Are you planning to have a cold-season garden? Do you want to provide some texture to it?
Then evergreen trees would be the best for that!
From pot-bound Norfolk pines to glittering Christmas trees – evergreens are everywhere! It is because they stay green even throughout the winter.
You get to see their beauty in all seasons. And you can get them in some beautiful textures as well as colors.
They are reliable. You can plant them to enhance the beauty of your garden, or you can use them for a functional role – the choice is yours.
Did you know that you can get them in a wide range of varieties?
From fir and pine to juniper and spruce – you get to choose from an immense variety of species.
So which evergreen tree would look the best in your garden?
I have made a list of the different types of evergreen trees with pictures.
Types of Evergreen Trees with Information & Pictures
Come, have a look!
#1. Cedar Trees
Cedar trees are native to the mountainous regions of the Western and Mediterranean Himalayas. They are large evergreen trees.
You may even come across different varieties, commonly known as cedar trees. But when it comes to real cedar trees, there are four species:
- Deodar cedar
- Atlas cedar
- Cedar of Lebanon
- Cyprus cedar
Some other cedar trees include:
- Mountain cedar
- Bermuda cedar
But these two are not a true cedar.
Did you know that cedar trees can reach heights of about 160 feet?
However, you can find most of them to be about 80 to 100 feet when mature.
The cedar tree foliage is much like a needle. Mostly, they are arranged in dense clusters. At first glance, they look like small spiked balls.
The color of their leaves depends on their species. They can be deep green or blue-green.
The cones that cedar trees produce are oval-shaped, and they can be about 5 inches long. When they just emerge, they are green in color. But when they mature, they become brown.
If you plant them in an area with a temperate climate, they will grow well. It means, if you plant cedar in zones 7 to 8, they will be at their best. However, they grow in zones 9 and 6 too. So, if I talk about the cedar of Lebanon, it grows best in cooler climates compared to other cedar trees.
The cedar trees can tolerate both warm summers and cold winters in their natural habitat. However, if you plant them in very hot or cold climates, they may not survive.
In general, cedar trees get a lot of rainfall in the months of winter. Meanwhile, they can tolerate drought during the months of summer also. Thus, they can grow in dry and wet soils as well.
Now, if you want to plant cedar trees in your garden, try to provide them with well-draining soil that is moist enough. Also, they should get full sun.
#2. Citrus Trees
Native to Asia and Australia, citrus trees have been cultivated in parts of the Mediterranean region since ancient times. However, they have become common in designing the perfect landscape in your garden these days.
Did you know that citrus trees can grow about 50 feet in height?
Generally, they are about 20 to 30 feet long when they grow mature.
Don’t have enough space in your home to plant citrus trees?
Well, you can plant them in containers too. However, in that case, they will have stunted growth.
Citrus trees grow their best in hot temperatures. This makes them perfect for planting in areas where the climate is warm in winter.
Now, do you live in a region with a cooler climate and want to grow citrus trees too?
Don’t worry. You can plant citrus trees in your favorite containers. All you need to do is keep them outside in the summer, and then when the winter arrives, you need to move them indoors. Make sure to move them before your place gets the first frost.
You will find the citrus foliage very ornamental in general. It comes in vibrant green shades.
Did you know that citrus trees produce flowers too?
Yes, they do, mostly in the shades of white—however, some bloom with pink flushes. If you love scented things, you will love this flower as they come with a heavy scent.
From flowers come fruits. And they can take a few weeks or even months to mature.
If you grow citrus trees, know that they are very rewarding. They provide you with many ornamental interests throughout the year.
The fruits that they produce are delicious. You can consume them raw or use them in cooking – the choice is yours.
If the citrus trees are provided with favorable growing conditions, they will grow easily. They grow best in moist soil with a neutral pH, which drains well.
Now, what if your soil is alkaline?
Well, that can make their leaves fall from the tree after turning them yellow. Most of the time, they remain thirsty. So make sure to water them regularly. However, the soil should not be waterlogged or thirsty. Plant your citrus trees where there is full sun yet sheltered.
#3. Olive Trees
The evergreen olive trees are native to warm climates around the globe. This includes Asia, the Mediterranean region, and Africa.
They grow slowly, but still, they can grow up to the height of 50 feet. However, most olive trees grow about 20 to 30 feet tall when they mature.
Olive trees are loved by people worldwide for the ornamental value they acquire. Also, they are well known for the fruits they produce.
The Mediterranean countries cultivate olive trees widely. And they do it primarily for the production of olives and their oil.
Therefore, it has a huge agricultural and commercial importance in those countries.
Do you live in USDA 8 to 10 zones?
Then you can choose this tree in your garden.
What if you live in cooler climatic regions?
Well, you can still plant olive trees. However, you may have to plant them in a container in that case. And when winter arrives, keep them indoors.
There is a beautiful architectural frame in olive trees’ twisting and long-reaching branches.
Their foliage stays wonderful throughout the year. Olives stay gray-green on the outside and silver on the underside.
In the middle of the spring season, you get to see panicles of flowers that bloom creamy-white. From these flowers, the fruits of the olive tree are given birth. When they start growing, they are green in color, and once they mature, they turn black. Isn’t that amazing?
Now, do you want your olive trees to bear fruits?
Then you may have to have a lot of patience. Or, you can do another thing. For example, buy an olive tree that is several years of age already. It’s because they don’t start giving flowers and fruits until they are at least seven years old.
Olive trees bloom in wet, cool winters and hot summer climates.
Suppose you want to increase the size of your yield, plant two different types of olive trees. They will produce more olives if they cross-pollinate.
You need well-drained soil and a bright and sunny spot to grow olive. Make sure to water them regularly as well as deeply when they are young. Once they are established, they will be able to tolerate drought.
#4. Gum Trees
Gum trees belong to the eucalyptus family. So you may know them as gums or eucalyptus. These flowering trees are possibly found in numerous species, all of which are native to Australia. The word “gum” comes from the fruit they produce, namely “gumnut.”
Around three-quarters of the forests are made up of gum trees in Australia. This has made them adapt to surviving fire that frequently affects the country’s landscape.
People around the world find gum trees to be extremely attractive. This is the reason why they cultivate them in a warm climate – mostly because of their ornamental value.
Gum trees grow fast, and they give strong timber. This makes it a favorite among commercial cultivators.
The bark is their most unique feature.
Did you know that the outermost layer of their bark gets shed, and a new layer is produced internally every year?
Depending on the species of the gum tree, the outer layer can get peeled away in the form of ribbons or fall off in the form of chunks. When a new layer of bark gets exposed, it can be of multiple colors apart from the fact that they are randomly patterned. The latter can be in strips of green, red, orange, purple, yellow, and blue.
Gum trees have oil glands containing essential oil. This makes the foliage scented elegantly.
They mostly have glossy leaves that are green in color.
Almost all gum trees are evergreen. However, there are some rare species that lose their leaves every year. The fluffy flowers that they produce can be white, yellow, red, or pink. These flowers give birth to fruits.
If you plant gum trees in ideal conditions, they will grow well and fast. They love warm temperatures and full sun. But, when it comes to soil, they need it to be moist all the time. They can’t tolerate the cold. So, even if there is light frost, they can die. Always grow them in soil with a good drainage system as they need more water to thrive.
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#5. Fir Trees
Native to the mountainous regions of North Africa, North America, Asia, and Europe, fir trees are conifer evergreen trees.
Talking about their species, well, there are about 50 of them. They are perfect for growing in USDA zones between 3 and 8. But, of course, this depends on the types of the species.
One of the hardiest kinds of fir trees is balsam fir, and they grow best in the USDA zones between 3 and 6.
Then there is the Spanish Fir that grows its best in the USDA zones 6 and 7. But, again, this is because they like to grow in warmer temperatures.
Grand fir is the tallest of them all. They can be about 250 feet long. However, most fir trees fall under medium to large trees.
Do you have a small garden, and you still want to grow evergreen trees in it?
You can plant fir trees. They have some dwarf cultivars that grow up to 6 feet tall, such as Archer’s Dwarf White fir tree.
The ornamental appeal of fir trees is majestic. However, their foliage is slightly flat and looks somewhat like a needle.
The color of the needles depends on the type of the species. It can vary between gray-green and dark green.
The cones they produce stand up on the branches’ tips, looking like candles. This is unlike other trees that produce cones. So this is one way of differentiating fir trees from other evergreen trees.
The cones of fir trees can be blue, purple, and green when they are young. However, when they age and become pollinated, they start developing brown.
Fir trees are popular evergreen trees that you can find in public spaces, parks, and home gardens. However, like timber, they don’t have much value. Sometimes, to create plywood or paper, they are used as pulpwood.
Now, if you want to have the best Christmas tree, you can always use fir trees, as they are excellent for that purpose. You can choose between species such as Fraser fir, balsam fir, and noble fir. The needle-foliage of these varieties has a pretty scent. And that doesn’t go away completely even once dried.
Generally, you don’t need to take a lot of care for maintaining fir trees. They grow well in different soil types, such as poor soil and dry soil. However, the best soil you can give them is well-drained, evenly moist, and slightly acidic soil. While some fir trees love full sun, others can survive in partial shade.
#6. Cypress Trees
Cypress trees are native to a wide range of temperate climates all around the globe. This includes the middle east, north America, and Asia.
The foliage of these evergreen conifers looks like scales. Their colors vary depending on their species. They can be deep green, blue-green, or yellow-green.
The shape of their cones can be spherical or elliptical. Most cypress trees come with an attractive scent ranging from citrus to spicy.
People worldwide cultivate cypress trees, especially for the ornamental value that they have. And they are particularly famous in Asia, where they are used in outdoor public spaces and line the parks.
The wood of cypress trees is durable and strong. This is the reason people grow them for using them as timber too.
You don’t have to take a lot of care of the cypress trees. A little maintenance is all they need. You don’t need to prune them. They can grow in different types of soil. However, the best kind of soil you can put them in is moist and well-draining soil.
Once they grow and become mature, they can tolerate periods of drought. Heat is something that they love. So plant them in a place where they can get full sun. But they can’t survive in cold regions.
Which evergreen trees are you going to plant in your garden?
Let us know in the comments!