Winter is synonymous to dull, colorless gardens, right? Wrong! It doesn’t have to be if you choose from these shrubs that stay green even in winter to enhance your landscape. Not only do cold-hardy shrubs keep your garden vibrant throughout the chilly seasons, but they also provide privacy and block wind.
Plus, some varieties produce flowers, fragrant leaves, and berries for a beautiful display or focal point. It’s a win on all fronts! While your other plants have gone dormant, your evergreen shrubs will step up and ensure that your landscape stays lush and structured.
1. Boxwood
Boxwood and its dense, compact growth that consists of small, glossy leaves is a classic choice. Whether your garden gets full sun or partial shade, it’s the ideal shrub for your hedges or borders, or to act as standalone accents. Cold-hardy varieties can withstand frost, keeping your garden looking neat and vibrant while other plants go into hibernation.
You can prune them to create formal shapes or topiary designs, even in winter, or leave them to do their own thing. Pair your boxwood shrubs with flowering plants in spring and summer for a nice twist when winter passes.
2. American Holly
Holly sounds rather jolly, doesn’t it? American holly’s spiky, dark green leaves and bright red berries are more than that. And they also provide more benefits than a lively, happy appearance through the cold parts of the year. They’re evergreen and hardy, thrive in full sun and partial shade, and tolerate a range of soils.
While you’re looking for shrubs that stay green even in winter, this option also doubles as a privacy screen and windbreak that stays green. The red berries that female plants produce offer a refreshing pop of color in the dull winter landscape. You can help it maintain its shape with pruning, but it typically retains its form well.
3. Camellia
Camellia has got deep green, glossy leaves that stay gorgeous throughout winter. So what sets them apart from the other shrubs that have deep green, glossy leaves that stay vibrant? It’s in late winter or early spring when they start getting really pretty as they produce vibrant flowers in shades ranging from white to deep red.
The contrast of the blooms against the dark green leaves is something to behold. They don’t require much maintenance once you’ve got their lush foliage established, but be sure to provide partial shade and well-drained soil. Camellias are the ideal shrubs for sheltered spots that need greenery and color.
4. Japanese Pieris
The Japanese pieris is slightly more compact than the other shrubs that stay green even in winter. However, its glossy green foliage, cascading clusters of bell-shaped flowers, and resistance to pests makes up for the minor difference in size.
It’s hardy in colder climates and keeps its dark green leaves right through winter. When new growth comes along, it showcases red and bronze hues, which sets your garden on fire. Japanese pieris requires acidic, well-drained soil in partial shade to thrive and attract spring pollinators.
5. Chinese Juniper
Chinese juniper grows pretty fast and adapts to many garden conditions. Like other evergreen shrubs, the leaves stay vibrant throughout winter, but this one’s different because it comes with blue-green and silver tones for added interest. Plus, it’s got needle-like foliage instead of the standard small round leaves.
Prune and shape it into formal lines or let it grow naturally and use it as groundcover, hedges, or simply to block the wind. It’s drought-tolerant, so it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. You also don’t have to be too worried about these shrubs because they’re resistant to pests and diseases.
6. Mountain Laurel
Despite the name, mountain laurel doesn’t need to grow on or even near a mountain. It’s perfectly suited for your yard, regardless of where it is, if you can provide partial shade and acidic soil. The glossy leaves require minimal pruning and they maintain their color and structure while deciduous plants look a bit drab.
It’s ideal for foundation plantings, hedges, and naturalized garden areas, but you may want to grow it where it can be seen by guests, neighbors, and passersby. That’s because mountain laurel produces clusters of pink, white, and red flowers in late spring.
7. Rhododendron
Rhododendrons stand out because they’ve got beautiful dark green, broad, evergreen leaves that maintain their lush appearance throughout the year, and that includes the cold months of winter. They thrive in partial shade with acidic, well-drained soil and once you’ve got them established, they need very little maintenance.
They provide height, texture, and fullness, which is exactly what you need from your hedges, woodland gardens, and foundation plantings. Small flower buds start forming in winter, which is just in time for an early spring bloom.
8. Gardenia
Gardenias are one of those popular shrubs that combine evergreen structure and ornamental charm. They maintain their lush green foliage through the year and it stays attractive even through winter conditions. They can also withstand warmer climates if they’ve got acidic, well-drained soil and partial shade.
The constant year-round greenery that comes with gardenias and their glossy green leaves is complemented by fragrant white blooms that appear in late spring to early summer. Grow these shrubs as standalone specimens or mix them into your borders where they’ll add a rich scent as well as beauty to your garden space.
9. Inkberry
Many shrubs that stay green even in winter have small, dark-green leaves that stay glossy throughout winter. Inkberry isn’t any different. It’s a hardy evergreen holly that tolerates a variety of soils and grows well in full sun and partial shade.
Inkberry is ideal for hedges, borders, and foundation plantings because they grow densely, covering your space in a green blanket, and require little maintenance. In fall and winter, they produce small black berries that add ornamental value and attract wildlife to your garden.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.