If you’re looking to add some year-round colour to your garden, colourful evergreen shrubs are a great option. These shrubs are perfect for those who want to maintain a beautiful garden without having to worry about replanting every season. With their vibrant foliage and stunning flowers, colourful evergreen shrubs can add a pop of colour to any garden.
Shrubs provide structure and interest to your space, even during the winter months. They can be used in lots of different ways including as a focal point in your garden or as a backdrop for other plants. They’re also easy to care for, making them perfect for beginner gardeners.
Let’s find out a bit more about how to add some evergreen colour to your garden.
Understanding Evergreen Shrubs
Evergreen shrubs are plants that keep their leaves all year round, providing your garden with a constant source of foliage, even in the depths of winter.
Evergreen shrubs come in many different shapes and sizes, from small, compact varieties to large, spreading plants. They can be used as a backdrop to borders, clipped into formal shapes, and often make beautiful dense hedges.
One of the main benefits of evergreen shrubs is their ability to provide structure and interest in your garden throughout the year. They are particularly useful for creating a sense of privacy and screening off unsightly areas.
In terms of foliage, evergreen shrubs come in a wide range of colours and textures. Some have glossy, dark green leaves, while others have variegated foliage with splashes of yellow or white. Other popular examples include Nandina, with its red-tinged leaves and Griselinia with its soft green leaves edged in cream.
Types of Colourful Evergreen Shrubs
When it comes to choosing evergreen shrubs for your garden, there are plenty of options available to add colour and interest throughout the year. Here are some of the most popular types of colourful evergreen shrubs to consider:
Red and Purple Evergreens
Shrubs with red and purple foliage can add a bold and dramatic touch to your garden. Some popular options include:
- Daphne: This shrub produces fragrant pink or white flowers in winter and early spring, and has glossy green leaves with a purple tinge.
- Rhododendron: Known for their showy, colourful blooms, rhododendrons also come in varieties with purple or reddish leaves.
- Choisya: This evergreen shrub has fragrant white flowers in spring and glossy, dark green leaves with a purple tint.
- Camellia: Camellias come in a range of colours, including some with deep red or purple flowers and dark green leaves.
White and Yellow Evergreens
For a softer, more delicate look, consider evergreen shrubs with white or yellow flowers or foliage. Some options include:
- Ceanothus: This shrub has clusters of small, fragrant white or blue flowers in spring and summer, and glossy green leaves.
- Cotoneaster: Cotoneasters have small white or pink flowers in spring and summer, followed by bright red berries in autumn. They also have small, glossy green leaves.
- Pieris: Pieris japonica has white or pinkish flowers in spring and dark green leaves that turn reddish-bronze in autumn and winter.
- Azaleas: Azaleas come in a range of colours, including some with white or yellow flowers and dark green leaves.
Green and Golden Evergreens
For a classic, timeless look, green and golden evergreens are a great choice. Some options include:
- Bamboo: This fast-growing evergreen has slender green leaves and can add a tropical touch to your garden.
- Griselinia: Griselinia has glossy, bright green leaves and can be grown as a hedge or specimen plant.
- Heather: This low-growing shrub has small, needle-like leaves and produces pink, white, or purple flowers in winter and spring.
- Aucuba japonica: This shrub has glossy, dark green leaves with yellow or gold spots and produces small purple flowers in spring.
Variegated Evergreens
Variegated evergreens add a unique and eye-catching touch to your garden. Some options include:
- Ilex aquifolium: This holly shrub has spiny, dark green leaves with white or yellow edges and produces red berries in autumn and winter.
- Leptospermum scoparium: This shrub has small, fragrant white or pink flowers in summer and variegated green and yellow leaves.
- Pieris japonica: Pieris japonica ‘Variegata’ has green leaves with creamy white edges and produces white or pink flowers in spring.
Flowering Evergreens
For a burst of colour and fragrance, flowering evergreens are a great choice. Some options include:
- Daphnes: Daphne odora has fragrant pink or white flowers in winter and glossy green leaves.
- Nandina: This shrub has delicate, lacy green leaves that turn red or bronze in autumn and produces small white flowers in summer.
- Camellias: Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua both produce large, showy flowers in a range of colours, including pink, red, and white.
- Arbutus unedo: This shrub has white or pink flowers in autumn and winter and produces large, edible red berries.
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi: This low-growing shrub has small, glossy green leaves and produces pink or white flowers in spring, followed by red berries in autumn.
- Gaultheria mucronata: This shrub has small, glossy green leaves and produces small, fragrant white or pink flowers in summer, followed by bright red berries in autumn.
- Mahonia aquifolium: This shrub has spiny, dark green leaves and produces bright yellow flowers in winter and early spring.
- Nandina domestica: This shrub has delicate, lacy green leaves that turn red or bronze in autumn and produces small white flowers in summer.
- Ruscus aculeatus: This shrub has small, green leaves and produces small, white flowers in spring, followed by bright red berries.
- Skimmia japonica: This shrub has glossy, dark green leaves and produces fragrant white or pink flowers in spring, followed by red berries in autumn.
- Viburnum davidii: This shrub has small, glossy green leaves and produces clusters of white or pink flowers in spring, followed by metallic
Planting and Growing Conditions
When choosing evergreen shrubs for your garden, it’s important to consider the planting and growing conditions that will help them thrive. Here are some factors to keep in mind:
Full Sun and Shade
Most evergreen shrubs prefer full sun, but there are also some varieties that can tolerate shade. If your garden has areas with different levels of light exposure, it’s important to choose the right shrubs for each location. For example, if you have a shady spot, you might consider planting a Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ or a Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ (v) AGM. On the other hand, if you have a sunny area, you might opt for a Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ AGM or a Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ AGM.
Soil and Watering
Evergreen shrubs prefer well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Before planting, it’s a good idea to prepare the soil by adding compost or other organic material. When it comes to watering, most evergreen shrubs are low-maintenance and only need to be watered during dry spells. However, it’s important to avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.
Pruning and Maintenance
Most evergreen shrubs require little pruning, but it’s important to remove any dead or damaged branches as needed. If you want to shape your shrubs, it’s best to do so in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. When it comes to maintenance, evergreen shrubs are generally low-maintenance and only require occasional fertilisation and mulching to keep them healthy.
Uses of Evergreen Shrubs
Evergreen shrubs are a versatile addition to any garden. They provide year-round interest, structure, and colour to your outdoor space. Here are some popular uses for evergreen shrubs:
Hedges and Borders
One of the most common uses of evergreen shrubs is to create hedges and borders. They can be used to create a natural, organic-looking boundary around your property or to divide up different areas of your garden. Popular evergreen shrubs for hedges include boxwood, yew, and holly. For borders, consider using colourful shrubs like azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons.
Topiary and Sculpture
Evergreen shrubs can be shaped into topiary and sculpture to add a unique and artistic touch to your garden. Boxwood is a popular choice for topiary due to its dense foliage and ability to be pruned into various shapes. Other evergreen shrubs that can be used for topiary include holly, juniper, and privet.
Containers and Pots
Evergreen shrubs can be grown in containers and pots to add colour and interest to patios, balconies, and other small outdoor spaces. Dwarf varieties of evergreen shrubs, such as dwarf conifers and dwarf rhododendrons, are perfect for container gardening. They require little maintenance and can be easily moved around to create different arrangements.
Ground Cover and Path Edging
Low-growing evergreen shrubs can be used as ground cover and path edging to add texture and interest to your garden. They can also help to prevent erosion on slopes and add a natural-looking border to your paths. Popular evergreen ground cover plants include creeping juniper, cotoneaster, and heather.
Overall, evergreen shrubs are a versatile and hardy addition to any garden. They can be used for a variety of purposes, from creating hedges and borders to adding colour and interest to containers and pots. With so many different varieties available, there’s sure to be an evergreen shrub that’s perfect for your garden.
Choosing the Right Evergreen Shrub
When it comes to choosing the right evergreen shrub for your garden, there are a few things to consider. First, think about the size of your garden and the space you have available. If you have a small garden, you may want to consider a compact evergreen shrub like the Azalea ‘Rosebud’ or the Lavender.
Another thing to consider is contrast. You want to choose an evergreen shrub that will provide a nice contrast to the other plants in your garden. For example, if you have a lot of greenery in your garden, you may want to choose a shrub with colourful foliage like the Firethorn Pyracantha.
Perennials are also a great choice when it comes to evergreen shrubs. They will come back year after year, providing your garden with a consistent look. Some popular evergreen perennials include the Camellia and the Daphne.
If you want a shrub with a single or double flower, there are plenty of options to choose from. The Azalea and the Camellia are both great choices for those who want a shrub with a single flower. If you prefer a shrub with a double flower, the Holly is a classic evergreen with festive appeal.
Finally, if you want a shrub with a grey foliage, you may want to consider the Silverberry or the Lavender. Both of these shrubs have beautiful grey foliage that will add a unique touch to your garden.
Overall, when choosing the right evergreen shrub for your garden, it’s important to consider the size of your garden, contrast, perennials, single or double flowers, and foliage colour. By taking these factors into consideration, you can find the perfect evergreen shrub to suit your needs.
A Buyers Guide to Evergreen Shrubs
If you’re looking for colourful evergreen shrubs to add to your garden, there are a few things you should consider before making your purchase.
Firstly, think about the size of your garden and the space you have available. Some evergreen shrubs can grow quite large, so make sure you choose a variety that will fit comfortably in your garden.
Next, consider the amount of sunlight your garden gets. Some evergreen shrubs prefer full sun, while others thrive in partial shade. Make sure you choose a variety that will be happy in the conditions you can offer.
Another important consideration is the type of plant material to purchase. Evergreen shrubs can be bought as bare root, potted, or grown from cuttings or seeds.
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold without soil and are typically less expensive than potted plants. They are usually available from November to March and should be planted as soon as possible after purchase. With bare root plants you get the best value for money, so can be a cost effective way to invest in multiple shrubs.
Potted Plants
Potted plants are more expensive but are easier to handle and can be planted at any time of the year. They are a good option for those who want to see the active plant before they buy it. However, if you needed to buy several plants – for example, to create a long hedging area – then this might not be the most cost-effective option.
Growing from Seed or Cuttings
Growing evergreen shrubs from cuttings or seeds costs little to nothing, so might appeal to the more budget conscious gardener. However, there will be some patience required and growing from cuttngs is a slightly a more advanced option, requiring some extra horticultural knowledge.
Check out your local garden centre and see what kind of shrubs are available to buy in your area. Other than that, don’t forget that buying shrubs online is often the cheaper option and you might find an even greater range. Do ysome research and enjy discovering new types of shrubs that you might not have seen before.
What kind of colourful evergreen shrubs might we find in your garden? Are you shopping for some new fabulous foliage? What are your favourite evergreen shrubs? Let us know in the comments!