Evergreen trees, also called perennials, are great: they allow us to have a garden protected from the direct sun all year round, and with them, we are guaranteed the privacy and security that we all want to possess in our green paradises. This our evergreen trees for landscaping guide.
Therefore, we have selected for you a selection that, for sure, you will love. These are the names of perennial trees that you can grow in your beautiful garden.
Table of Contents
Evergreen Trees for Landscaping: Fast Growing
Acacia
Acacias grow in many types of climate: from dry hot to warm. There are many species, such as the Acacia baileyana or the Acacia saligna which are the coldest resistant (down to 19.4°F (-7°C), and all of them bloom in spring-summer.
However, they are sunny trees, which resist drought well but fear to flood.
Brachychiton
Brachychiton is a very fast-growing tree that not only withstands drought but also mild frost (down to 24.8°F (-4°C). They reach heights between 26 – 66 ft (8 – 20 m). There are many species, including Brachychiton populneus, Brachychiton acerifolius, or the Brachychiton bidwilli. All of them can be kept in gardens whose soil is limestone and has good drainage.
Spathodea
African tulip tree. It grows up to 33 ft (10 m) high and has spectacular red flowers. Its rate of growth is very fast, being able to grow about 20”/year (50cm/year). Unfortunately, it can only be cultivated in warm climates, without frost.
Perennials for Shade
Ceratonia siliqua
The carob tree is a fruit tree that grows up to 20 – 23 ft (6 – 7 m) high, with a wide crown of up to 13 – 16 ft (4 – 5m). It has a medium-fast growth rate, even if it does not rain much.
It bears drought very well, but not intense frosts: only until 26.6°F or 24.8°F (-3 or -4ºC) if they are very short frosts.
Magnolia grandiflora
The magnolia is a tree that reaches 98 ft (30 m) and has a very, very dense crown formed by large dark green leaves. In spring they sprout white and aromatic flowers of great size.
It is beautiful, but requires a temperate climate and low pH soils, between 4 and 6. It resists until -0.4°F (-18ºC).
Quercus suber
The cork oak is an evergreen tree that reaches 82 ft (25 m) in height. Its crown is characterized by numerous branches from which many green leaves sprout. This makes it produce a very pleasant shade over the years. It grows in fertile soil, provided that the climate is temperate.
It resists frosts of up to -0.4°F (-18ºC).
Evergreen Trees for Landscaping: Cold Climates
Callistemon viminalis
The weeping bottlebrush is a small tree or large shrub that grows between 13 – 33 ft (4 – 10 m) high. It usually has only one trunk, but can have several. Its flowers resemble a weeping bottle brush, which gives it its name and is red.
It likes temperate climates, where it will grow in almost any kind of soil. It supports frosts up to 19.4°F (-7ºC), although when young it may need some protection.
Laurus nobilis
The laurel is a tree or small tree that reaches 16 – 33 ft (5 – 10 m) in height, with a more or less straight trunk and a dense crown. Its leaves are bluish, lanceolate, and aromatic, which is why they are widely used in the kitchen as a condiment.
It is a typical Mediterranean plant, but do not be fooled: it can withstand frosts of up to 10.4°F (-12ºC) without any problem.
Prunus laurocerassus
The laurel tree or cherry laurel is a tree or shrub native to the laurel forest that reaches 20 ft (6 m) in height. Its leaves are bright green, leathery, and measure about 4” (10 cm) long. It produces white flowers in bunches, and they are aromatic. The fruits are berries that contain seeds, which should not be consumed because they are poisonous.
It grows in all types of soils, and in a wide variety of climates, from warm to cool with frost. It supports up to -0.4°F (-18ºC).
Evergreen Fruit Trees
Anacardium occidentale
The cashew is a tree or small tree that grows between 16 – 23 ft (5 – 7 m) high. Its trunk branches out at a low height, something that makes it very interesting to have as a medium height hedge. Its leaves are green and wide, and it produces dry fruits suitable for human consumption.
It grows well in tropical climates, where there are not any frosts, or in greenhouses. The soil has to be fertile and also needs to have a pH of 6 to 8.
Citrus
Citrus trees, that is, orange, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, etc., are evergreen trees that reach a height of between 16 – 49 ft (5 – 15 m). They produce very aromatic white flowers and globular fruits in spring-summer.
They grow in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates. It supports mild frosts and needs soils rich in organic matter.
American Persea
The avocado is a tree that reaches 66 ft (20 m) in height. It has an extended crown, with a globular or bell-shaped shape, formed by green leaves. It flowers in spring, and if there is another specimen of different sex near it or it is grafted, it will produce fruits called berries of 2.7” – 13” (7 – 33 cm) long by up to 6” (15 cm) wide.
It will live well in tropical and subtropical climates, in full sun, and fertile soil. Unfortunately, it does not resist frost.
