature make it an ideal choice for busy homeowners.
- USDA zones: 4-11
- Light requirements: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Adaptable to most conditions
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Water: Medium moisture
- Maintenance: Light pruning as needed
4. Pieris (Pieris japonica)
Also known as Japanese andromeda, the glossy foliage of this unique evergreen provides an attractive backdrop throughout the year, while early spring flowers offer a welcome burst of color. This shade-tolerant shrub works beautifully in areas where other evergreens might struggle.
- USDA zones: 4-8
- Light requirements: Partial shade to full sun
- Soil: Rich, acidic, well-draining
- Height: 4-8 feet
- Water: Regular watering
- Maintenance: Remove spent flower heads
5. Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
These fast-growing evergreens create excellent privacy screens and living fences with their dense, bright green foliage. Arborvitae offers various cultivars to suit different landscape needs, from tall hedges to compact accent plants.
Their versatile nature and quick growth rate make them popular choices for defining property lines and creating structure.
- USDA zones: 3-7
- Light requirements: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, slightly acidic
- Height: 15 inches to 15 feet
- Water: Moderate
- Maintenance: Annual shaping if desired
6. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Cherry laurel combines shiny evergreen leaves with fragrant spring blooms that smell of almonds. This robust shrub serves well as a privacy screen or foundation planting, providing year-round structure and seasonal interest.
Its adaptability to various conditions makes it a reliable choice for many landscapes.
- USDA zones: 6-9
- Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining
- Height: 4-8 feet
- Water: Medium moisture
- Maintenance: Prune after flowering
7. False Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)
This cold-hardy evergreen features soft, fern-like needles that create an elegant, flowing appearance in the landscape. Its graceful pyramidal shape provides natural architectural interest without requiring extensive pruning.
The delicate texture of false cypress contrasts beautifully with broader-leaved shrubs.
- USDA zones: 4-9
- Light requirements: Full sun
- Soil: Rich, well-draining
- Height: 5-10 feet
- Water: Regular until established
- Maintenance: Minimal pruning needed
8. Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
This versatile ground-hugging evergreen offers striking variegated foliage with green centers and golden margins. Wintercreeper can be trained to climb low walls or spread as an attractive ground cover, making it perfect for adding visual interest to multiple levels of your landscape.
Its adaptability to both sun and shade conditions increases its value in diverse garden settings.
- USDA zones: 5-8
- Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Adaptable to most types
- Height: 2 feet
- Water: Medium moisture
- Maintenance: Regular trimming to control spread
9. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
This sophisticated evergreen showcases leathery, dark green foliage complemented by clusters of delicate pink and white blooms in spring. Mountain laurel’s shade tolerance makes it perfect for those challenging spots near the house where other shrubs might struggle.
Its slow-growing nature ensures it maintains a manageable size without constant pruning.
- USDA zones: 4-9
- Light requirements: Partial shade
- Soil: Rich, acidic, well-draining
- Height: 5-15 feet
- Water: Regular moisture
- Maintenance: Remove spent blooms
10. Korean Fir (Abies koreana)
This distinctive evergreen brings unique visual interest with its short needles and striking purple-to-tan cones. Korean fir maintains a naturally compact pyramidal shape that adds architectural elements to your foundation plantings.
Its manageable size makes it ideal for smaller spaces where you want a vertical accent without overwhelming the area.
- USDA zones: 5-7
- Light requirements: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Moist, well-draining acidic soil
- Height: 15-30 feet
- Water: Regular watering
- Maintenance: Minimal pruning needed
11. Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)
This versatile evergreen shrub features small, glossy dark green leaves that resemble boxwood foliage. Japanese holly maintains a naturally dense growth habit and responds well to shaping, making it excellent for formal gardens and structured landscapes.
Its black berries provide winter interest and attract birds to your garden.
- USDA zones: 5-8
- Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining, acidic
- Height: 5-10 feet
- Water: Medium moisture
- Maintenance: Annual pruning to maintain shape
12. Winter Heath (Erica carnea)
This low-growing evergreen provides exceptional winter interest with its masses of pink and purple blooms during the coldest months. Winter heath creates an excellent ground cover or front-of-border plant that thrives in well-drained soil.
Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller spaces near entryways.
- USDA zones: 7-9
- Light requirements: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Well-draining
- Height: 1-2 feet
- Water: Moderate
- Maintenance: Light trimming after flowering
13. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
This hardy ground-hugging evergreen offers year-round interest with its small, glossy leaves and bright red berries in winter. Bearberry’s natural spreading habit makes it excellent for covering difficult slopes or creating natural-looking foundation plantings.
Its extreme cold tolerance ensures reliable performance in harsh climates.
- USDA zones: 2-7
- Light requirements: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Sandy, well-draining
- Height: Under 1 foot
- Water: Low once established
- Maintenance: Minimal care needed
14. Siberian Cypress (Microbiota decussata)
This exceptionally cold-hardy evergreen provides lacy foliage that transforms from bright green to bronze-purple in winter. Its low-growing nature makes it perfect for planting along walkways or at the front of foundation beds.
The dense growth habit helps suppress weeds while adding year-round texture.
- USDA zones: 2-7
- Light requirements: Full to partial sun
- Soil: Well-draining
- Height: 1-2 feet
- Water: Medium moisture
- Maintenance: Occasional trimming
15. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii)
This fast-growing evergreen creates an impressive vertical accent with its dense, vibrant green foliage. Leyland cypress serves as an excellent privacy screen or windbreak when planted in groups.
Its rapid growth rate helps establish mature landscapes quickly.
- USDA zones: 6-10
- Light requirements: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, loamy
- Height: 60-70 feet
- Water: Regular until established
- Maintenance: Regular pruning to maintain size
Combining Evergreen Shrubs with Seasonal Bloomers
The key to creating dynamic landscapes is layering evergreen shrubs with seasonal flowering plants. Position taller evergreens as anchor plants in the background, then add medium-height flowering shrubs and perennials in the middle ground, with low-growing seasonal bloomers in the foreground.
This layered approach creates a year-round structure while allowing for rotating seasonal colors.
- Plant spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils around evergreen bases
- Add summer perennials between shrubs for extended blooming periods
- Include ornamental grasses for fall texture and winter interest
- Use containers near evergreens for easily changeable seasonal displays
Strategies for Year-Round Curb Appeal
Seasonal Maintenance
Regular maintenance keeps your landscape looking polished throughout the year. Focus on proper pruning of evergreens, seasonal cleanup, and consistent bed maintenance. Apply fresh mulch annually to suppress weeds and create a clean, finished look.
Strategic Color Planning
Incorporate plants that provide interest in different seasons:
- Spring: Plant bulbs and early-blooming perennials
- Summer: Add annual flower rotations in high-visibility areas
- Fall: Include plants with autumn color like ornamental kale and mums
- Winter: Rely on the evergreen structure and winter-blooming varieties
Lighting and Hardscape Elements
Enhance your landscape’s year-round appeal by:
- Installing landscape lighting to highlight architectural features
- Creating defined edges between beds and lawns
- Adding hardscape elements like pathways and seating areas
- Incorporating decorative containers that can be updated seasonally
Remember to choose plants appropriate for your region and climate zone to ensure successful year-round performance. This thoughtful combination of evergreens and seasonal elements will create an engaging landscape that maintains interest throughout all seasons.
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.