There are only broadleaf evergreens that I would want to recommend with qualifications for the North. The varieties listed have been grown successfully by a small number of gardeners with unusually protected sites for them and who understand their requirements thoroughly.
Throughout most of our region, broadleaf evergreens are somewhat winter hardy. The following list includes those on the borderline in winter hardiness.
In certain favored situations, they may succeed, and in the south of the region, they may be more successful than in the North.
Consult with local nurseries, garden and landscape experts, and agricultural experiment stations for information about the local hardiness of these and any other broadleafs you may try.
Broadleaf Evergreens For The North US
- Boxwood (Buxus microphylla koreana): a compact shrub growing about 2’ feet high; suitable for a low hedge.
- Paxistima (Paxistima canbyi): a low ground cover with small holly-like leaves.
- Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense): a tall shrub with large clusters of flowers in June.
- Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis): Forms a low, dense mat. A good ground cover for either sun or shade.
- Wintercreeper (Euonymus vegetus): Tends to climb. It also may be used as a ground cover.
44659 by Robert A. Phillips
Broadleaf Evergreens For East Central US
The wind is the worst enemy of broadleaf evergreens here. Winter sun may burn them some.
If you live where they are not “supposed” to grow, be brave and try some anyway in selected protected spots.
Mahonia Aquifolium “Oregon Holly Grape”
Oregon holly grape (Mahonia aquifolium): Takes on a bronze winter color. Often it blooms and fruits profusely. Plant it in winter shade for protection from sunburn.
Pyracantha “Firethorn”
Firethorn (Pyracantha): Satisfactory if you use varieties adapted to your locality. Plant away from where you walk or work, for the long spines, are penetrating. Orange berries are the most decorative.
Euonymus Fortunei “Evergreen Wintercreepers”
Evergreen wintercreepers (Euonymus fortunei and its varieties): Versatile and lovely. For fruit resembling bittersweet, use vegetus, and for the vine, coloratus.
Buxus “Boxwood”
Boxwood (Buxus): not supposed to be hardy, but several strains will take temperatures way below zero. Japanese box is surprisingly hardy.
Korean Boxwood
So is Korean, but it is not as attractive. Ask local nurseries for a hardy kind. Protect with leaves until they are a foot tall. After that, they should take it.
Rhododendrons
Rhododendrons: require acid soil and are best planted in the shade away from excessive wind.
Try ‘Cunninghams White’ for a dwarf. Named varieties bloom better than wild or even hybrid seedlings. Leucothoe takes the same care.
Evergreen Azaleas
Evergreen azaleas: only for the mildest part of the area.
Prunus Laurocerasus “Cherry-laurel”
Cherry-laurel (Prunus laurocerasus): proving hardy down to at least zero. Worth trying.
Pachysandra “Japanese Spurge”
Japanese spurge (Pachysandra): a fine ground cover in the shade but seldom in the sun.
44659 by Victor H. Ries
Broadleaf Evergreens For The Southwest US
Abelia Grandiflora “Glossy Abelia”
Glossy abelia (Abelia Grandiflora): fast-growing; bronzy green foliage; clusters of tiny white flowers followed by brown bracts.
Berberis Atropurpurea “Redleaf Barberry”
Redleaf barberry (Berberis atropurpurea): dense dark red foliage; very spiny, 24” to 30” inches high; for hedges or as accents.
Nandina Domestica “Nandina”
Nandina (Nandina Domestica): large, finely cut compound leaves, reddish to dark red in winter. Large clusters of bright red berries. Use singly or massed for accent.
Cotoneaster Parneyi “Spreading Cotoneaster”
Spreading cotoneaster (Cotoneaster parneyi): loose growing, spreading, textured dark green leaves turning red-orange in winter. For foundation and backgrounds.
Ilex Cornuta Burfordi “Burford Holly”
Burford holly (Ilex cornuta burfordi): dark waxy green leaves with a spine at the end. For hedges, specimens, or accents.
Ilex Vomitoria “Yaupon”
Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria): dwarf or tree forms, tiny serrated leaves on stiff branches. Red berries appear on female plants. One of our best shrubs for hedges and specimens.
Lonicera Japonica Purpurea “Purple Honeysuckle”
Purple honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica purpurea): low-growing plant for mass or ground cover; will climb on support. Foliage and flowers are purplish.
Mahonia Aquifolium “Oregon Holly Grape”
Oregon holly grape (Mahonia aquifolium): holly-like leaves of leathery texture, turning dark green to red in winter. Yellow flowers followed by blue fruit. It grows 3’ to 4’ feet.
Laurocerasus Caroliniana “Cherry Laurel”
Cherry laurel (Laurocerasus caroliniana): large upright shrub with brown bark; dark waxy green leaves. It grows 4’ to 10’ feet.
Pyracantha Lalandei “Firethorn”
Firethorn (Pyracantha lalandei): tall, vigorous shrub with vicious thorns, clusters of small white flowers followed by red-orange berries. For espalier, mass, hedges, or specimen planting.
44659 by Robert H. Rucker
Broadleaf Evergreens For The US Heartland
Berberis Julianae “Wintergreen Barberry”
Wintergreen barberry (Berberis Julianae): It’s a sturdy, erect shrub that requires some protection. It produces yellow flowers in spring and blue-black berries in the fall.
Buxus Microphylla “Korean Boxwood”
Korean boxwood (Buxus microphylla): dense, compact growth; has dull green leaves and makes an excellent hedge. it grows in full sun.
Euonymus Fortunei Vegetus “Bigleaf Wintercreeper”
Bigleaf wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei vegetus): It grows in sun or shade; handsome round leaves and orange fruit in fall.
Pyracantha Coccinea “Firethorn”
Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea): It’s a spreading, fast-growing shrub. It produces white flower clusters in spring and bright orange berries in fall. It prefers rich soil and thrives in full sun. Lalandi is a good variety for us.
Mahonia Aquifolium “Oregon Holly Grape”
Oregon holly grape (Mahonia aquifolium): It’s a 3’ foot erect shrub with lustrous evergreen leaves. In the sun, leaves turn maroon. Chartreuse flowers open in early spring, followed by blueberries. It prefers well-drained soil.
Ilex Opaca “American Holly”
American holly (Ilex opaca): It makes a 30’ foot tree, has spine-tipped evergreen leaves, and females produce red berries in the fall. Requires male plant—Hardy in full sun.
Viburnum Rhytidophyllum “Leatherleaf Viburnum”
Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum): It forms a dense, round-headed shrub with leathery, dark green leaves. Red berries develop in late summer. It prefers a north or east exposure.
Ilex Glabra “Blackberry”
Blackberry (Ilex glabra): It is hardy, drouth-resistant; it has dull blue-green foliage and black berries in fall. It prefers acid soil and is excellent hedge material.
Euonymus Fortunei Coloratus “PurpIeleaf Wintercreeper”
PurpIeleaf wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei coloratus): It’s useful as ground cover or vine. Leaves turn purplish in fall—a vigorous grower.
Hedera Helix Bulgaria “Bulgarian Ivy”
Bulgarian ivy (Hedera helix Bulgaria): It’s a hardy, large-leaved form suitable for shade or semi-shade.
44659 by Rose Ross
Broadleaf Evergreens For The Mid-South US
Azaleas
Azaleas (all varieties): for lavish spring color and evergreen beauty.
Camellia Japonica
Camellia japonica: for winter splendor of bloom and glossy leaf evergreen shrubs.
Camellia Sasanqua
Camellia sasanqua: for fall flower display.
Magnolia Grandiflora
Magnolia grandiflora: large white perfumed blooms from spring until late summer. The tree reaches a height of 50’ feet.
Magnolia Fuseata
Magnolia fuseata: delightfully scented small white blooms in spring. Its height ranges from 8′ to 10′ feet.
Feijoa Sellowiana “Pineapple Guava”
Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana): grows a neat round 4′ to 12′ feet. The reverse of foliage is silvery. Exotic white flowers in spring, edible fruit ripens in fall.
Mahonia Aquifolium “Oregon Holly”
Oregon holly (Mahonia aquifolium): grows to 4′ feet; clusters of yellow flowers, followed by purple-black fruits.
Pyracantha “Firethorn”
Firethorn (Pyracantha): several varieties, all with berries, some red, some orange according to variety.
Ilex Vomitoria “Yaupon”
Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria): dwarf variety may be used as a hedge, and larger variety as accent plants. Female plants bear beautiful berries.
Gardenia “Cape-jasmine”
Cape-jasmine (Gardenia): waxen white blooms are intensely fragrant. It needs acid soil.
Aucuba Japonica
Aucuba japonica and variegated: does well in half shade. To have red fruits, put a male plant in the planting.
Osmanthus Fragrans “Sweet Olive”
Sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans): grows to 20′ feet but not fast. Blooms when one foot high. Winter flowering with fragrance.
Elaeagnus Fruitlandii “Russian Olives”
Russian olives (Elaeagnus fruitlandii): underside of foliage silvery-white. Blooms in fall, fragrant white, small tubular flowers, fruit a small oval reddish drupe ripening in early spring. Splendid for hedge, pruned, or natural.
Ligustrum japonica “Waxleaf Ligustrum”
Waxleaf ligustrum (L. japonica): grows to 15′ feet; stand’s abuse.
44659 by Minnie Brown
Broadleaf Evergreens For The US Northern Plains
Pyracantha Kasan “Firethorn”
Firethorn (Pyracantha kasan): perhaps the best broadleaf evergreen for the Northern Plains. It can be used on the south side of the house. Tolerant of heat. Orange-red berries.
Euonymus Vegetus
Euonymus vegetus: A variable species for the east and north of buildings. It can be grown as a vine or shrub. Planted against a wall, it clings to brick or stone; in the open makes a compact shrub hedge.
Lace Euonymus
Lace euonymus (E. turkestanicus and E. nano): These two are similar and entirely hardy to Canada. Narrow leaves turn purple in winter. Pink fruit highlights the twigs in late summer or early fall. Clip young plants to induce branching.
Euonymus Erecta “Wintergreen”
Wintergreen (Euonymus erecta): has small leaves seemingly more subject to Winterburn than vegetus. Best planted in the north and east.
Euonymus Coloratus
Euonymus Coloratus: A trailer and climber that can be used as ground cover or trained to climb on walls or trees. Its leaves are purple in winter.
Manhattan Euonymus
Manhattan euonymus (E. kiautschovicus): Wind-burns in winter. Good in protected locations in the southeast parts of the northern plains, but winter burns in drier sections exposed to winter wind. Where Winterburn is severe, it is unattractive in winter.
Mahonia Aquifolium “Oregon Holly Grape”
Oregon holly grape (Mahonia aquifolium): A showy plant for well-protected places. Leaves glisten as though varnished. In spring, bright yellow flowers are followed by blueberries. We need clones harder than the common ones.
Hedera Helix “Baltic Ivy”
Baltic ivy (Hedera helix): High-climbing vine that clings to walls or can be used as ground cover; holds leaves well in all but coldest winters. Many strains in the trade differ in cold tolerance.
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi “Bearberry”
Bear-berry (Arctostaphylos uva ursi): Ground cover that does well on dry sites in full sun. Shiny green leaves are interspersed with bright red berries.
44659 by Glenn Viehmeyer