Evergreens are perfect for anybody trying to create all year-round curiosity and construction of their backyard. Lush and low-maintenance, these hardy crops fill gaps in beds and borders, and can be used to kind dense evergreen hedges that present a complete host of advantages for people and wildlife alike. You would even unleash your inventive facet with topiary!
With so many types to select from, we requested our favorite gardening bloggers for his or her prime ideas. Browse our full vary of evergreen shrubs and timber for inspiration.
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Finest knowledgeable recommendation on utilizing evergreens for all 12 months spherical construction
For year-round construction, evergreen timber come extremely beneficial by Jenny of Murphy’s Backyard. These tall evergreens may be relied on to carry your backyard collectively within the depths of winter when deciduous timber and different crops have misplaced their foliage. Watch Jenny’s video for recommendation on the ten finest evergreen timber appropriate for smaller gardens. Her prime tip? “…Take your time and perform a little little bit of analysis to ensure you plant the suitable tree.”
In addition to top and construction, evergreen timber can present vibrant foliage, flowers and berries all year long. Over at Down To Earth, Alan recommends Acacia pravissima for “lots of scented yellow blooms in spring,” and fast-growing Pittosporum should you’re in search of a tall hedge. Learn his full article on small evergreen backyard timber to search out extra of his particular favourites.
Over on YouTube, Raj of City Tropical loves evergreen shrubs for the color and perfume they convey to the backyard. A lot of her favourites, like callistemon, can be grown into small timber. Watch the video to see its elegant arching branches of slim foliage that help unique pink, crimson or white bottlebrush flowers by means of the summer season months. There’s one thing for everybody in Raj’s prime ten.
Finest knowledgeable recommendation on utilizing evergreens in beds and borders
Fancy giving your backyard a lush, tropical really feel? George of George’s Jungle Backyard significantly loves evergreen Trachycarpus palms that are joyful in a cool, damp surroundings and develop nicely so long as they’re planted someplace sheltered. Better of all, “even simply having one palm…makes the opposite planting look extremely tropical,” he enthuses! Watch George’s video to search out out which different tropical-style evergreens he recommends.
“In case you are softening a backyard format with natural shapes corresponding to curves, then crops with a naturally mounding kind can work nicely,” says panorama designer @elkssmith. Take a peek at her beautiful picture of a ‘curved’ backyard which is constructed on a basis of evergreen shrubs. It options lush grasses, evergreen hebes, Taxus baccata and “massive shrubs corresponding to Osmanthus armatus which may be pruned to present a beautiful evergreen mounded kind.” Helen Elks-Smith’s Instagram account is filled with prime backyard design ideas and inspirational pictures!
Evergreen shrubs are perfect for plugging gaps, particularly in darker corners the place different issues received’t develop. In case you want a speedy answer, then learn Barny’s article on fast-growing evergreen shrubs for shade over at The Jolly Gardener. From the shiny and fragrant leaves of Mexican Orange Blossom to the recent pink blooms of Camellia ‘Kanjiro’, there’s one thing for everybody on this treasure-trove of an inventory.
Finest knowledgeable recommendation on utilizing evergreens for privateness

Picture: Viburnum tinus from Suttons
Evergreens are a good way to make sure privateness, however there are some things to think about earlier than you begin planting, advises Carol Bartlett at The Sunday Gardener. Quick-growing hedging crops require common pruning to maintain them to the specified top and width, and so they “also can produce very dense shade.” Amongst her beneficial fast-growing evergreen shrubs is Photinia ‘Purple Robin’ – have a flick through her useful record and choose your favorite!
In search of uncommon hedge crops? Evergreen bay and rosemary each make enticing and dense hedges and are available extremely beneficial by our backyard consultants right here at Suttons. What’s extra, “the leaves are a welcome addition to many culinary dishes” – good for a kitchen backyard! Discover out what else the staff recommends by studying the total article.
Bamboo is one other wonderful screening plant, and The Tropical Plant Man’s Chris makes even handed use of it. Rising subsequent to a phormium in his beautiful Norfolk backyard, the bamboo helps to create tropical evergreen haven that Chris describes as one among his “favorite locations to face and zone out”. Take a look at his particular pictures on Instagram for a style of the tropics.
Finest knowledgeable recommendation on utilizing evergreens as topiary
“Topiary is one thing that we frequently affiliate with grand gardens, however truly it might make all of the distinction in small and middle-sized gardens as a result of it supplies form and construction, particularly within the winter.” Smart phrases from Alexandra Campbell of The Middlesized Backyard, after she meets with head gardener Jim Treby to debate the finest evergreen shrubs for topiary. Watch the total video to search out out what he recommends, and which crops are finest averted.
Down within the South West, designer Louise Dowding makes use of unbelievable topiary shapes to create garden-wide construction and curiosity. Head over to her Instagram account, @dowdinglouise, the place you may admire “the total expanse of billowing topiary”. Louise’s breathtaking backyard is a fascinating mix of carefully-crafted shapes, vibrant flowers and natural greens, proving that you could have a backyard that’s formal, purposeful and delightful suddenly.
Of their backyard in Shropshire, Brigette and Adam have created a dramatic topiary panorama. Take a look at their unbelievable Insta reel over at @our.english.topiarygarden for concepts. Among the many neat hedges and Buxus balls are some actually spectacular yew sculptures – they appear similar to large, majestic chess items! Comply with their specialist topiary account for plenty of evergreen inspiration.
As you may see, evergreens are amazingly versatile and fairly simple to take care of. We hope we’ve helped you to search out the proper selection in your personal backyard. In search of a splash of color? Take a look at our beautiful collection of flowering shrubs and low-maintenance perennial crops and flowers.
Lead picture: Sollya heterophylla ‘Extremely Blue’ from Suttons/©Thompson & Morgan