Woodie's Picks: Evergreen Year-Round Interest Plants
As we start to make the transition from summer to fall, and fall to winter, its only natural for your landscape to begin to lose a lot of its charm and visual allure. However, this does not have to be the case! There are plenty of plants that sustain their vibrant color and beauty year-round and can be used to create a stunning four-season landscape!
Check out his blog to learn more about the 'Four-Season Landscape,' as well as learn all about four of Woodie's favorite plants that work to provide year-round interest in the landscape!
What Is A Four-Season Landscape?
A four-season landscape is one that could be considered beautiful and eye-catching in the spring, summer, winter and fall. Creating a four-season landscape may initially sound overwhelming and time-consuming, but with a few simple additions to your yard you'd be surprised how simply such can be achieved!
The first and most do-able addition to a four-season landscape is the incorporation of evergreen trees and shrubs. These are plants that will keep their vibrant color and lush foliage all year long!
Evergreen Year-Round Interest Plants
Cryptomeria globosa Nana
Cryptomeria Globosa Nana, also known as Dwarf Japanese Cedar, is popular for gardeners seeking a versatile and low-maintenance evergreen shrub. This compact, slow-growing plant is highly valued for its dense, rounded form and lush green foliage that turns a striking bronze in winter.
Ideal for various landscape uses, Cryptomeria Globosa Nana is perfect for small gardens rockeries, and as a foundation plant. Its unique texture and color make it an excellent choice for adding year-round interest to mixed borders and woodland gardens. This dwarf conifer is also highly adaptable, thriving in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Cryptomeria Globosa Nana is also practical for creating low hedges and defining garden spaces. Its tidy growth habit makes it an excellent alternative to traditional boxwood, offering a fresh, unique look. This shrub is deer-resistant, which is a significant advantage for gardeners in areas with heavy deer populations.
Moreover, Cryptomeria Globosa Nana requires minimal pruning and maintenance, making it a favorite among busy gardeners. Whether used as a specimen plant, in mass plantings, or as part of a mixed border, Cryptomeria Globosa Nana provides both beauty and function in the landscape, enhancing any garden design with its distinctive form and evergreen foliage.
Sky Pencil Holly
Sky Pencil Holly is a unique and versatile evergreen shrub renowned for its narrow, columnar growth habit. This distinctive form makes it an excellent choice for adding vertical interest to gardens and landscapes.
Sky Pencil Holly can reach heights of up to 10 feet while maintaining a slender width of just 2 to 3 feet, making it perfect for tight spaces and urban gardens. Its glossy, dark green leaves provide a lush, year-round backdrop, and its compact size makes it ideal for container planting, formal hedges, and privacy screens. This shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils, making it a low-maintenance option for various landscape settings.
Sky Pencil Holly is often used to create dramatic accents and focal points. Its upright form is perfect for framing entryways, lining walkways, or serving as a striking specimen plant. It also works well in mixed borders, adding contrast and structure to more rounded or spreading plants.
Furthermore, Sky Pencil Holly is an excellent choice for small gardens where space is limited, as it can provide height without taking up much horizontal space. This holly variety is deer-resistant and can tolerate a range of soil conditions, further enhancing its appeal to gardeners seeking a durable and attractive landscape solution. Whether used in formal or informal garden designs, Sky Pencil Holly offers a sleek and sophisticated look that enhances the overall aesthetic of any landscape.
Blue Point Juniper
Blue Point Juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Point') is a popular evergreen shrub known for its dense, pyramidal shape and striking blue-green foliage. This hardy conifer can reach heights of 10 to 12 feet, making it an excellent choice for creating natural screens, windbreaks, and privacy hedges.
Blue Point Juniper is highly adaptable to various soil types and thrives in full sun, ensuring robust growth and minimal maintenance. Its vibrant foliage retains its color throughout the year, providing continuous visual interest and a reliable backdrop for seasonal garden highlights. The shrub's tolerance to drought and resistance to deer and pests make it a practical and durable choice for both residential and commercial landscapes.
Blue Point Juniper is often used as a specimen plant; its elegant, upright form creates a focal point in gardens and pathways. It is also ideal for foundation plantings, adding height and texture without overwhelming the space. When planted in groups, Blue Point Juniper forms an effective living barrier that offers both privacy and wind protection. Its evergreen nature ensures year-round coverage, making it reliable in mixed borders and garden beds.
Blue Point Juniper's low-maintenance requirements and adaptability to different climates make it a favorite among landscapers and home gardeners seeking a versatile and attractive solution for their landscape needs. Whether used for screening, accent planting or as part of a structured garden design, Blue Point Juniper adds beauty and functionality to any outdoor space.
Gold Mop Cypress
Gold Mop Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Golden Mop') is a striking evergreen shrub known for its vibrant golden-yellow foliage and graceful, mop-like appearance. This low-maintenance conifer grows to about 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, making it an excellent choice for adding bright, year-round color to the landscape.
The fine, thread-like leaves of Gold Mop Cypress create a soft, cascading effect that contrasts beautifully with darker evergreens and other garden plants. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils, ensuring its brilliant color and healthy growth with minimal effort. Its compact size and slow growth rate make it perfect for small gardens and as an accent plant on mixed borders.
Gold Mop Cypress often creates eye-catching focal points and color contrasts. Its unique texture and bright hue make it an ideal choice for foundation plantings, where it can add a splash of color against darker backgrounds.
It is also well-suited for use in mass plantings or as a low hedge, providing a vibrant and structured element to garden beds and borders. Gold Mop Cypress is also highly adaptable and can be used in container gardens to brighten patios and entryways. Its deer-resistant nature and tolerance to various soil conditions further enhance its appeal to gardeners looking for a resilient and decorative shrub. Whether used as a standalone specimen or combined with other plants, Gold Mop Cypress brings a touch of elegance and color to any landscape setting.
Shop Evergreen Year-Round Interest Plants Online
No matter what your vision and goals are in the landscape, evergreen plants are an essential building block to instilling year-round interest. Shop our wide collection of evergreen trees and shrubs online today and watch in awe as your outdoor space transforms and exudes beauty throughout every season.