evergreen plant have an important role to play in our gardens , particularly during the winter , when their value is so much enhanced by the way of life in which they brighten otherwise dreary surroundings .
It is not , however , at this season alone that they add their luster to the garden scene . In spring and summer , as well , their leafage , in many instance a rich black green in color and glossy in grain , provides interesting direct contrast to the more soft leafy vegetable of deciduous shrub and tree . It dissemble also as an interesting foil to the brilliant colouring material of the flowered displays of leap and high summer , while in autumn , its sombrehues make the leaf colour and shiny berries shine more intensely by contrast .
Although some herbaceous flora might be called evergreen , in the sensory faculty that their summertime leaf does not die down in wintertime , and there are a few tree , such as the holly and the holm oak , that continue their farewell all the yr round , in general , when we let the cat out of the bag about evergreens , we are believe of shrubs . Evergreens as Hedging Plants A number of evergreen plant shrubs make utile hedging works ; asunder from sealed conifers , such as yew , cypress and genus Thuja , nothing makes such a dense , permanent covert that ensures year - longsighted seclusion . what is more , a hedge made of bloom evergreen plant shrubs , is worthful for the sake of its coloured efflorescence .
The choice of suited material is full ; it includes many of the barberry , such asBerberis stenophyllaandB.darwinii , escallonias , with their pinkish or crimson tubular flowers , idealistic seaside shrub , Pyracantha rogersiana , a figure of the well - known cherry-red firethorn , well suited for hedging , and the usefulViburnum tinus , or laurustinus , with its pinkish - white flower clustering that appear in such munificent profusion from late January until the conclusion of April .
give the necessary superman soil , rich in hoummos , there are a number of rhododen drons that make handsome evergreen plant hedges , including the common imperial - floweredR. ponticum , a vigorous shrub that has naturalized itself in many portion of the British Isles , and the former - floweringR. praecox , idealistic for the milder parts of these islands , where recent freeze can not spoil the beauty of its lilac flower .
Where beauty of leaf alone is desired , boxful , laural , holly , aucuba orLonicera nitidawould all be good choices for hedge . As a last resource , there is always the much maligned privet , which although not stringently evergreen by nature will retain its leaves throughout the winter if it is maintain regularly and closely nip off during its growing time of year .
Evergreens as Specimen Shrubs
Used in the lawn , or at focal points of interestingness in the garden , evergreens make first - rate specimen bush . For the rock-and-roll or heath garden , too , miniature translation of many larger shrubs are available , scaled down to proportions more in keeping with these lilliputian surroundings .
One of the handsomest evergreen suitable for use either as a lawn or wall specimen is the statelyMagnolia grandiflora , whose big businessman - sized oval slick leaves make a wonderful setting for the beautyof the creamy - white scented flower , many of which will be 20 atomic number 96 ( 8 in ) or more in diameter . This bush peak from July to September and the cultivar Exmouth ’ , sometimes listed aslanceolata , although very exchangeable to the type plant life , scores additional power point for the attractive cinnamon indument , or felting ’ on the undersurface of its magnificent leaves , and because it flowers when untried than the case .
The arbutus pretend a lawn specimen of almost equal ravisher and dignity . The strawberry mark tree , A. unedo , which reaches 4.5 - 12 1000 ( 15 - 40 ft ) or more and has glowering fleeceable foliage and cream - colored , heathlike blossoms , is the form most widely adult . equal the ravisher of the polished leafage are the cherry , hemangioma simplex - alike fruit that mature as the undermentioned season ’s efflorescence start to open up , so that you have yield and blossom on the shrub at one and the same time . There is a hybrid , known as A. xandrachnoides , which is less vigorous and easily distinct by its handsome mahogany - red bark , its grey - green leafage and vivid orange - dyed fruits .
Evergreens in the Shrub Border
For the perimeter itself , the choice Of species and motley is even more varied . Many of the shrubs available are members of favorite plant groups that contain also deciduous species . Prominent among them are the cotoneasters and barberry with striking evergreen plant forms such as the ever - popularC. lactea , the prostrateC. dammeriand the grey - foliagedC.franchetii , together withBerberis darwiniiwith humble , holly - like foliage , andB. gagnepainii , with crimpled foliage .
We tend sometimes to forget that heathers are shrubs and evergreen one into the bargain . For the border where space is restricted , they are among the most valuable and few evergreen plant shrubs would be capable of give a more dramatic all - round show . The winter - flowering species . E. carnea in finicky put on an amazing show in the garden ’s ‘ off ’ time of year , but this is not their only virtue , as their foliation stay on brisk and attractive even when they are out of flower . Used as rug plant among other taller shrubs they will act as as highly effective weed smotherers , as also will a number of other prostrate evergreens such asGaultheria procumbensorCotoneasterdammeri .
Variegated Evergreens
During the winter months , variegated evergreens , such as the green and aureate wood olive , Elaeagnus pungens aureo - variegata , the gold and silver gray - variegate hollies and the golden box , genus Buxus sempervirenselegantissima , will all give an impression of sunshine in the garden , even when winter sky are grey and cloud-covered .
Evergreens in More Formal Surroundings
In pots , tubs , urn or other similar containers , evergreens , with their all - the - year - round stunner , are more useful , than any other plants for use on terrace and reaching of pavement or as an adjunct to other formalgarden feature . The sweet bay , Laurus nobilis , nip box , and some of the semi - dwarf rhododendron cross such as the vermilion - flowered ‘ Britannia ’ , are examples of bush that can be used in this manner .
evergreen provide , as well , an attractive lasting screening for house wall , fences and pergolas and are unsurpassed for screening or camouflage unsightly shed and outbuildings . rise evergreen shrubs let in the common ivy — the gold and silver grey - variegated forms are the most attractive — Pyracantha , coast banksia and others that will soften the sometimes over - stark telephone line of modern-day architecture or underline the high charms of old construction .
A selection of genera containing evergreen shrubs
Adenocarpus
Danae
Halimiocistus
genus Mahonia
Rharnnus
Andromeda
Daphne
Halimium
Myrtus
Rhododendron
Atriplex
Desfontainea
Hebe
Nandina
Rosmarinus
Aucuba
Elaeagnus
Hedera
Olearia
Ruscus
Azara
genus Embothrium
Helianthemum
Osmanthus
Santolina
Berberis
Erica
Hypericum
Osmarea
Sarcococca
genus Buxus
Eriobotrya
Hex
Pachysandra
Senecio
genus Calluna
Escallonia
! tea leaf
Pernettya
Skimmia
camelia
Eucryphia
Kalmia
Philesia
Stranvaesia
Carpenteria
Euonymus
genus Laurus
Phillyrea
Sycopsis
Cassinia
Fabiana
Lavandula
Pieris
Tricuspidaria
Ceanothus
Fatsia
Leucothoe
Piptanthus
Vaccinium
Cistus
Garrya
Ligustrum
Pittosporum
Viburnum
Cotoneaster
genus Gaultheria
genus Lonicera
genus Prunus
Yucca
Daboecia
Griselinia
Magnolia
Pyracantha
