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Evergreen Plants: A Guide for Beginners
What are Evergreens?
Evergreens are plants that keep their leaves all year round, making them a great choice for adding color and interest to your garden in the winter months. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can find one to suit any garden style.
Benefits of Growing Evergreens
There are many benefits to growing evergreens in your garden, including:
- They add interest and structure to a bare garden in the winter.
- They can be used to create hedges or privacy screens.
- They provide food and shelter for wildlife.
- They are relatively easy to care for.
Choosing the Right Evergreen Plants
When choosing evergreen plants for your garden, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- The size and shape of the plant.
- The amount of sunlight the plant needs.
- The soil conditions in your garden.
Popular Evergreen Plants
Some of the most popular evergreen plants include:
- Hebe salicifolia: A compact shrub with willow-like leaves and pale lilac flowers.
- Pittosporum tobira: A glossy-leaved shrub with fragrant white flowers.
- Rhaphiolepis umbellata: A spherical shrub with white flowers and attractive foliage.
- Choisya x dewitteana ‘White Dazzler’: A compact shrub with finger-like leaves and fragrant white flowers.
- Polystichum setiferum: A native British fern with attractive soft fronds.
- Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’: A shrub with red flower buds and fragrant white flowers.
- Taxus baccata: A native British conifer that is valuable to wildlife.
- Pieris ‘Flaming Silver’: A shrub with bright red new growth and white spring flowers.
- Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Rocket’: A shrub with lush evergreen foliage that grows in an upright habit.
- Hedera helix: A climber with evergreen leaves and nectar-filled flowers that are beneficial for insects.
Tips for Growing Evergreens
Evergreens are relatively easy to care for, but there are a few things you can do to help them thrive:
- Plant them in well-drained soil.
- Water them regularly, especially during the summer months.
- Fertilize them once a year in the spring.
- Prune them as needed to keep them in shape.
By following these tips, you can enjoy the beauty of evergreen plants in your garden all year round.
