EVERGREEN SHRUBS…
Evergreens are some of the lowest maintenance plants for your landscape. In addition, they provide year-round color and structure. There are two types of evergreen shrubs for our area, broadleaf types (think ‘leafy’ such as boxwood and holly) and needled types (think pine and juniper). Since both hold onto their foliage in winter—a drying, windy time in Colorado-- be sure to give them winter water for best results. Also, make sure you site your shrub in the location it prefers. Some prefer morning sun in protected locations while other can take exposed, sunny spots.
TIP: Some evergreen shrubs respond well to an anti-transpirant spray (such as Wilt Pruf), to help protect agains winter dessication.
Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs
Boxwood (Buxus)
Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Green Mountain Boxwood
Height: 5’
Spread: 3’
Exposure: Shade or morning sun
Other Notes: Upright form. Glossy dark green leaves. May be pruned to maintain shape and/or used as a hedge. Protect from windy locations. Zone 5.
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Winter Gem Boxwood
Height: 3’-4’
Spread: 3’-4’
Exposure: Shade or morning sun
Other Notes: Rounded shape and deep green leaves. May be used as a low hedge. Protect from windy locations.
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Broom, Scotch Types (Cytisus)
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Burkwood Broom
Height: 4’-6’
Spread: 4’-6’
Exposure: Sun to Part Sun
Other Notes: Leafless shrub with slender green branches and a low rounded shape. Pea-like showy red flowers cover the shrub in late Spring. Zone 5
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Post Bloom
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Moonlight Broom
Height: 3’-4’
Spread: 4’-5’
Exposure: Sun to Part Sun
Other Notes: Leafless shrub with slender green branches and a rounded shape. Pea-like showy light creamy yellow flowers cover the shrub in late Spring. Zone 5
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Euonymus
Although adaptable to full sun, all appreciate protection from winter sun and winds.
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Moonshadow
Height: 2.5’
Spread: Up to 4’
Exposure: Prefers light shade location, but will also adapt to full shade or full sun.
Other Notes: Variegation of deep green leaves with a deep gold margin. Slow growing. Low, spreading branches make a good evergreen groundcover. Easily shaped with light pruning.
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Emerald Gaiety
Height: 4’-5’
Spread: 4’-5’
Exposure: Prefers light shade location but will also adapt to full shade or full sun.
Other Notes: Green leaves with white margins. Slow growing. Irregular spreading habit is easily shaped with light pruning. Leaves tinge pink in Fall.
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Emerald 'N Gold
Height: 2’
Spread: Up to 5’
Exposure: Prefers light shade but will also adapt to full shade to full sun.
Other Notes: Dark green leaves with a bright gold margin. Slow growing. Low, spreading branches make a good evergreen groundcover. Easily shaped with light pruning. Leaves tinge pink in Fall.
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Manhattan
Height: 3’-5’
Spread: 3’-5’
Exposure: Shade or morning sun is best
Other Notes: Glossy, dark green leaves. Ideal for an informal hedge or specimen plant. Protect from winter wind.
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Sarcoxie
Height: 3’-5’
Spread: 3’-5’
Exposure: Prefers light shade but will also adapt to full shade to full sun.
Other Notes: Glossy green leaves. Can be used as a small hedge. Protect from winter wind.
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Grape Holly (Mahonia)
Photo Courtesy Fisher Farms
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Oregon Grape Holly (aquifolium)
Height: 5’-6’
Spread: 5’-6’
Exposure: Shade to morning sun
Other Notes: Medium green holly-like leaves turn bronze red in the Fall. Yellow flowers in spring are followed by blue berries in mid-summer.
Oregon Grape Holly, Compact
Height: 3’
Spread: 3’
Exposure: Shade to morning sun
Other Notes: A dwarf version of standard Oregon Grape Holly. All the same wonderful qualities in a smaller package.
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Creeping Mahonia Bloom
Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
As a groundcover along a path |
Creeping Mahonia (repens)
Height: 12”-18”
Spread: up to 4’
Exposure: Shade, morning sun, or full sun.
Other Notes: Low spreading type of grape holly. Makes a wonderful groundcover with pretty fall colors of purple-red tones. Yellow flowers in spring followed by blue berries in mid-summer.
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Winter color
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Holly (Ilex)
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Summer
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Prince Boy/Princess Girl
Height: 4’-6’
Spread: 4’-6’
Exposure: Shade to LIGHT morning sun
Other Notes: Deep green leaves. Extremely slow growing. Very pretty holly berries are produced only on female shrubs and require pollination from a male. We sell a male/female mix within the same pot---so you can plant one shrub and still get berries. Prefers a moist location.
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Winter Berries
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Pyracantha / Fireweed
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Summer
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Gnome
Height: 4’-6’
Spread: 3’-4’
Exposure: Shade, morning sun, full sun
Other Notes: White spring flowers are followed by showy clusters of bright orange berries that hold through winter. Plant in a place where it won’t receive drying winter winds. A good candidate for espalier against a wall or fence.
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Fall Berries
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Rhododendron
Photos Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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White Lights
Height: 5’-6’
Spread: 5’-6’
Exposure: Full to part sun.
Other Notes: Flowers emerge as a delicate pink that matures to white. Bronze purple fall foliage. Rounded habit. Zone 4. From the University of Minnesota.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Mandarin Lights
Height: 4’-5’
Spread: 4’-5’
Exposure: Full to part sun.
Other Notes: Flowers in spring are a BRIGHT mandarin orange. Bronze fall foliage. Rounded habit. Zone 4. From the University of Minnesota.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Northern Lights
Height: 4’-5’
Spread: 5’-6’
Exposure: Full to part sun
Other Notes: Flowers range from light to deep pink. Fall color is insignificant. Rounded habit. Zone 4. From the University of Minnesota.
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Yucca
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Photo Courtesy Fisher Farms
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Color Guard
Height: 3’
Spread: 3’
Exposure: Full Sun
Other Notes: Does best in well drained soil. Will bloom white in Spring. Site where the architectural nature of this plant can be appreciated but where sharp points will not cause injury. Very pretty when adorned with winter frost. This variety offers bright yellow and green leaves. Great plant for hot, sunny, dry locations.
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Needled Evergreen Shrubs
Arborvitae (Thuja)
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Woodward Globe
Height: 3’-5’
Spread: 3’-5’
Exposure: Does best in shady or morning sun locations.
Other Notes: Deep green in summer. Takes on a bronze color in winter. Rounded form. Plant in a place where it will not receive a lot of wind exposure as this causes browning. Prefers a moist spot.
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Juniper, Spreading Types
Junipers are a versatile group of evergreens. Some stay very low to provide a wide groundcover while others are tall and can be used as evergreen screens. Some have a silvery blue cast while others are deep green. They all do well here and are quite drought tolerant once established. However, Colorado has very drying winter winds that can be tough on evergreens. Although they do well in a windy, exposed spot—it is essential to give them winter water for best performance.
Low Creeping Type Junipers
Blue, green, and golden foliage types. Note: Some WILL change color in winter.
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Blue Chip
Height: 8"-12”
Spread: 4’-6’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: Very low growing with a moderate spread. Silvery blue foliage has an arching habit. Turns a plum color in the winter.
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Blue Star
Height: 18”-24”
Spread: 3’-4’
Exposure: Sun to Part Sun
Other Notes: Dwarf form with silvery-blue needles that are shorter than other types of juniper. They cluster into a star-like shape. Does best when planted in a location that is protected from winter wind.
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Buffalo
Height: 12”-18”
Spread: 6’-8’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: Low growing with a large spread. Bright foliage gives a blast of green especially in the height of winter. Juniper berries are blue.
 
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Hughes
Height: 12”-18”
Spread: 6’-8’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: Low growing variety with a large spread. Steel-blue foliage during warm months. Takes on a purple tinge in winter.
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Photo Courtesy Iseli Nursery
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Motherlode
Height: 12”-18”
Spread: 3’-6’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: This creeping type offers bright yellow foliage during the summer. Tinges to a burgundy-plum color in winter.
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Taller Hedge Type Spreading Junipers
Photo Courtesy Iseli Nursery
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Limeglow
Height: 3’-5’
Spread: 3’-5’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: Bright yellow color on feathery foliage. Has a spreading, vase-shaped form. Very pretty in the winter landscape when paired with evergreens of different coloration.
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Old Gold
Height: 3’-4’
Spread: 4’-6’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: New growth is a bright yellow. Good shrub for contrast.
Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Sea Green
Height: 6’-8’
Spread: 6’-8’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: Lush green foliage with a dense, vase-shaped habit
Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Pine (Pinus)
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Spaan's Dwarf Shore Pine (Pinus contorta)
Height: 3’
Spread: 4’
Exposure: Morning or Filtered Sun
Other Notes: An unusual pine that will become wider than tall with age. This dwarf evergreen has an open, irregular habit. Another great candidate for bonsai enthusiasts. Very slow growing. Will take at least 10 years to reach mature size. Plant in well-drained soil.
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Hillside Creeper Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Height: 2’
Spread: 5’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: Low spreading groundcover type pine with bright green needles during warm months. Turns light green in winter. Branches are layered, adding texture to your garden. Plant in well drained soil.
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Mugo Pine Varieties
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Photo Courtesy Iseli Nursery
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Big Tuna Mugo Pine (Pinus Mugo)
Height: 6’-15’
Spread: 6’-10’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: A large shrub or small tree. Deep, dark green, and DENSE! Very nice selection for a smaller space. Upright, broad shape at maturity. Showy buds in winter stand out against deep green foliage. Plant in well drained soil.
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Mugo 'Pumillo' (Pinus Mugo)
Height: 3’-6’
Spread: 3’-5’ but can grow to 8’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: Rounded shape with bright green needles all year. Variable in size. Maintain more on the compact side by pruning new candles each year. Hardy, rugged shrub. Plant in well drained soil.
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Photo Courtesy Iseli Nursery
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Slowmound Mugo Pine
Height: 1’-2’ in 10 years up to 4’ at maturity
Spread: 1-2’ in 10 years, up to 4’ at maturity
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: Very slow growing, compact form with dense, dark green, rounded habit. Very reliable color in winter. Great evergreen accent for a small garden. Plant in well drained soil.
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Photo Courtesy Iseli Nursery
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White Bud Mugo Pine
Height: 2’
Spread: 4’
Exposure: Sun
Other Notes: Dark green needles with a short, broad form. Derives its name from the fact that, in winter, each terminal bud is covered in white resin. Against the green needles, this trait gives it a ‘frosted’ effect. Plant in well drained soil.
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Russian Cypress / Siberian Cypress (Microbiota decussata)
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Photo Courtesy Bailey Nurseries Inc
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Height: 12"-18"
Spread: 4'-8'
Exposure: Full Sun (with consistent moisture) to Part Sun
Other Notes: A short, densely branched evergreen with a low spreading form. Soft feathery foliage resembles arborvitae. Bright green summer color--turns bronze to burgundy in winter (color change most evident when planted in full sun). Found in the wild in Siberia--hardy to -40. (so, it's a good bet it will grow in Colorado!). Requires well drained soil. Slow grower.
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Spruce (Picea)
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Bird's Nest Spruce
Height: 3’-4’
Spread: 3’-4’
Exposure: Sun to Part Sun.
Other Notes: Green needled spruce with a mounded shape. Has a slightly sunken center like a ‘bird’s nest.’ Requires winter water. Does best in a location that does not receive drying winter winds. Great shrub for small space. Provide consistent moisture and well-drained soil.
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Photo Courtesy Iseli Nursery
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Gem Norway Spruce
Height: 2’-3’
Spread: 2’-3’
Exposure: Sun to Part Sun
Other Notes: Durable, globe-shaped spruce with tiny green needles and tight shape. Requires winter water. Does best in a location that does not receive drying winter winds. Great shrub for small space. Provide consistent moisture and well-drained soil.
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Globe Blue Spruce
Height: 3’-5’
Spread: 4’-5’
Exposure: Sun to Part Sun
Other Notes: Beautiful round shrub form of blue spruce. Requires winter water and likes consistent moisture during the growing season.
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Photo Courtesy Iseli Nursery
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Tom Thumb Oriental Spruce
Height: 1’-2’
Spread: 2’-3’
Exposure: Sun to Part Sun.
Other Notes: What a cutie! A globe-shaped, slow growing miniature form. Yellow foliage. Requires winter water and likes consistent moisture in a well-drained location. This little shrub will fit in the smallest of gardens. VERY slow grower.
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Yew (Taxus)
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Spreading Yew / Densiformis
Height: 4’-6’
Spread: 4’-6’
Exposure: Shade or morning sun.
Other Notes: Dense rounded form. Provide consistent moisture and site in a location that is protected from drying winter winds. Caution: Yew seeds within the bright red berries and foliage are poisonous. Keep away from children.
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