Blue-Toned Evergreens to Balance Your Landscape
Incorporating cool blue-toned evergreens into your landscape can bring a serene and majestic appeal that lasts all year round. These evergreens not only provide a stunning contrast with their unique hues but also offer practical benefits that make them invaluable in garden design.
Below are a few reasons you should consider adding these blue beauties to your garden and a look at some standout varieties.
Why Choose Blue-Toned Evergreens?
Striking Visual Impact
The incredible blue foliage of cool-toned evergreen trees and shrubs is unmatched. The icy blue needles stand out against the typical greens in a landscape, offering a visual break that can make your garden look more interesting and spacious.
Year-Round Color
Unlike deciduous plants, evergreens keep their color all year, ensuring your garden remains vibrant even in the dreary winter months. Cool-toned evergreens are particularly special in the colder months of the year because their color makes for an aesthetically pleasing accent against the dull winter skies and muted tones throughout a landscape.
Low Maintenance
Most blue-toned evergreens are hardy and require minimal care once established, making them ideal for both new and experienced gardeners. These cool-toned cultivars are drought-tolerant once established and do not require frequent pruning to maintain their shape.
Wildlife Friendly
These plants provide essential shelter and food sources for wildlife, enhancing the biodiversity of your garden. Evergreen trees and shrubs provide excellent cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals. These plants also work to provide essential cover and nutrients for animals seeking refuge!
Versatility in Design
Blue-toned evergreens can adapt to various styles and functions, whether creating a formal or casual garden. Depending on which icy-shaded evergreen you choose, you can create a range of landscaping projects, from privacy screens and windbreaks to stand-alone statement pieces and focal points.
Featured Blue-Toned Evergreens
Moonglow Juniper
(Juniperus scopulorum 'Moonglow')
Moonglow Juniper offers a dense, pyramidal form with intensely silver-blue foliage that appears to glow, especially under moonlight. The Moonglow is well-loved both for its stunning appearance and hardiness to the elements. This popular landscaping tree is highly resistant to deer, adaptable to various soils, and works well as a privacy screen or a dramatic vertical element in the landscape.
Blue Rug Juniper
(Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii')
The Blue Rug Juniper is a low-growing shrub that forms a thick carpet of silvery-blue needles. This hardy shrub is perfect for ground cover purposes and controlling soil erosion on slopes. Its creeping habit allows it to fill in large areas quickly, suppressing weeds and requiring little upkeep. The frosty hues and fast-spreading nature of this shrub make it the ideal option for rock gardens, flowerbed borders, and retaining walls.
Globe Blue Spruce
(Picea pungens 'Globosa')
A classic choice for color and form, the Globe Blue Spruce is a dwarf conifer that features a naturally rounded shape covered in bright blue needles. Its compact size makes it suitable for small gardens or as a specimen in larger landscapes, offering year-round visual interest. This rounded blue shrub is best used in container gardens and foundation plantings and planted as a stand-alone statement piece.
Blue Atlas Cedar
(Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca')
Known for its dramatic, sweeping silhouette, the Blue Atlas Cedar has striking blue needles and a majestic structure that can serve as a stunning focal point. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun, making it ideal for xeriscaped gardens. Due to its large scale and unique presence, the Blue Atlas Cedar is best used as a prominent focal point specimen plant in the landscape.
Other Notable Mentions
Blue Ice Cypress
(Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice')
The Blue Ice Cypress is known for its intense azure needles and lovely aroma, perfect for adding a fragrant and colorful touch to the garden.
Wichita Blue Juniper
(Juniperus scopulorum 'Wichita Blue')
The Wichita Blue Juniper offers robust, upright growth with dense, bright blue foliage, which is ideal for creating windbreaks or tall hedges.
Shop Cool-Toned Evergreens Online Today
These cool blue-toned evergreens are more than just plants; they are a year-round commitment to beauty and stability in your landscape. By choosing the right types, you can transform your garden into a stunning, low-maintenance haven that stands out in every season.