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When selecting “evergreen” ground covers, consider choosing plants rated for a hardiness zone at least one colder than your own. This increases the chances they will remain evergreen throughout the year, even during harsher winters.
Evergreen and semi-evergreen perennial plants are those that retain their leaves throughout the year or for a significant portion of it. They offer several benefits to gardens and landscapes:
Characteristics
These plants offer a multitude of benefits to the garden, providing year-round interest, structure, and functionality.
Year-Round Foliage:
Winter Interest:
Privacy and Screening:
Erosion Control:
Wildlife Habitat:
Additional Benefits:
Evergreen Perennials:
Semi-Evergreen Perennials:
Evergreen and semi-evergreen perennials offer year-round interest, structure, and functionality to the garden. To ensure they thrive in your landscape, consider these factors:
Climate and Hardiness:
Sunlight Requirements:
Soil Conditions:
Size and Growth Habit:
Purpose and Function:
Maintenance Needs:
Important Note:
While USDA hardiness zones provide a general guideline, remember that plant hardiness can be affected by various factors. Even plants rated for your zone may experience some dieback in extremely harsh winters. However, healthy plants typically regenerate new growth in spring.
Evergreen perennials bring life and vibrancy to the garden throughout the year, including the often dormant winter months. Their ability to retain foliage during winter is a testament to their remarkable adaptations. However, the extent to which they remain evergreen can vary depending on the severity of winter conditions and their location in the garden. Some may even transition to a semi-evergreen state during particularly harsh winters, losing some but not all of their leaves.
Survival Strategies of Evergreen Leaves:
Evergreen perennials have evolved a variety of strategies to withstand winter's challenges:
The Challenges of Winter:
Despite their adaptations, evergreen perennials face challenges during winter, primarily:
Protecting Evergreen Perennials:
Gardeners can help their evergreen perennials survive winter by:
By understanding the adaptations and challenges of evergreen perennials, gardeners can provide the necessary care to ensure their survival and continued beauty throughout the year.
One of the best features of evergreen perennials is the visual interest they provide when left standing over the winter. During winter months, many perennials provide winter interest in the garden. The following plants are evergreen in our zone 7, many may be evergreen throughout the country, some may be semi-evergreen 'down the street'.
Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Arabis (Rock Cress)
Armeria (Common Thrift, Sea Pink)
Bergenia (Heartleaf Bergenia, Pig Squeak)
Carex (Sedge)
Dianthus (Pinks)
Euonymus f. 'Colorata' (Purple Leaf Wintercreeper)
Festuca (Blue Fescue)
Hedera (English Ivy)
Helictotrichon (Blue Oat Grass)
Helleborus (Lenten Rose)
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Heucherella (Foamy Bells)
Iberis (Evergreen Candytuft)
Lavandula (English Lavender)
Liriope (Lily-turf)
Pachysandra (Japanese Spurge)
Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox)
Sagina (Irish Moss)
Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sempervivum (Hen & Chicks)
Thymus (Creeping Thyme)
Tiarella (Foamflower)
Vinca (Myrtle, Periwinkle)
Yucca (Adam's Needle)
Year-round interest: Evergreen perennials provide visual interest in your garden all year long, even when other plants are dormant.
Low maintenance: Most evergreen perennials are relatively low-maintenance, requiring little pruning or watering once they are established.
Winter protection: They can help to protect your home from harsh winter winds and snow.
Habitat for wildlife: They provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.
Consider your zone or climate: Some evergreen perennials are more cold-hardy than others. Be sure to choose plants that are suited to your climate zone.
Think about the size and shape of your garden: Some evergreen perennials can grow quite large, while others are more compact. Choose plants that will fit well in the space you have available.
Select plants with the right sun exposure needs: Some evergreen perennials prefer full sun, while others do better in partial shade or shade.
Watering: Water your evergreen perennials regularly, especially during the first year after planting. Once they are established, they can usually tolerate dry periods.
Fertilizing: Fertilize your evergreen perennials in the spring with a balanced fertilizer.
Pruning: Prune your evergreen perennials when necessary to remove dead or diseased branches or to shape the plant.
Winter burn: In colder climates, the leaves of some evergreen perennials can be damaged by winter sun and wind. You can protect your plants by planting them in a sheltered location or by wrapping them in burlap during the winter.
Pests and diseases: Evergreen perennials can be susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases. Be sure to monitor your plants for signs of trouble and treat them promptly if necessary.
When choosing evergreen perennials for your garden, be sure to consider the following factors:
Sun or shade: Some evergreen perennials prefer sun, while others prefer shade. Be sure to choose plants that will be happy in the amount of sunlight that your garden receives.
Moisture: Some evergreen perennials are drought-tolerant, while others need more moisture. Be sure to choose plants that will be happy in the amount of moisture that your garden receives.
Soil: Some evergreen perennials prefer acidic soil, while others prefer alkaline soil. Be sure to choose plants that will be happy in the type of soil that you have.
Size: Evergreen perennials come in a wide variety of sizes, from small groundcovers to large shrubs. Be sure to choose plants that will be the right size for your garden.
With a little planning, you can create a beautiful and low-maintenance garden with evergreen perennials.
Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed): Ajuga is a low-growing groundcover that produces small, blue flowers in the spring. It is also known as carpet bugleweed. It is tolerant of shade and drought, making it a versatile choice for any garden.
Bergenia cordifolia (Heartleaf bergenia): Bergenia is a shade-loving perennial that produces large, glossy leaves and pink flowers in the spring. It is also known as pig squeak. It is deer-resistant and easy to care for.
Heuchera sanguinea (Coral bells): Heuchera is a popular perennial that comes in a wide variety of colors, including green, purple, and red. It is tolerant of sun and shade, and it is deer-resistant.
Lamium galeobdolon (Yellow archangel): Lamium is a shade-loving groundcover that produces small, yellow flowers in the spring. It is also known as golden deadnettle. It is easy to care for and it spreads quickly, making it a great choice for filling in large areas.
Vinca minor (Myrtle): Vinca is a shade-loving groundcover that produces small, blue flowers in the spring. It is also known as periwinkle. It is deer-resistant and it spreads quickly, making it a great choice for filling in large areas.
It is important to note that not all perennials are evergreens. Many popular perennials, like daylilies and hostas, are deciduous and lose their leaves in the fall. On the other hand, some plants that you might not think of as perennials, like boxwoods and holly bushes, are actually evergreen perennials because they live for many years and keep their leaves year-round.
So, there is not a specific season or time when perennial plants become evergreen. If a plant is genetically programmed to be evergreen, it will simply retain its leaves throughout the year, regardless of the time of year.
What are other factors to keep in mind about evergreen perennials:
Different types of evergreens: There are two main types of evergreen foliage: broadleaf and needle-like. Broadleaf evergreens like boxwoods and rhododendrons have flat, wide leaves, while needle-like evergreens like conifers and junipers have narrow, pointed leaves.
Varying degrees of evergreen-ness: Some evergreen plants may lose some of their older leaves throughout the year, but they will continuously produce new leaves to replace them. Others may hold onto their leaves for several years before dropping them.
Regional considerations / Semi-Evergreen: The climate in your region may determine if some perennials are evergreen or semi-evergreen. In colder climates or zones, some evergreen plants may lose their leaves during periods of extreme cold or drought.