Evergreen trees are the backbone of the winter landscape, adding interest and life. They are excellent plants for specimen or group plantings. When given sufficient room to grow, most will occupy a large area. Some of the taller- growing varieties will give good wind protection when planted on north or west exposures, aiding in energy conservation.
Arborvitae
Degroot’s Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis ‘Degroot’s Spire’
FULL SUN
Height: 12′ Spread: 4′
Columnar form with thick, ruffled foliage and a medium-green color. Hardy and adaptable to a range of conditions. Useful in a line as a tall screen, or singly as a statement plant.
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’
FULL SUN
Height: 15′ Spread: 3-4′
Pyramidal form with lush, rich green foliage and orange stems, providing excellent year-round color. Best used for hedge planting or as a tall screen, but can also be used for a topiary.
Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja (standish x plicata) ‘Green Giant’
FULL SUN
Height: 25-30′ Spread: 8-10′
Conical or pyramidal form. Foliage has open pattern and color shades from dark to pale green. Fast-growing and excellent as a privacy screen or windbreak.
Yellow Ribbon Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis ‘Yellow Ribbon’
FULL TO PART SUN
Height: 8-10′ Spread: 2-3′
Conical form with showy golden-yellow foliage that resists sunburn. Excellent for year-round color as an accent, border, or privacy screen. Requires weekly water, or more often in extreme heat, for best appearance.
Hetz Midget Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis ‘Hetz Midget’
FULL TO PART SUN
Height: 3-4′ Spread: 3-4′
Compact globe-shaped evergreen shrub with flat, layered sprays of yellow-green foliage. Adaptable and durable. Great accent plant for mixed borders or containers.
Virginian™ Arborvitae
Thuja plicata × standishii ‘Virginian’ PP26684 P3
Height: 15′ Spread: 7′
Grows as fast as ‘Green Giant’ but will maintain a smaller mature size at 14½ feet tall and 6½ feet wide. It has dark green, dense and feathery foliage that tolerates heat and humidity. It requires no pruning and can be used as a specimen or as a privacy hedge. It makes a great barrier for sound or wind when used as a screen.
Cedar
Atrovirens Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata ‘Atrovirens’
Height: 12′ Spread 5′ (@ 10 years)
A long lived, slow growing, evergreen coniferous tree with a conical growth habit; dense, ascending branching; and very dark-green foliage that is very stable throughout the year.
Blue Atlas Cedar
Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’
Height: 40-60′ Spread: 30-40′
Bold, pyramidal form with sparkling silvery-blue foliage and expansive branches. A spectacular specimen for large landscape areas. Full sun. Slow grower to 40 to 50 feet tall, 20 to 25 feet wide. Larger with age.Drought tolerant once established.
Weeping Alaskan Cedar
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis
Height: 30′ Spread: 12′
Fairly vigorous upright grower with dark blue-green foliage. Conical crown with numerous drooping branches to the ground. Beautiful specimen tree that can be effectively used as a graceful screen.
Green Arrow Weeping Alaskan Cedar
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Green Arrow’
Height: 20′ Spread: 2′ (@ 10 years)
Very narrow, fast-growing with strictly weeping branches and dark, blue-gray-green open foliage. It will usually develop a wide skirt at its base with age and will occasionally develop an aberrant branch from the trunk.
Incense Cedar
Calocedrus decurrens
FULL TO PART SUN
Height: 60′ Spread: 20′
Rich green foliage is soft and fragrant. Broadly conical western native produces a lush appearance for such a rugged and resilient evergreen. Adaptable to heat, drought, humidity and marginal soils. A fine single specimen or planted as visual screen or windbreak. Evergreen conifer. Full to partial sun. Fast growth 15 to 20 ft. tall, 8 to 10 ft. wide in 10 years; 40 to 70 feet tall, 10 to 20 feet wide with age.
Blue Ice Arizona Cypress
Cupressus glabra ‘Blue Ice’
Height: 15′ Spread: 8 (@ 10 years)
Compact, conical selection of Arizona cypress with exceptionally attractive, frosty, silver-Blue foliage. Although fairly slow-growing, ‘Blue Ice’ will assume a substantial tree form over time. It is extremely tolerant of hot sun and drought conditions.
Fir
Compact Blue Arizona Alpine Fir
Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica ‘Glauca Compacta’
Height: 10-15′ Spread: 6-10′
This is a very blue and dense conical tree that forms a narrow dwarf pyramid. It has a thick, corky creamy white bark. Dense and attractive foliage is silvery-blue to sea-green and soft;.
Korean Fir
Abies koreana
Height: 15-30′ Spread: 15′
An evergreen with needles that have an attractive silver underside. Conical, with spreading branches that tend upwards and dense blue-green foliage. Specimen.
Blue Spanish Pin Fir
Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’
Height: 60-80′ Spread: 15-30′
Conical form and dense steel-blue foliage. Prefers a sheltered location and regular water. Slow growing. Specimen.
Blue Cloak White Fir
Abies concolor ‘Blue Cloak’
Height: 7-10′ (at 10 years) 30-50′ Spread: 3-4′ (at 10 years) 20′
‘Blue Cloak’ is an upright, semi-pendulous selection of white fir with a strong central leader, dense cloaked branching; and thin, soft-blue needles.
Compact White Fir
Abies concolor ‘Compacta’
Height: 7-10′ (at 10 years) 30-50′ Spread: 3-4′ (at 10 years) 20′
Narrow conical form; upper branches reach skyward, while lower branches recline to the ground. Flat needles are uniformly blue-green. Upright cones emerge yellowish-green and mature to brown or purple. Smooth gray bark becomes furrowed with age.
Juniper- Spreading
Arcadia Juniper
Juniperus sabina ‘Arcadia’
FULL SUN
Height: 1′ Spread: 6-8′
Mounded groundcover with lacy foliage that spreads up and out. Durable landscape plant; does well in borders, rock gardens, or for erosion control.
Blue Chip Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Chip’
FULL SUN
Height: 1′ Spread: 6-8′
Very low, spreading, evergreen groundcover. Dramatic silver-blue foliage. Durable landscape plant; does well in borders, rock gardens, or for erosion control.
Blue Rug Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’
FULL SUN
Height: 6″ Spread: 6-8′
Flat and dense creeping juniper with a uniform growth habit and silver-blue foliage. Used as a groundcover or to cascade over walls.
Buffalo Juniper
Juniperus sabina ‘Buffalo’
FULL SUN
Height: 1′ Spread: 8′
Low-growing and wide-spreading. Foliage is soft and true green in color. Used for groundcover, borders, in rock gardens, or over wall. Tolerates heat, cold, and drought.
Calgary Carpet Juniper
Juniperus sabina ‘Monna’
FULL SUN
Height: 9″ Spread: 10′
Low, spreading habit and soft, wavy green foliage. Can be used in the landscape to soften boulders or walls, or as groundcover, erosion control, or rock gardens. Very durable.
Daub’s Frosted Juniper
Juniperus chinensis ‘Daub’s Frosted’
FULL SUN
Height: 15″ Spread: 5′
Low-growing conifer with blue-green mature foliage that contrasts with golden yellow tips. Bright and attention-grabbing. Useful for groundcover, erosion control, or rock gardens.
Greenmound Juniper
Juniperus procumbens cvs. ‘Greenmound’
FULL SUN
Height: 8-12″ Spread: 4-6′
Sprawling dwarf juniper with a slow growth rate. Green needles create a soft rug-like effect. Tolerates hot, dry locations and full sun. Ideal specimen for rock gardens, foundations, slopes, cascade over retaining walls.
Icee Blue Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Monber’
Height: 4″ Spread: 8′
Very low juniper with exceptional silver-blue winter color and a thick, full crown of textured foliage. Useful for groundcover, erosion control, rock gardens, retaining walls, or as part of a border.
Mountain Juniper
Juniperus communis var. montana (var. jackii)
Height: 3-6″ Spread: 3-6′
A rugged, low-growing shrub. Its deep green needles are each banded with silver-blue, creating intriguing color and texture. Useful for groundcover and rock gardens.
Scandia Juniper
Juniperus sabina ‘Scandia’
Height: 1′ Spread: 8′
Elegant groundcover conifer with dense foliage and excellent winter color. Useful for borders and rock gardens.
Juniper- Midsize
Sea Green Juniper
Juniperus chinensis cvs. ‘Sea Green’
Height: 6-8′ Spread: 6-8′
Spreading, arching groundcover conifer whose dense foliage and rich green color make it a good specimen for sculpting, but it also serves well as groundcover, erosion control, and rock gardens.
Mint Julep Juniper
Juniperus chinensis ‘Monlep’
Height: 4-6′ Spread: 6-8′
Compact juniper with bright mint green foliage on a lovely arching form. Makes an attractive topiary or specimen but also useful for groundcover, erosion control, retaining walls, or as part of a border.
Juniper- Upright
Blue Arrow Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’
Height: 12-15′ Spread: 2′
Upright juniper with a narrow, candle-shaped form and tight, bright blue-green foliage. Silvery blue berries from late spring to late winter. Good for an area where space is limited or where color is needed, as par t of a screen, windbreak, or specimen plant.
Blue Point Juniper
Juniperus chinensis ‘Blue Point’
Height: 12′ Spread: 8′
Broad pyramidal form, densely branched and needs little pruning to maintain shape. Blue-green foliage. Useful as a topiary, wind or pravacy screen, or specimen.
Hollywood Juniper
Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’
Height: 15′ Spread: 10′
An upright and fast-growing juniper with a twisted, rugged form that works well as naturally growing specimen or as a sculpted topiary. Also useful as in a hedge, wind or privacy screen, or specimen.
Moonglow Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Moonglow’
Height: 20′ Spread: 8′
Showy silver foliage on a broad pyramidal form with a dense branching habit. Very attracitve landscape accent and excellent in screens and hedges.
Spearmint Juniper
Juniperus chinensis cvs. ‘Spearmint’
Height: 12-15′ Spread: 6-8′
Dense and narrow columnar juniper, with bright green foliage that gives good oclor year-round. Very useful in narrow spaces, grouped for a screen, or as a high point in a shurb planting.
Wichita Blue Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Wichita Blue’
Height: 10-15′ Spread: 4-6′
Large pyramidal form and bright silver-blue foliage make this a good choice for a screen, hedge, or specimen.
Pine
Austrian Pines
Compact Austrian Pine
Pinus nigra ‘Compacta’
Height: 25′ Spread: 10′
Compact pine with a dense, rounded pyramidal form and tight, dark green needles. Low maintenance and uniform growing, and an excellent specimen for small gardens,
Hornibrook Austrian Pine
Pinus nigra ‘Hornibrookiana’
Height: 4-10′ Spread: 4-10′
A low-growing dwarf evergreen with upright, showy white buds in winter. Grows wider than it does tall. Good as a landscape specimen or as part of a shrub border.
Oregon Green Austrian Pine
Pinus nigra ‘Oregon Green’
Height: 18-20′ Spread: 15′
Rounded oval shape features asymmetrical branching and an open form. Needles are densely spaced and a glossy deep green. In springtime white candle emerge in clusters. Excellent and interesting landscape specimen or accent tree.
Bosnian Pine
Pinus leucodermis (aka heldrichii)
Height: 40′ Spread: 10′
Dense, pyramidal form. Cones are unusual, emerging purple-blue when young and maturing to brown. Great specimen, accent tree, or windbreak.
Mint Truffle Bosnian Pine
Pinus leucodermis ‘Mint Truffle’
Height: 12′ Spread: 8′
Shaped more like a broad teardrop than a gourmet truffle, ‘Mint Truffle’ is nevertheless a wonderful treat. Dense, finely textured, green needles cover every shoot completely (in contrast to some cultivars that reveal bare stems). Characterized by restrained, slow growth, gently incurving branches and a compact, well-proportioned form.
Bristlecone Pine
Pinus aristata
Height: 20-40′ Spread: 15-20′
Rounded form with a very slow growth habit. Nearly impervious to drought or cold. Has a rustic appearance and irregular branching pattern with short dark green needles and purple-brown cones. Excellent as a bonsai specimen, in rock gardens, or as a landscape specimen or accent.
Eastern White Pines
Columnar Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus ‘Fastigiata’
Height: 25-40′ Spread: 10′
Narrow columnar form. Dense gray-green foliage on upward-reaching branches. Brisk growth habit makes this pine useful as a privacy or windscreen, especially in smaller spaces.
Contorted Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus ‘Contorta’
Height: 15-20′ Spread: 12′
Upright, open, pyramidal form. Branches, branchlets, and bluish-green needles are twisted or curvy, lending this tree a sense of texture and movement. Best as a landscape specimen or accent.
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Height: 50-80′ Spread: 15-20′
Pyramidal shape matures to broad oval with irregular crown. Can become quite large, but pruning will control shape and size. Soft, bluish-green needles and large brown cones. Excellent as a speciman or accent.
Stowe Pillar Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus ‘Stowe Pillar’
Height: 8-12′ Spread: 2-3′
Very narrow columnar form. Tight branching pattern resists breaking under snow load. Ideal for a small space as a landscape specimen or accent.
Weeping Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’
Height: 15′ Spread: 10′
Semi-dwarf variety has trailing branches that reach out horizontally before drooping towards the ground. Can be pruned or trained to form. Useful as a specimen or accent.
Jeffery Pine
Pinus jefferyiii
Height: 30-40′ Spread: 15-20′
Broad,open pyramidal form, with dendely foliated spreading branches. Reddish brown bark forms deep, furrowed plates that have a vanilla-like fragrance when crushed; green needles are long and narrow. Large red-brown cones. Similar to a ponderosa in appearance, but more densely foliated. An impressive landscape specimen or accent.
Lacebark Pine
Pinus bungeana
Height: Spread:
Limber Pine
Vanderwolf Pine
Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’
Height: 40′ Spread: 20′
Large, upright, pyramidal form. Long, twisted blue-green needles on ascending branches. An ideal specimen for lawn or landscape.
Pinyon Pines
Two-Needle Pinyon Pine
Pinus edulis
Height:10-20′ Spread: 10-20′
Irregular rounded or pyramidal shape; very slow growing and extremely drought-tolerant. Rustic appearance. New growth is blue-green and ages to yellowish- or gray-green; needles grow in clusters of two. Prickly cones emerge in clusters on very mature trees; female cones produce edible pine nuts. A good choice for rock gardens, hillsides, or very dry landscape zones.
Single Needle Pinyon Pine
Pinus monophylla
Height: 15′ -25′ Spread: 8′ – 15′
Irregular rounded or pyramidal shape; often multi-stemmed. Very slow growing and extremely drought-tolerant. Rustic appearance. Gray-green needles grow singly. Prickly cones emerge in clusters on very mature trees; female cones produce edible pine nuts. A good choice for rock gardens, hillsides, or very dry landscape zones.
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
Height: 50-60′ Spread: 20-25′
Conical form with the potential to attain great height and advanced age. On young trees bark is dark brown or black, but will lighten with age to yellow-brown to reddish-orange and form large, furrowed plates. Bundles of three dark yellow-green needles grow in tufts at branch ends. Crushed twigs and needles give a resinous aroma. An impressive and attractive landscape specimen.
Scotch Pine
Pinus sylvestris
Height: 40-50′ Spread: 20-25′
Conical to columnar form with open-rounded crown in maturity. Distinctive scaly orange-red bark with a darker red base. Needles are blue-green and twisted. Gray to light brown cones. Tolerates a variety of soil types provided drainage is good. A fast-growing landscape specimen. Dwarf cultivars are useful for rock gardens, foundation plantings, and garden accents.
Swiss Stone Pine
Pinus cembra
White Pine
Southwestern White Pine
Pinus strobiformis
Height: 40-50′ Spread: 10-25′
Broad upright or oval form. Smooth silvery-gray bark on young; matures to a dark gray-brown in furrowed plates. Dark green needles grow in bundles of five on ascending branches. Hanging cones have large scales and are brown to yellow-brown in color. Excellent landsacpe specimen.
Domingo Pine
Pinus strobus x ayacahuite ´Domingo´
Height: 8-10′ Spread: 3-4′ (in 10 years)
Strong pyramidal shape and compact growth habit. Rich blue-green needles grow in bundles of five. Dense foliage offers pleasing contrast to shaggy gray bark. Excellent landscape specimen or accent.
Giant Sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
FULL SUN
Height: up to 100′
Pyramidal to oval form. The reddish bark is deeply furrowd and fibrous. Scale-like leaves are blue-green and abundant on the branch. As it can grow to over 100 ft, best in large landscapes as a specimen.