Evergreen trees are a great option for the home landscape with the main appeal being year-round color and beauty. These plants are hardy and low to no maintenance once they are established. They can be used individually as focals, specimens, or anchors and in groups for privacy hedges or group plantings. So what are the best evergreen trees for landscaping?
Best Evergreen Trees For Landscaping
Specimen Evergreen Trees
These beauties stand out and can easily stand alone in the landscape. They are perfect for front yard curb appeal or the back yard.
1. Black Dragon Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon'
Growing Zones 5-9
Mature Size 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Description: This dwarf evergreen tree has green foliage that is so dark it’s almost black. The Black Dragon is very unique with its rich color and loose, funky form.
Features: Great for containers, pest, disease, and deer resistant, drought tolerant
2. Blue Point Juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Point'
Growing Zones 4-9
Mature Size: 10 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Description: With pretty blue-green foliage on an upright tree, the Blue Point Juniper is an outstanding evergreen tree for landscaping.
Features: Deer resistant, drought tolerant, cold hardy
3. Carolina Sapphire Cypress
Cupressus Arizonica var. glabra 'Carolina Sapphire'
Growing Zones 6-9
Mature Size: 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Description: This Arizona Cypress variety is amazing. The foliage is fragrant and icy blue, while the habit is upright, but loose and pyramidal.
Features: Deer resistant, fast growing, heat tolerant, drought tolerant
4. Colorado Blue Spruce
Picea pungens ‘Apache’
Growing Zones 3-7
Mature Size: 40 to 60 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Description: The Colorado Spruce is large and pyramid shaped. Its foliage is green-blue to silver-blue and needled.
Features: Salt, wind, heavy snow, and drought tolerant, deer resistant, cold hardy
5. Little Gem Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'
Growing Zones 6-9
Mature Size: 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Description: This magnolia is a dwarf version of the huge Southern Magnolia. It has fragrant, large white flowers in spring and summer. The foliage is shiny and green. The canopy is low making this tree almost look like a large bush.
Features: Heat, pollution, salt, and drought tolerant, deer, pest, and disease resistant
6. Oakland Holly
Ilex hybrid 'Magland'
Growing Zone 6-9
Mature Size: 15 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Description: The Oakland Holly has really neat emerald green leaves that look like oak leaves and reddish orange berries. This holly tree makes a great anchor tree with its upright pyramidal shape.
Features: disease and insect resistant, heat and drought tolerant
Privacy Evergreen Trees
Privacy trees block out unwanted sights and keep prying eyes out of your yard.
1. Cryptomeria Radicans
Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis
Growing Zones 5-9
Mature Size: 30 to 40 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Description: The Cryptomeria Radicans, also known as the Japanese Cedar, has soft, dense, fragrant foliage. This tree is upright and pyramidal to columnar.
Features: Deer and disease resistant, fast growing, drought tolerant
2. Emerald Green Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green'
Growing Zones 3-8
Mature Size: 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Description: This arborvitae has lush, soft, green foliage. The habit of this gorgeous evergreen tree is narrow and columnar.
Features: Pest and disease resistant, cold hardy, drought tolerant once established
3. Leyland Cypress
Cupressus × leylandii
Growing Zone 6-10
Mature Size: 40 to 60 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun
Description: This privacy tree has lovely feathery foliage. The Leyland Cypress is large, sturdy, and pyramidal.
Features: Heat and drought tolerant, fast growing
4. Nellie Stevens Holly
Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'
Growing Zone 6-9
Mature Size: 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Description: The Nellie Stevens Holly tree has attractive shiny leaves and pretty red berries. This tree is broadly pyramidal.
Features: Pest and disease resistant, drought and heat tolerant
5. Thuja Green Giant
Thuja plicata x standishii 'Green Giant'
Growing Zones 5-9
Mature Size: 40 to 60 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide
Sunlight: Full Sun
Description: The Green Giant Arborvitae has feathery green foliage that is soft to the touch. The shape of this fast growing privacy tree is pyramidal.
Features: Pest and disease resistant, drought tolerant, fast growing
These are our best evergreen trees for landscaping. Other honorable mentions include the Italian Cypress, Wax Myrtle, Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Blue Arrow Juniper, Wax Myrtle, and Sky Pencil Holly. We hope you have found this article helpful, and you are ready to plant. Shop our Evergreen Trees and Privacy Trees for sale! Happy planting!
Planting Tree is an online plant nursery. Shop trees for sale here.
You May Also Like:
Trees for Privacy that are Low Maintenance
What Trees to Plant for Privacy