It is not only coniferous trees that are evergreen; some broad-leaved trees also retain their leafy garb in winter and will bring colour and structure to the garden all year round.
24.01.2025
In this part of the world there are evergreen coniferous species but very few evergreen broad-leaved trees that survive our cold winter temperatures. Some examples of evergreen trees found here include yew and juniper, the native European holly “ilex”, magnolia grandiflora and Turner’s oak.
Evergreen trees that are suitable for use as privacy screens include European holly, evergreen privet and English yew. These have dense leaves or needles and can also be planted as hedges.
Although the standard boxwood is undoubtedly the classic evergreen topiary ball tree, the crowns of evergreen privet or false cypress can also be trimmed into a ball shape.
One fast-growing evergreen tree variety is Leyland cypress. Depending on the location and soil conditions, this plant can grow by 40 to 100 cm per year. English yew grows 20-30 cm per year and common juniper grows 20-40 cm.
At the height of the gardening season, they are usually overshadowed by lush flowering plants and magnificent autumn leaves, so it is only from late autumn that evergreen trees really take the spotlight and show off their qualities. When most plants begin to hibernate for the winter and things start turning grey and bare outside, evergreen trees in different shades of green create soothing colour accents and can be depended on to bring structure and vibrancy to the garden.
Evergreen trees offer privacy and natural protection from the sun and wind, even in winter. When closely planted in a row, suitable varieties will become opaque, evergreen hedges, which provide privacy on your property all year round.
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As they usually have dense leaves or needles, evergreen trees and shrubs offer wildlife winter protection against cold and predators. Some evergreen tree species, such as European holly (ilex), retain fruits for a long time in winter, providing a welcome source of food for overwintering birds such as the blackbird.
There are far more coniferous than broad-leaved evergreen trees which grow in our region. The former protect their needles from severe frost with a waxy layer, while broad-leaved trees have to shed their leaves in order to survive in winter. Evergreen broad-leaved trees are therefore more likely to be found in warm and tropical climates.
However, there are some evergreen broad-leaved tree varieties, as well as tall-growing broad-leaved trees and large evergreen shrubs that can withstand our cold winter temperatures. Although these do not grow as tall as native coniferous trees, they still contribute to an exciting garden design.
In the following overview, we present a number of very different evergreen trees along with their most important properties:
European holly is a native tree species.
European holly is a native evergreen tree species that grows in the dappled understory of our deciduous forests. It also likes a sunny to shady location in the garden. Ilex aquifolium is a hardy plant that can tolerate severe frost.
The shiny, leathery, thorned and serrated leaves form a dense, impenetrable foliage, in which small birds like to nest even in winter. From October it produces red berries that are poisonous to us humans, but delicious to birds.
The small tree, which usually develops multiple stems, grows 3-8 metres tall and 3-6 metres wide. As a cordate rooter, it forms both deep roots and fine, shallow roots. European holly can be planted as a specimen plant, as part of a group, or to become an opaque hedge, and is best shaped or cut back with a mechanical manual hedge trimmer to promote rejuvenation.
Turner’s oak has a wide crown.
Growing to a height of 8-10 metres, this small tree was bred in England in the 18th century, from holm oak and English oak, and is also known as “evergreen oak”.
Its egg-shaped crown, which can be up to 7 metres wide, develops on a short trunk. Quercus turneri is more suitable for regions with mild winters; it can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C and thrives best in sunny to semi-shaded locations that are sheltered from the wind.
The leathery, dark green, characteristically shaped oak leaves are coloured green or golden-yellow and remain on the tree throughout the winter. They are not shed until spring when the new growth begins. From May, the tree produces long, yellow-green catkins.
The oval-leaved privet offers bees a source of food.
Although the oval-leaved privet is a classic privacy screening hedge plant, it can also be grown to have a tall trunk and can certainly achieve tree-like qualities, reaching heights of up to 5 metres.
Increasing by 15 to 30 cm in height per year in a sunny to semi-shaded location, this low-maintenance shrub is considered to be fast-growing. It usually sheds its elongated, medium-green leaves when new growth begins in spring, and as such is referred to as wintergreen (instead of evergreen).
The fragrant white flower panicles this plant produces from June onwards are not only extremely decorative, but also a nutritional paradise for bees, bumblebees, butterflies and moths. Ligustrum ovalifolium forms shallow roots, is robust, and tolerates cutting and urban climates well. From an ecological point of view, it is a more valuable choice than the similar and frequently planted cherry laurel, as the flowers and berries of the privet provide food for insects and birds.
Red tip photinia is known for its distinctive red leaves.
The red tip photinia is an ornamental evergreen tree that grows to a height of up to 3 metres and is also available on a tall stem. The name is derived from the decorative red leaves on the new spring growth, which later turn greenish-red to dark green.
In very cold winters the stems may freeze back a little, but they will sprout again when the temperatures rise. Its white umbel-shaped flower clusters are frequented by bees and bumblebees, and from autumn its red fruits provide birds with a source of food.
A sunny to semi-shaded location that is sheltered from the wind is important in order for this small, evergreen tree to grow healthily. Photinia fraseri is a shallow-rooted plant, can be planted as an evergreen shrub or as a specimen plant and tolerates cutting well.
The English yew can live to an extremely old age.
The English yew is one of the classic types of evergreen trees. This coniferous tree can live to be very old and can reach an impressive height of 18 metres if it is not cut back as it grows.
It thrives in sunny to full-shade locations and is not very demanding when it comes to soil conditions. The tree’s dark green needles are rather soft, and female plants bear red fruit.
Caution: The needles and berries of this plant are poisonous! Taxus baccata is a deep-rooted, hardy plant that tolerates cutting very well and is easy to shape. Its dark green needles create a beautiful background for colourfully flowering plants in the garden.
The common juniper needs lots of sun.
The common juniper grows between 5 and 8 metres tall, with its trunk branching from ground level. This evergreen is a deep-rooted tree which loves sun and heat and copes well with nutrient-poor and dry soils, but is also extremely frost-resistant.
Its blue-green needles are not very prickly and its dense foliage offers an ideal nesting place for birds. The blue-black, versatile juniper berries emerge from August. Among the many varieties of this plant, “Hibernica” (Irish juniper) makes an especially eye-catching evergreen columnar tree.
With their compact crown and usually low height, evergreen ball trees are ideal for small gardens and front gardens. Their geometrically shaped crowns bring excitement to your garden design, both at ground level and higher up with tall-trunked varieties. The following ornamental evergreen trees are hardy and require regular shapingto retain their spherical form, for example with a STIHL HLA 56 cordless hedge trimmer. Remember to wear protective gloves when working with a hedge trimmer.
Choose a location in the garden where the evergreen tree is protected from cold east winds and, if possible, also from direct midday sun. After all, it is not just winter temperatures that can cause the leaves to freeze. The biggest risk is actually from sunny days on frozen ground: on days like this, there is a risk that evergreen trees simply dry out because they continue to evaporate water via their leaves, while their roots are unable to absorb moisture from the frozen soil. The usually dense leafy foliage of evergreen trees also presents a much wider target for winter storms and snow to attack or lie on than the bare branches of deciduous trees.
In autumn, you should cover the ground around the tree with fallen leaves. This will ensure that less moisture evaporates and the earth does not freeze so quickly in sub-zero conditions. Use frost-free winter days to water your evergreen garden trees so that they are prepared for the next frost. A thin layer of snow will not harm evergreen trees and will even protect them against the sun. Heavy wet snow, on the other hand, should be swept or shaken off, as entire branches can easily break off under the substantial weight. You can find more useful evergreen tree care tips in our article Planting trees.
