21 Best Evergreen Shrubs And Trees For A Gorgeous Winter Garden That Never Sleeps!

Are you tired of lifeless winter gardens? Well, these evergreen shrubs and trees are your ticket to lush, year-round beauty. They provide structure, color, and texture once deciduous plants have finished blooming. These botanical powerhouses offer vibrant foliage, gorgeous texture, and sometimes, lovely winter berries and blooms through every season.

Overhead shot of a lush boxwood bush growing in the garden.

Sound intriguing?

Then let’s analyze these epic evergreen shrubs together. Shall we?

21 Beautiful Evergreen Shrubs For Beautiful Winter Gardens

Countless tree and shrub cultivars can bring your winter garden to life. But the following 21 are our favorites!

1. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) (Evergreen tree)

Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' tree growing in the garden.

This grand icon of the South brings lovely elegance to any landscape. It sports massive, glossy dark green leaves and velvety copper undersides. It is technically a tree. But many gardeners use dwarf varieties as large screening shrubs to maintain structure and color year-round. In winter, those iconic leaves hold firm against the cold and provide excellent shelter for birds seeking refuge from the wind.

USDA Growth Zone: 6 to 10.
Plant Size: 60 to 80 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Glossy dark green foliage. Large, fragrant white flowers.
Best For: Specimen trees, shade, Southern landscapes.

Southern magnolia bears strikingly extravagant flowers. They can reach up to 12 inches! The blooms are highly fragrant. They’re followed by distinctive rose-colored seed pods that attract wildlife.

2. Mint Julep Juniper (Juniperus chinensis)

Juniperus pfitzeriana 'Mint Julep' growing in the garden.

This cocktail-inspired beauty serves up bright mint-green foliage on gracefully arching branches that practically beg to be shaped. Its fountain-like form brings movement to borders. It’s also famous for tolerating drought like a champ. Think of it as the low-maintenance friend who always looks fabulous without trying.

USDA Growth Zone: 4a to 9.
Plant Size: 5 feet tall, 7 feet wide.
Shrub Color: Lime green foliage. Powder blue berries.
Best For: Borders, topiary, low-maintenance landscapes.

Mint juniper is one of the toughest evergreen shrubs. It handles subpar soil, pollution, salt, and drought.

3. Cherry Laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus)

Prunus laurocerasus laurel evergreen plant against a brick wall.

Cherry Laurel grows quickly and looks beautiful once it fills in. And, we’re talking seriously fast. White flowers then appear in spring. The blooms have a pleasant, lovely aroma. (Pollinators and human visitors will both appreciate the blooms.)

USDA Growth Zone: 6 to 9.
Plant Size: Up to 20 feet tall, 10 feet wide.
Shrub Color: Glossy green leaves. White flowers in spring.
Best For: Privacy screens and living hedges.

Cherry Laurel produces gorgeous white flowers in the spring that attract bees and butterflies. Then, blackberries follow in summer. (Birds love the berries!)

4. Boxwood (Buxus)

Decorative evergreen boxwood bright green round bushes in landscaping garden.

Boxwood shrubs are always in style. Their dense, fine-textured foliage grows beautifully into crisp hedges or whimsical topiaries. And you can style them however you want with your trusty garden clippers. These classic evergreen shrubs bring structure and elegance to any garden design. (Regardless of era or trend!)

USDA Growth Zone: 5 to 9.
Plant Size: 1 to 20 feet, depending on variety.
Shrub Color: Dense green foliage.
Best For: Formal hedges, topiary, foundation plantings.

The cool thing about Boxwood is that it provides decades of evergreen color. They support lots of local wildlife too (like birds and insects). So everyone wins!

5. Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica)

Nandina domestica 'Lemon Lime,' also known as heavenly bamboo, with fluffy green foliage.

The mood ring of shrubs! Heavenly bamboo transforms from lime green to fiery red throughout the seasons. Its airy, bamboo-like foliage and bright winter berries provide year-round interest without the invasive tendencies of genuine bamboo. It brings all the drama with none of the garden fuss!

USDA Growth Zone: 6 to 9.
Plant Size: Up to 7 feet tall, 5 feet wide.
Shrub Color: Green foliage turning red in fall. White flowers and red berries.
Best For: Adding colorful accents, borders, and wildlife gardens.

Heavenly bamboo has a fantastic pillar-like growth habit. It’s perfect for hedges or borders. It also thrives marvelously in full sun or partial shade.

6. Cryptomeria (Japanese Cedar) (Evergreen Tree)

Cryptomeria japonica 'Little Champion' Japanese cedar shrub in the autumn garden.

This conifer brings texture that makes you want to reach out and touch it, with soft, feathery foliage that can take on gorgeous bronze tints in winter. It’s like having a living sculpture that adds Japanese garden vibes while standing tall as a statement piece or screening element.

USDA Growth Zone: 5 to 9.
Plant Size: 30 to 40 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Soft green foliage. Reddish-brown bark.
Best For: Specimen trees, privacy screens, Japanese gardens.

Japanese Cedar has other benefits, too. It’s relatively low-maintenance, resistant to most pests and diseases, and can thrive in full sun and partial shade, provided the soil is moist, rich, and well-drained.

7. Holly (Ilex spp.)

Hoar frost on holly berries in a mobile photo capturing winter nature.

Holly is a holiday hero with glossy and often spiky leaves. It also makes iconic red berries that brighten any winter garden. (The birds love the berries in winter, of course.) Holly also comes in many cultivars, ranging from towering trees to tiny compact shrubs.

USDA Growth Zone: Varies by species. Generally 5 to 9.
Plant Size: Varies. From 3 to 50 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Dark green foliage. Red or black berries.
Best For: Hedges, wildlife gardens, winter interest.

Holly has dense, spiny foliage. The texture makes it thick. So, it’s perfect for sheltering birds during the chilly winter months.

8. Camellia

Large blooming camellia tree with red flowers and fallen petals in spring.

Camellia is the showstopper that defies winter with gorgeous blooms appearing when everything else is asleep. These sophisticated shrubs keep their glossy, dark green leaves year-round and then surprise you with rose-like flowers in shades of pink, red, or white from late fall through early spring.

USDA Growth Zone: 6 to 9.
Plant Size: 6 to 12 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Glossy green leaves. White, pink, or red flowers.
Best For: Shade gardens and winter blooms.

Camellia shrubs are like having a winter flower show when everything else has gone dormant.

9. Red Dynamo Photinia

Photinia 'Red Robin' fast-growing in the garden with deep green leaves and new red growth.

Red Dynamo photinia earns attention with fiery new growth. It glows against the winter evergreens nearby. It can also form a thick screen with regular pruning and decent sun. Gardeners can expect fast growth. But they should plan for airflow and monitoring, as photinias can struggle with leaf spot in humid conditions.

USDA Growth Zone: 7 to 9.
Plant Size: 8 to 10 feet tall. 5 to 7 feet wide.
Shrub Color: Burgundy-red new foliage maturing to green.
Best For: Privacy screens, hedges, and colorful accents.

Red Dynamo Photinia is a dazzling year-round color display. It stands firm against heat, drought, and disease. It’s also tremendously fast-growing. And, low-maintenance too.

10. Korean Fir (Abies koreana)

Close-up of beautiful Korean fir cones growing in the garden.

The story of this epic shrub starts with stunning upright purple cones that resemble exotic candles rising from soft, silvery-backed needles. This architectural conifer stays compact enough for smaller spaces while delivering considerable visual interest with its unique ornaments. Nothing says garden collector like a Korean fir.

USDA Growth Zone: 5 to 7.
Plant Size: 15 to 30 feet tall, 6 to 12 feet wide.
Shrub Color: Dark green needles. Purple cones.
Best For: Specimen trees in cool-climate gardens.

Korean Fir has a few standout qualities. But arguably the most impressive are its vivid violet cones.

11. Aucuba (Gold Dust)

Gold dust aucuba plant growing in the backyard garden.

Have you ever heard of the Gold Dust shrub? It’s a shade garden savior! They’re surprisingly rugged shrubs that bring tropical vibes (and maybe even red berries) to your landscape. They’re also perfect for growing underneath trees.

USDA Growth Zone: 6 to 10.
Plant Size: 4 to 6 feet tall, 4 to 5 feet wide.
Shrub Color: Dark green leaves with golden-yellow speckles.
Best For: Shade gardens, foundation plantings, containers.

The most remarkable thing about Aucuba is the red berries. They add a lovely festive cheer to your winter garden. Plus, they can easily overcome pollution, lackluster soil, and drought.

12. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) (Evergreen Tree)

Eastern red cedar branch against a green backdrop.

Eastern red cedar is super tough. It’s also native in much of the eastern US. This shrub’s foliage stays present through cold snaps. And it provides year-round wildlife cover. Gardeners can expect strong wind tolerance and drought resistance, plus a more natural look, unless pruned carefully.

USDA Growth Zone: 2 to 9.
Plant Size: 40 to 50 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Blue-green foliage. Blue, berry-like cones.
Best For: Windbreaks, wildlife habitats, erosion control.

The tree’s dense foliage provides year-round structure and shelter for wildlife. And its beautiful spring flowers offer a valuable nectar source for native bees and other beneficial insects.

13. Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel

Lovely white flowers of the Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' shrub.

Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel is another little-known evergreen shrub with beautiful qualities. It has a horizontal growth pattern. This wide growth habit makes it ideal for foreground plantings or smaller spaces. It’s a neat, manageable shrub with glossy leaves that looks perfect growing alongside foundations, driveways, or your favorite native shrubs.

USDA Growth Zone: 6 to 9.
Plant Size: 3 to 4 feet tall, 6 to 8 feet wide.
Shrub Color: Glossy dark green leaves with white spring flowers.
Best For: Low hedges, foundation plantings, shade gardens.

Otto Luyken keeps its leaves through winter and works well as a low hedge or mass planting.

14. Wintercreeper (Euonymus)

Euonymus fortunei, commonly known as winter creeper, growing in the garden as an ornamental shrub.

Wintercreeper is a beautiful groundcover and low climber. The cool thing about it is that it stays green when lawns and perennials go dormant. It easily handles a wide range of light levels and fills space quickly. You should expect fast coverage when growing this compact shrub. But you should also check to ensure they are not invasive in your region!

USDA Growth Zone: 4 to 9.
Plant Size: Roughly 2 to 10 feet tall and wide.
Shrub Color: Green leaves. Some varieties have variegated foliage.
Best For: Groundcovers, walls, erosion control.

Wintercreeper is the perfect low-maintenance green carpet. It keeps your landscape looking lush. It also blankets slopes, climbs walls, and outcompetes weeds!

15. Pittosporum

Green Pittosporum tobira 'Wheelers Dwarf' shrub in the garden.

Pittosporum offers sleek evergreen foliage and a densely polished look in winter. Many types also carry a subtle fragrance when in bloom, which is a welcome surprise near entryways. Gardeners can expect the best performance in milder climates, plus better winter survival in protected microclimates.

USDA Growth Zone: 8 to 10.
Plant Size: 6 to 15 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Glossy green or variegated leaves. Fragrant flowers.
Best For: Hedges, screens, coastal gardens.

Pittosporum produces small, sweetly fragrant clusters of white to creamy-yellow flowers in late spring. Many gardeners swear they smell like oranges!

16. Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)

Evergreen spherical Ilex crenata 'Convexa' Japanese holly shrub in the garden.

Japanese Holly is similar to Boxwood in many ways. The main difference is that Japanese Holly has superior heat and disease resistance. Its small, rounded leaves form dense growth that raindrops struggle to penetrate. To ensure proper watering, it’s advisable to water deeply at the base of the plant rather than relying solely on rainfall!

USDA Growth Zone: 5 to 9.
Plant Size: 3 to 10 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Small, dark green leaves. Black berries.
Best For: Formal hedges, topiary, foundation plantings.

Japanese Holly is perfect for defining garden rooms or creating living walls with modern appeal.

17. Gardenia

Epic Gardenia jasminoides plant with white flowers growing in the garden.

The fragrance factory, whose intoxicating scent can transport you to the deep South with a single bloom. Its dark and glossy leaves offer a lovely backdrop for those creamy white flowers that break out in the summer.

USDA Growth Zone: 8 to 11.
Plant Size: 3 to 8 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Glossy green leaves. Fragrant white flowers.
Best For: Fragrant gardens, containers, and borders.

Don’t forget to pamper this Southern belle with acidic soil and protection from harsh winters.

18. Skip Cherry Laurel

Laurel cherry (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis') shrub growing in the garden.

Skip laurel is a top choice for a fast and tall privacy hedge. Its upright habit makes it easy to fit into narrower spaces along fences and property lines. Gardeners can expect vigorous growth and strong screening. Plus, occasional winter burn if planted in exposed wind corridors.

USDA Growth Zone: 6 to 9.
Plant Size: 10 to 18 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Glossy green leaves. White flowers in spring.
Best For: Tall hedges, privacy screens, and shady areas.

Skip cherry laurel brings efficiency and beauty in one package!

19. Pieris japonica

Pieris japonica, also known as Japanese andromeda, growing in the garden.

This mighty spring sensation features drooping chains of lily-of-the-valley-like flowers and dramatic red new growth. This acid-loving woodland gem brings early-season excitement to shady spots while maintaining an elegant presence all year.

USDA Growth Zone: 5 to 8.
Plant Size: 4 to 8 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Glossy green leaves. Also, pendant clusters of white or pink bell-shaped flowers.
Best For: Shade gardens, woodland borders, and foundation plantings.

Pieris japonica is the garden equivalent of a fashionably early party guest who’s also impeccably dressed.

20. Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) (Evergreen Tree)

Creeping Tsuga canadensis spring vegetation growing in a coniferous garden.

The gentle giant with feathery, delicate-looking foliage that belies its inner toughness. Its gracefully drooping branches bring a soft, almost weeping quality to shaded landscapes, and it tolerates pruning for hedges.

USDA Growth Zone: 3 to 7.
Plant Size: 40 to 70 feet tall. Can be pruned and managed to a smaller size for hedges.
Shrub Color: Soft green needles. Graceful, feathery texture.
Best For: Shade-loving screens, wildlife habitats, naturalistic landscapes.

Hemlock helps prove that strength and tenderness can coexist beautifully in the garden.

21. Emerald Colonnade Holly

Emerald Column, a lovely vertical Thuja shrub on a green lawn.

Emerald Colonnade Holly has a columnar growth habit that makes it look like an exclamation point in your landscape. It has dense, glossy foliage that provides year-round privacy. (You can also maintain your Emerald Colonnade Holly shrubs without much pruning or maintenance.)

USDA Growth Zone: 6 to 9.
Plant Size: 10 to 14 feet tall.
Shrub Color: Glossy dark green foliage. May produce red berries if a male plant is nearby.
Best For: Privacy hedges, vertical accents, and formal landscapes.

Emerald Hollies are perfect for gardeners who appreciate structure without constant maintenance.

Conclusion

Beautiful boxwood bush in a round shape growing in the winter garden.

Thinking about gardening in the middle of winter can seem daunting. Or even like a fool’s errand! That’s why we love these evergreen shrubs. They can help transform your winter landscape from barren to beautiful. One that whispers life and possibility even when the winter dips below freezing!

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!