15 Small Evergreen Shrubs to Grow

'KALEIDOSCOPE' ABELIA (Abelia grandiflora)

Zones: 6-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Bushy spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide

Named for the foliage that changes color in different seasons, new leaves are green and yellow, turning gold in summer, then developing red highlights in fall and winter. White flowers produced on red stems bloom over an exceptionally long time. Use as an eye-catching focal point, as low hedging or in a foundation planting.

Learn more about growing abelia.

TATER TOT® ARBORVITAE (Thuja occidentalis)

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Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Globe-shaped habit
Height/Spread: 2 feet tall and wide

The tidy rounded growth habit and fine green foliage adds structure and texture to the landscape. Use this smaller shade-tolerant conifer as low formal hedging, in containers, as pathway edging, or to divide garden rooms.

Learn more about growing arborvitae.

‘GREEN GEM’ BOXWOOD (Buxus hybrid)

Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact ball-shaped habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide

With dense green foliage and a rounded habit, this versatile boxwood variety has many uses in the landscape. Grow as topiary, in foundation plantings, containers or hedging. Keep this broadleaf evergreen shrub neatly clipped for a formal appearance or allow it to grow naturally for a softer look.

Learn more about growing boxwood.

‘GREEN SPIRE’ EUONYMUS (Euonymus japonicus)

Zones: 6-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Upright columnar habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 8 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

This broadleaf evergreen produces small glossy dark green leaves that create a lush backdrop. The upright narrow habit is suitable for privacy screening, as hedging and for tight spaces such as side yards. Use as privacy screening along a patio, deck, or property line. Plants are tolerant of hard shearing.

‘GOLDEN MOP’ FALSE CYPRESS (Chamaecyparis pisifera)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide

Finely textured gold foliage has a slightly weeping habit, adding elegance to Asian-style or formal landscapes. Growth habit of this dwarf conifer is slow, and coloring is best in full sun. Use as a focal point, hedging, or in a mixed border.

Learn more about growing false cypress.

‘NANA’ DWARF BALSAM FIR (Abies balsamea)

Zones: 3-6
Exposure: Full sun
Growth habit: Low spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

This exceptionally hardy conifer produces finely textured dark green needles with pale green new growth. Plants are slow growing, just 2 to 3 inches per year, with a low mounding habit. Suitable for rock gardens, bonsai, as a ground cover, and for Asian-style landscapes.

WINTER HEATH (Erica carnea)

Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 12 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide

Low growing evergreen plants produce dense needle-like green or gold foliage, some with bronze tints. Clusters of bell-shaped white, pink, or purple flowers bloom from winter to spring, depending on the variety. Use this broadleaf evergreen as a ground cover along a slope, in containers or rock gardens. Needs good drainage.

GEM BOX® INKBERRY HOLLY (Ilex glabra)

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Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact ball-shaped habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide

Fine dark green foliage with red new growth in spring lends fine texture and color to smaller spaces. This dwarf broadleaf evergreen holly has a lush dense growth habit, making a good alternative to boxwood. Plant in containers, as low hedging, to divide garden rooms, or massed in the landscape.

Learn more about growing holly.

JAPANESE SKIMMIA (Skimmia japonica)

Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Partial sun to shade
Growth habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall, 4 to 5 feet wide

With four-season appeal, Japanese skimmia is a broadleaf evergreen with glossy green oval leaves. Clusters of fragrant white flowers appear in spring, with female plants producing bright red berries that persist into winter. Plant this semi-shade lover in a woodland border, foundation planting, or as hedging.

‘BLUE STAR’ JUNIPER (Juniperus squamata)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun
Growth habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall, 2 to 4 feet wide

‘Blue Star’ juniper is grown for the attractive silvery blue needles that provide colorful contrast to gold, purple or green foliage plants. This dwarf conifer is slow growing, making it suitable for small spaces. Plant in a rock garden, Asian-style landscape, container, or mass along a slope.

Learn more about growing juniper.

‘ELF’ MOUNTAIN LAUREL (Kalmia latifolia)

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Partial sun
Growth habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide

Native to eastern North America, mountain laurel produces showy clusters of delicately patterned bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink, white, or red. Oval, glossy green leaves of this broadleaf evergreen resemble rhododendron foliage. ‘Elf’, a slow growing dwarf variety with white flowers, is suitable for small spaces. Plant in a woodland border, as a stand-alone specimen, or in a container.

DWARF MOUNTAIN PINE (Pinus mugo var. pumilio)

Zones: 2-7
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 5 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide, depending on the variety

Mountain pine is grown for its graceful structure and attractive candelabra-like new growth in spring. While the straight species can reach up to 20 feet tall, many are dwarf varieties suitable for small spaces. Plant this slow-growing conifer in a rock garden, foundation planting, Asian-style landscape, or train as a bonsai specimen.

‘RAMAPO’ RHODODENDRON (Rhododendron 'Ramapo')

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Morning-only sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Compact bushy habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall, 2 to 4 feet wide

Rhododendron is a popular spring flowering shrub in varying sizes and flower colors. ‘Ramapo’ produces clusters of bell-shaped lavender flowers, with thick oval green leaves that are lightly fragrant. This dwarf broadleaf evergreen is exceptionally hardy, suitable for mass plantings, containers, or low hedging.

Learn more about growing rhododendron plants.

‘LITTLE GEM’ NORWAY SPRUCE (Picea abies)

Zones: 2-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Dwarf compact habit
Height/Spread: 10 to 18 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide

Finely textured green needles grow on dense mounding plants. The slow growth rate, just 1 inch per year, makes this dwarf evergreen conifer suitable for a small space, rock garden, container, or massed in the landscape. Deer resistant and moderately drought tolerant.

STONEHENGE DARK DRUID® YEW (Taxus x media)

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Zones: 4-7
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Growth habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 4 tall, 3 feet wide

This dwarf yew is grown for the soft ferny foliage and moderate size that is especially versatile in the landscape. Tolerant of a wide range of light conditions, use this evergreen conifer as a substitute for boxwood. Grow in containers, as low hedging, in a foundation planting, or mass planting.