Evergreen & hardy shrubs for the garden

Shrubs that never lose their foliage add color to the garden even in winter. But which shrubs and trees have these properties?

Evergreen plants have dense foliage all year round. The shelf life of their leaves varies from several months to several decades (for example in the case of the long-lived pine). With a short lifespan of the foliage, the leaves are constantly renewing themselves. The leaf swap is hardly noticed. The best time to plant evergreen shrubs is from August to September. This allows the plants to take root well before winter.

Hardy plants defy winter. However, you should always pay attention to the level of the minus degrees and wear winter protection in very cold temperatures. Very young plants in particular still need protection in their first winter. Here you can prevent frost damage well with ground-covering fleece. Some of these hardy plants even begin to bloom in winter, such as the witch hazel or the common snowball.

These products protect your plants from frost:

• Thermo garden fleece: Ideal for protecting your plants from cold and frost in winter. Can be cut to size individually.
• Burlap sack / blanket: Reliable protection against cold and frost made of 100% jute. Decorative natural fabric with a long lifespan.
• Coconut mat: Excellent heat storage made from natural fibers. Breathable, weatherproof and durable.

1. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is very popular as an evergreen border, as a hedge maze or even to create living sculptures. It can find a place anywhere in the garden.

2. Arborvitae (Thuja)

If one of the trees of life (Thuja) speaks, then different cypress plants (Cupressaceae) meant. Thuja hedges are particularly wind-resistant and frost-hardy. They grow very quickly and are completely opaque.

3. Small-leaved evergreen (Vinca minor)

A very popular, evergreen ground cover is the small-leaved periwinkle (Vinca minor). As a subshrub it is only 20 centimeters high and is ideal as a decorative underplanting of trees. It shows its blue-purple or white flowers from March to September.

4. Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Of the Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) can reach a height of up to three meters. It has a very dense, fast growth. Its leaves are glossy, leathery, and dark green. The pea-sized berries shine first red and later black. Their fruit ripeness is in August or September. The fruits contain seeds which are poisonous, so caution should be exercised. A toxin contained in the leaf can also be released by chewing it. The consequences are vomiting and severe breathing problems.

5. Bamboo (Bambusoideae)

For some years now, an evergreen sweet grass has been conquering our gardens at home: the bamboo (Bambusoideae). It is non-toxic and green even in normal cold winters. In the spring, a small part of the leaves is shed when the next leaves shoot through. It is particularly suitable as a privacy screen or delimitation of the garden pond. Large varieties can reach a height of up to five meters. It is also quite resistant to diseases and pests.

6. European holly (ilex) 

The European Holly (ilex) occurs as a single or multi-stemmed shrub. It can be between one and five meters high. There are also tree shapes that can reach 10 to 15 meters in height. A distinctive feature are the leather-like serrated leaves. The glowing red berries are a nice change in the winter-bare garden and at the same time a welcome food for the birds.

But be careful: Because the fruits are only safe for birds. The berries are poisonous for humans and other pets, and chewing the leaves also releases a toxin. However, the leaves are so toothed anyway that you can only touch them with gloves.

There are many ways to beautify your garden with evergreen shrubs and trees. Thanks to our overview and additional advice from specialist retailers, we are sure to find a suitable solution for your needs.

These provide aromatic herbs all year round hardy herbs. You can find out which varieties are overwintered in the garden and which should move into the house in our special article.