3 Diverse Evergreens For Your Garden

At this time of year, most  flowers have  faded and the leaves have coloured and fallen, but the evergreens are just getting ready to reclaim the spotlight. While evergreens have a perception of being dull, boring and cedar-like, there are many that offer  interesting shape, form, colour, texture and other features. Today's three cool plants are as diverse as they come, but all are evergreen and well suited to our milder Pacific Northwest climate.

Red Tip Tasmanian Podocarp

Podocarpus alpinus 'Red Tip'

Good looking blue-green foliage similar to that of the Yew and interesting form are the key features of this unique, mounding, evergreen conifer. Foliage is highlighted by the red-coloured new growth. Grows slowly to 3ft by 3ft. Plant in sunny areas  and protect from heavy frosts and excessive wetness. Well drained soil is prefered. Hardy to zone 7.

 
 
 
 

Spiders Web Variegated Aralia / Spiders Web Variegated Fatsia
Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web'
Lush tropical looking foliage in the shade? Yup!
All Fatsia's are broadleaf evergreens with large tropical looking green leaves that prefer to grow in part to full shade. The 'Spiders Web' is a rare form with variable speckled and splashed variegation on mid to dark green glossy leaves. Roundish clusters of small creamy white flowers appear in fall and winter followed by small, shiny black non-edible fruit. It can also be brought indoors and used as a houseplant. Grows 5-6 ft in height and a similar width. Dislikes wet soggy soils. Typically hardy in zones 5-8
 
 

Gold Finger Mexican Orange
Choisya ternata 'Gold Finger'
A relatively new and unusual evergreen shrub with bright golden-yellow narrow foliage. Like other Choisya's it also offers very fragrant white flowers similar to orange blossoms in late June through September. Attracts bees. Grows 5-7ft in height and a similar width with maturity. Excellent when used as a specimen or as an informal hedge. Grow in full sun to part shade in well drained soils. It dislikes alkaline and wet soils. Can be somewhat tender in colder climates - some winter protection is beneficial. Hardy in zones 6-9.
 
 
Come on in and have a look at these and other diverse evergreens at Art's Nursery!
We're open 7 days a week, 9:00pm to 5:00pm in the fall and winter.