Evergreen Shrubs
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Landscapers often chose evergreen shrubs for their ability to provide year round color to a yard.
Barberry family, (Berberidaceae) a popular choice for consumers interested in larger shrubs for defining natural boundaries and providing natural shelter and wind breaks.
Shrubs in the barberry genus (Berberise) are best known for their thorny branches and berries, ideal for edging.
The Wintergreen Barberry (Berberis julianae), a Chinese native plant, produces yellow flowers.
In an unmaintained state, they can grow ten feet in height. Regular pruning allows for shorter, boxed looks.
Another barberry, the Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium), also commonly known as holly-leaved barberry, grows with thick, waxy leaves.
Clusters of yellow flowers that bloom early in spring. Native Americans used the roots and berries for food and medicinal purposes, although the berries lean to the tart side.
Oregon Grape is the official state flower of Oregon.
Consumers also think holly (family Aquifoliaceae) when they consider evergreen shrubs, especially the plants of the Ilex genus, with pointed leaves and red berries.
Close to forty different Ilex species grow in eastern North America. The English Holly (Ilex Aquifolium), now naturalized in the wild, is the dominant Western species.
Many Ilex shrubs are associated with year end holiday season because the berries tend to be in bloom during the season and used for decorative purposes.
Birds also consume many different holly berries. Apart from decorative purposes, most holly plants should be left to the birds because they are considered mildly toxic to humans when ingested.
The heath family continues to provide consumers with a variety of very popular evergreen shrub choices.
One need go no further than the Rhododendron genus, including Native Aaaleas, to recognize their popularity.
North America hosts approximately three dozen native Rhododendron. Colorful spring blossoms make them popular landscape choices.
Their popularity also translates into an abundance of Azalea and Rhododendron hybrids on the market suited to most all growing conditions.
The Pacific Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum), a very hardy plant that can reach tree size (over twenty feet), produce late spring flowers. The beauty of the Coast Rhododendron flower convinced the people of Washington State to designate it the official flower of Washington State.
All members of the Rhododendron genus, including Azaleas, are considered poisonous. Honey produced from Rhododendron nectar is also toxic and often referred to as mad honey.
The genus Pieris, another popular evergreen in the Heath family, often get referred to as Lily-of-the-Valley shrubs because of their small, white spring blossoms.
Many varieties also produce young red leaves that eventually turn green. Most Pieris varieties are suitable for partially shaded areas in USDA hardiness Zones 5-8.
Manzanita, woody plants and shrubs in the Arctostaphylos Genus of the Heath family, are also native, western evergreen shrubs, recognize by the shiny, smooth, burnt orange color bark.
A few Manzanita grow to tree height, most grow to large shrub height (6-9 feet). They take well to pruning, flower during the spring and produce edible, but otherwise tasteless berries.
Salal (Gaultheria shallon), a hardy, native shrub, grows in and around coastal forest areas along the entire West Coast.
The small pink bell flowers stand out against the large green leaves, making it a very pretty plant. The large leaves stand up against wear and tear, making them excellent background leaves for floral arrangements.
Adding the fact that the plant's berries are edible, means Salal practically sells itself as an excellent native shrub for any western garden. The plant can grow up to five feet in height. However, trimmed properly, it can also thrive as a smaller shrub.
Higher altitude areas in western North American, for example, might choose among a variety of low growing evergreens with flowers.
Six different Phyllodoce species, with pink, purple, blue and yellow blossoms, grow in the boreal forests of the northern climates, including Canada and Alaska.
They are low growing shrubs that require sunny areas with well-drained, acidic soils.
Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata), also known as Prince's Pine, versatile plants, used over time by Native Americans and early settlers as a source of food, medicine and decoration.
The picture shows the underside of the unusual looking flower with pink petals, green pistil and purple stamen.
© 2006-2012 Patricia A. Michaels