Large Evergreen Trees
Tagged as: evergreen, large evergreens
Pinus strobus, Eastern white pine at The Morton Arboretum
- Generally grow 20 feet or taller
- Cone-bearing with needle-like or scale-like leaves
- Although many people call conifers "evergreen," not all conifers retain their foliage year-round, bald cypress and larch are two wonderful conifers that drop their needles in fall
- Recommended for the Midwest on the basis of ornamental value, proven hardiness, availability, and freedom from serious problems
Uses in the Landscape
- Frame or form a backdrop for homes and other buildings
- Screen an unsightly object or view all year long
- Create a wind break
- Offer privacy
- Plant on north and northwest of house to block winter winds
- Shelter for birds and wildlife
- Serve as a focal point
- Provide seasonal color in winter landscapes
Factors to Consider Color
Although we think of evergreens as green, they actually may be several other colors, including silver-blue, blue-green, and yellow-green Many go through seasonal changes and provide interest in winter. Be sure to think about how the foliage color will work with buildings and other plantings in the area.
Texture/Effect
Spruces are dense and compact in form providing a bold background in a large landscape Pines tend to have an open, airy texture. Some evergreens have ornamental bark or branching habits that are attractive in all seasons Keep in mind the effect you intend when making your plant selection.
Ultimate size
If your site is limited by overhangs, proximity to walks, driveways, patios and buildings, or by surrounding plantings, keep in mind the ultimate height and width of the plant you're selecting. The four-foot tall pine may be a nice accent in front of your house today, but if it grows to 50 feet, it will require pruning that may damage the tree's form or habit.
The chart below provides information about the size and other important characteristics of tall conifers recommended by The Morton Arboretum for their suitability and desirability in the Midwest. evergreen foliage
Recommended Large Evergreen Trees (over 20 feet tall)
| Bontanic Name | Common Name |
Height
|
Spread
|
Form
|
Rate
|
Zone
|
Cultural/Comments |
Abies concolor  |
White fir |
30-50'
|
20-30'
|
Pyramidal
|
S/M
|
4-7
|
Sun to light shade; best in dry loose soil, intolerant of heavy clay soil; soft, blue-green foliage; heat, drought and cold tolerant |
| Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Plumosa' |
Plume Sawara-Cypress |
30-50'
|
10-20'
|
Pyramidal
|
M
|
4-8
|
Sun; moist, well-drained soil; feathery, flattened foliage; reddish-brown trunk peeling in strips; loose, open habit |
| Juniperus chinensis |
Chinese Juniper |
50-60'
|
15-20'
|
Conical
|
S/M
|
4-9
|
Sun; open, well-drained gravelly site; gray-green foliage |
| Juniperus chinensis 'Keteleeri' |
Keteleer Chinese Juniper |
15-20'
|
15-20'
|
Broad
pyramidal |
S
|
4-9
|
Sun; dry soil, medium green foliage; large, blue-green fruit; disease resistant |
| Juniperus virginiana 'Canaertii' |
Canaert Eastern Red Cedar |
20-35'
|
15-20'
|
Pyramidal
|
M
|
3-9
|
Dark green foliage tufted at ends; open crown, attractive bluish-white fruit |
| Juniperus virginiana 'Glauca' |
Blue Eastern Red Cedar |
20-25'
|
8-10'
|
Columnar
|
M
|
3-9
|
Narrow, columnar habit; silver-blue foliage turns blue-green |
| Larix decidua (deciduous) |
European Larch |
70-75'
|
70-75'
25-30' |
Pyramidal
|
M/F
|
3-6
|
Sun, intolerant of shade; well-drained soil; deciduous conifer with bright green foliage in spring changing to golden yellow in fall before needles drop |
| Picea abies |
Norway Spruce |
40-60'
|
20-30'
|
Pyramidal
|
M/F
|
2-6
|
Sun; deep, rich soil; dark green foliage; pendulous branches and cones; tree for large areas |
| Picea glauca |
White Spruce |
40-60'
|
15-20'
|
Broad pyramidal
|
M
|
2-6
|
Sun to light shade; prefers light, moist soil; tolerant of heat, cold, drought, and wind |
| Picea glauca var. densata |
Black Hills Spruce |
20-40'
|
10-20'
|
Conical
|
S
|
2-6
|
Sun; dry soil; narrow dense habit; blue-green foliage; drought tolerant |
| Picea mariana |
Black Spruce |
40-50'
|
20-30'
|
Conical
|
S
|
3-5
|
Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; bluish-green needles; narrow habit |
| Picea omorika |
Serbian Spruce |
50-60'
|
50-60'
20-25' |
Conical
|
S
|
4-7
|
Sun; rich, moist, well-drained soil; graceful narrow habit; glossy dark green foliage, pendulous branches |
| Picea orientalis |
Oriental Spruce |
50-60'
|
40-50'
|
Pyramidal
|
S
|
4-7
|
Sun; tolerant of gravelly soils; protect from wind; narrow habit with pendulous to horizontal branching; good for small areas |
| Picea pungens |
Blue Spruce |
30-60'
|
15-20'
|
Broad
pyramidal |
M
|
3-7
|
Sun; drought tolerant; gray-gren foliage; stiff, formal habit, very symmetrical; urban tolerant |
| Pinus cembra |
Swiss Stone Pine |
30-40'
|
15-25'
|
Pyramidal
|
S
|
3-7
|
Sun; well-drained soil; columnar habit becoming open with age |
| Pinus flexilis |
Limber Pine |
30-50'
|
15-35'
|
Broad
pyramidal |
S
|
4-7
|
Sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil; wind tolerant; native to western US |
| Pinus flexilis 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' |
Vanderwolf's Pyramid Limber Pine |
30-40'
|
15-20'
|
Upright
pyramidal |
M
|
5-7
|
Sun; attractive blue-green foliage with twisted needles |
| Pinus parviflora |
Japanese White Pine |
25-40'
|
25-40'
|
Spreading
|
S
|
4-7
|
Sun; tolerant of most soils; salt tolerant; blue-green needles; scaly gray bark; good for small areas |
| Pinus strobus |
Eastern White Pine |
50-80'
|
20-40'
|
Spreading
|
F
|
3-7
|
Sun; moist, acidic soil; intolerant of high pH soil and windy sites; large, fast growing tree; native to Midwest |
| Pseudotsuga menziesii |
Douglas-fir |
40-80'
|
15-20'
|
Pyramidal
|
M
|
3-6
|
Sun to part shade; well-drained soil; flat, dark green foliage |
| Taxodium distichum (deciduous) |
Bald-Cypress |
50-70'
|
20-30'
|
Pyramidal
|
M
|
4-10
|
Sun; adaptable to wet, dry, and swampy locations; prefers acidic soils, chlorosis symptoms a problem in high pH soils; straight narrow trunk with wide base; sage green leaves turn russet-red in fall; a stately deciduous conifer; native to Midwest |
| Thuja occidentalis |
Eastern Arborvitae |
40-60'
|
15-20'
|
Pyramidal
|
S/M
|
3-7
|
Sun to part shade; requires moist soil, tolerant of temporary wet sites; intolerant of drought; flat yellow-green foliage; many cultivars; native to Midwest |
|
Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Wintergreen' |
Hetz Wintergreen Eastern Arborvitae |
20-30
|
5-10
|
Columnar |
S
|
4-7
|
Sun to part shade; narrow columnar habit; holds color in winter |
|
Thuja occidentalis 'Nigra'
|
Dark Green Eastern Arborvitae |
25-30'
|
5-8'
|
Narrow pyramidal |
M
|
3-7
|
Sun; straight-sided habit; dark green foliage through winter; cold hardy |
| Thuja occidentalis 'Pyramidalis' |
Pyramidal Eastern Arborvitae | 20-30' | 5-8' | Narrow pyramidal | M/F | 3-7 | Full sun to part shade, requires moist soil, drought intolerant, may suffer from winter burn, so protect from strong winds |
| Thuja plicata |
Giant Arborvitae |
50-70'
|
15-25'
|
Narrow
pyramidal |
S/M
|
5-7
|
Sun to part shade; moist soil; pH adaptable; dark green, flat foliage; deer resistance; cinnamon-red bark; native to western US |
|
Thuja plicata 'Excelsa' |
Columnar Giant Arborvitae |
25-35'
|
10-15'
|
Pyramidal
|
M/F
|
4-7
|
Loose, narrow habit; horizonal branching; glossy, dark green foliage; deer proof; excellent cold hardiness |
| Thuja plicata 'KLMfive' |
Giant Arborvitae - DEER PROOF™ |
40-50'
|
15-25
|
Narrow pyramidal
|
M/F
|
4-7
|
Full sun to part shade; moist, well-drained soil; pH adaptable |
| Thuja plicata 'Virescens' |
Virescens Giant Arborvitae |
20-30'
|
10-15'
|
Pyramidal
|
S
|
4-7
|
Narrow habit; bright, glossy green foliage year round; deer proof |
| Tsuga canadensis |
Eastern Hemlock |
40-70'
|
25-35'
|
Pyramidal
|
M
|
3-7
|
Shade, tolerant of sun in well-drained soil; drought and wind sensitive; small, flat dark green foliage; graceful pendulous habit; native to Midwest |
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 to 6 feet)
Miniature conifer -grows less than 3 inches per year (size at age 10 to 15 years is 2 to 3 feet)
Photo(s) available
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