Intermediate-Sized Evergreens
Tagged as: Arborvitae, Intermediate-Sized Evergreens for the Home Landsca, Junipers, pine, Spruce, Yew
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard', the silvery blue needles of Boulevard sawara-cypress makes it a valuable addition to the garden for accent or as a specimen plant
Intermediate-Sized Evergreens for the Home Landscape
- Generally grow 6-20 feet tall
- Include cone-bearing plants with year-round needle-like foliage
- Recommended for the Midwest on the basis of ornamental value, proven hardiness, availability, and freedom from serious problems
Uses in the Landscape
- Create privacy around a deck, patio, or entryway
- Screen unwanted views
- Help create seasonal interest in winter months
- Soften structural edges around foundations, under windows, at corners, or against walls
- Provide a focal point in the landscape
- Create structure and depth in mixed plantings
- Provide a backdrop against which other plants can be highlighted
Factors to Consider
Color
Although we think of evergreens as green, they actually come in several other colors, including silver-blue, blue-green, and yellow-green. Be sure to think about how the foliage color will work with buildings and other plantings in the area.
Texture/Effect
Pines tend to have an open, airy texture, while yews have a more dense habit. The flat, glossy leaves of many hollies make a different impact than the lacy foliage of arborvitae.
Shape
Evergreen shrubs have a variety of shapes: columnar, pyramidal, round, vase, weeping, upright. Be sure to select a variety that naturally grows in the shape you desire so pruning is minimal and less maintenance is required.
Recommended Intermediate-Sized Evergreens (6-20 feet tall)
| Botanical Name | Common Name |
Height/ |
Form
|
Rate
|
Zone
|
Cultural/Comments |
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Compacta' |
Compact Hinoki Falsecypress | 6-8'/4-6' | Upright | S | 5-8 | Best in full sun to part shade with protection from winter sun and winds |
| Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard' |
Boulevard Sawara-cypress |
12-15'/8-10'
|
Pyramidal
|
M
|
4-7
|
Sun to light shade; well-drained soil; needle-like silver-green foliage; protect from drying winds; nice accent plant |
|
Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera' |
Thread-leaved Sawara-cypress |
8-15'/
8-12' |
Upright to mounded
|
M
|
5-7
|
Fine-textured, drooping branches; heat tolerant |
| Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea' |
Golden Thread-leaved Sawara-cypress |
15-20'/
8-12' |
Mounded
|
M
|
5-7
|
Similar to above; fine-textured yellow foliage; heat tolerant; great accent plant |
| Euonymus fortunei 'Carrierei' |
Carrierei Wintercreeper | 6-8'/ 6-8' |
Irregular, mounded | M | 4-9 | Best in well-drained, evenly moist soil in full sun to full shade |
| Juniperus chinensis 'Ames' |
Ames Chinese Juniper |
8-10'/
6-8' |
Broad pyramidal
|
S
|
3-7
|
Sun; steel blue foliage turns green with age |
| Juniperus chinensis 'Fairview' |
Fairview Chinese Juniper |
15-20'/
4-6' |
Narrow pyramidal
|
M
|
4-8
|
Narrow, upright tree-like form; vigorous grower |
| Juniperus chinensis 'Iowa' |
Iowa Chinese Juniper |
10-15'/
8-10' |
Upright pyramidal
|
S
|
3-8
|
Dense, spire-like form opens with age; blue-green foliage; large blue fruit |
| Juniperus chinensis 'Mountbatten' |
Mountbatten Chinese Juniper |
15-20'/
10-15' |
Narrow pyramidal
|
S
|
3-8
|
Conical habit; excellent winter hardiness; large fruit |
| Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana' |
Pfitzer juniper |
5-7'/ 15-20'
|
Spreading
|
S
|
3-8
|
Sun; wide-spreading; gray-green foliage; no fruits; extremely cold hardy |
| Picea glauca 'Conica' |
Dwarf Alberta Spruce |
6-8'/
2-3' |
Pyramidal
|
S
|
3-7
|
Sun to light shade, protect from winter sun; extremely slow growing; dense cone shape |
| Pinus mugo |
Mugo Pine |
15-20'+/
20-25'+ |
Mound to spreading
|
S
|
3-7
|
Sun; well-drained, loamy soil; tolerant of high pH and dry soil; prune lightly for more compact shape |
| Taxus cuspidata |
Japanese Yew |
10-20'/
15-25' |
Spreading
|
S
|
4-7
|
Sun or shade; requires well-drained soil; more tolerant of windy sites than other yews; wide spreading; excellent fruiting form; tolerant of severe pruning |
| Taxus x media |
Anglo-Japanese Yew |
Variable
up to 20'/ 5-15' |
Spreading
|
S
|
4-7
|
Shade or sun; requires excellent drainage; protect from wind; very dark green foliage; many cultivars available |
| Taxus x media 'Brownii' |
Browns Anglo- Japanese Yew |
6-8'/
6-9' |
Rounded
|
S
|
3-7
|
Shade; needs good drainage; dark green foliage |
| Taxus x media 'Viridis' |
Green-leaved Anglo-Japanese Yew |
10-12'/
1-2' |
Columnar
|
S
|
3-7
|
Upright, narrow form; new needles Cultural/Comments yellow-green turning green; twisted needles |
| Taxus x media 'Wardii' |
Ward Anglo- Japanese Yew |
6-8'/
15-20' |
Spreading
|
S
|
3-7
|
Wide spreading; flat-topped; dark green foliage |
| Thuja occidentalis 'Holmstrup' |
Holmstrup Eastern Arborvitae |
6-10'/
2-3' |
Pyramidal
|
S
|
3-7
|
Sun to part shade; prefers well-drained soil, but tolerate moisture; compact form; bright green foliage |
| Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' |
Emerald Eastern Arborvitae |
10-15'/
3-4' |
Narrow pyramidal
|
S
|
3-7
|
Sun to shade; bright green foliage, does not discolor in winter; heat and cold tolerant |
| Thuja occidentalis 'Techny' |
Mission Eastern Arborvitae |
10-15'/
12-18' |
Broad pyramidal
|
S
|
4-8
|
Sun; excellent dark green foliage year round; good hedge plant; cold hardy |
| Thuja occidentalis 'Wareana' |
Ware Eastern Arborvitae |
8-10'/
6-8' |
Broad
|
S
|
4-8
|
Sun to part shade; tolerates wet soil; cold hardy |
| Thuja occidentalis 'Woodwardii' |
Woodward Eastern Arborvitae |
6-8'/
10-18' |
Globe
|
S
|
4-8
|
Sun to part shade; tolerates wet soil; wider than tall |
| Thuja plicata 'Hillieri' |
Hillier Giant Arborvitae |
7-10'/
7-10' |
Spreading
|
S
|
4-7
|
Sun or part shade; well-drained, moist to dry soil; tolerant of high pH soil; blue green foliage turns bronze brown in winter |
Key to Growth Rate: Height and spread are listed at the tree's maturity. How fast a tree grows will be Influenced by site conditions, species selection, and maintenance. By some ratings, any evergreen that at maturity is not as tall as its parent species is considered a dwarf, such as a plant that grows only 40 feet tall compared to a parent species that reaches 80 feet To clear up the confusion, the American Conifer Society has attempted to standardize the terminology and rate of growth as follows.:
Large conifer-grows 12 inches or more per year (size at age 10 to 15 years is greater than 15 feet)
Intermediate conifer-grows 6-12 inches per year (size at age 10 to 15 years is 6 to 15 feet)
Dwarf conifer-grows 3 to 6 inches per year (size at age 10 to 15 years is 3 inches per year (size at age 10 to 15 years is 2 to 3 feet)
Miniature conifer-grows less than 3 inches per year (size at age 10 to 15 years is 2 to 3 feet)
Ultimate size
If your site is limited by overhangs, proximity to walks, driveways, patios, buildings, or surrounding plantings, keep in mind the ultimate height and width of the plant you're selecting A two-foot tall yew may be just right in front of your living room windows today, but if its mature height is eight feet, you'll be pruning it annually to keep it from blocking your view
The chart inside provides information about the size and other important characteristics of tall and medium evergreens recommended by The Morton Arboretum for their suitability and desirability in the Midwest.
 |
| The fleshy red fruits of Taxus Cuspidata, Japanese yew |
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