Discover Evergreen Elegance — Part 1: Small Evergreen Trees and Shrubs for Asheville, NC Landscaping
Welcome to Part 1 of our 2-part series on enhancing your Asheville, North Carolina garden with evergreen trees.
Welcome to Part 1 of our series on enhancing your Asheville, North Carolina garden with small evergreen trees and shrubs. Nestled in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville's temperate climate is perfect for lush, evergreen landscapes. These compact evergreens provide year-round color, privacy, and natural beauty, ensuring vibrant gardens even in winter. Ideal for homeowners and landscape enthusiasts, these trees and shrubs can significantly boost property aesthetics and ecological balance. In this article, we'll explore seven small evergreen trees and shrubs that thrive in the Asheville region, offering detailed descriptions and care tips to ensure their health and growth.
Ilex ‘Christmas Jewel’
Description:
The Ilex ‘Christmas Jewel’ is a compact, pyramidal holly with dark green, glossy leaves and bright red berries. This variety is a standout, especially during the festive season, when its berries provide a striking contrast against its evergreen foliage.
Why It Thrives in Asheville:
This holly variety thrives in Asheville due to its adaptability to the region's well-drained soils and its tolerance for both full sun and partial shade. Its moderate growth rate makes it ideal for smaller landscapes or as an accent tree.
Care Tips:
Planting: Choose a location with well-drained soil and partial to full sun exposure.
Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system. Once established, it’s relatively drought-tolerant.
Pruning: Minimal pruning is required. Prune in late winter to early spring if shaping is necessary.
Thuja ‘Hetz Wintergreen’
Description:
Thuja ‘Hetz Wintergreen’ is a fast-growing arborvitae with dense, emerald green foliage that maintains its color throughout the winter. This tree is perfect for creating privacy screens and windbreaks.
Why It Thrives in Asheville:
This Thuja variety prospers in Asheville’s climate due to its adaptability to a range of soil types and its resistance to deer and pest damage. It also tolerates the humidity and rainfall typical of the region.
Care Tips:
Planting: Plant in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade exposure.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the first year after planting.
Pruning: Light pruning is needed to maintain its shape. Trim in late spring to early summer.
Thuja ‘Emerald Green’
Description:
Thuja ‘Emerald Green’ is a popular arborvitae with a narrow, conical shape and bright green foliage that remains vibrant year-round. It's an excellent choice for hedges and borders due to its uniform growth.
Why It Thrives in Asheville:
The ‘Emerald Green’ variety is well-suited to Asheville’s climate, handling both summer heat and winter cold with ease. It’s also highly resistant to common diseases and pests.
Care Tips:
Planting: Opt for well-drained soil and a sunny location.
Watering: Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season. Once established, reduce watering frequency.
Pruning: Prune in early spring to maintain desired shape and size.
Magnolia ‘Kay Parris’
Description:
Magnolia ‘Kay Parris’ is a stunning evergreen with large, glossy leaves and fragrant, creamy-white flowers that bloom from late spring to summer. Its compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens.
Why It Thrives in Asheville:
This magnolia variety is perfectly adapted to Asheville’s climate, flourishing in the warm, humid summers and tolerating the cooler winters. Its pest and disease resistance also make it a resilient choice for local landscapes.
Care Tips:
Planting: Plant in well-drained, acidic soil with full sun to partial shade.
Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry periods. Mulch to conserve moisture and maintain soil temperature.
Pruning: Prune after flowering to remove dead or damaged branches and maintain shape.
Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel)
Description:
Kalmia latifolia, commonly known as Mountain Laurel, is a native evergreen shrub with beautiful, pink to white flowers that bloom in late spring. Its dark green leaves and ornamental bark add year-round interest.
Why It Thrives in Asheville:
Mountain Laurel is native to the Appalachian region, making it perfectly suited to Asheville’s climate and soil conditions. It thrives in the acidic, well-drained soils found in the area.
Care Tips:
Planting: Plant in acidic, well-drained soil with partial shade to full shade.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells.
Pruning: Prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth.
Rhododendron ‘Roseum elegans’
Description:
The Rhododendron ‘Roseum elegans’ is a robust evergreen shrub, known for its large, oval-shaped leaves and stunning clusters of rose-lilac flowers that bloom in late spring. The dense foliage provides year-round interest, making it an excellent choice for hedges or as a standalone ornamental plant.
Why It Thrives in Asheville:
This Rhododendron variety thrives in Asheville due to the region's cool, moist climate and acidic soil, which mimic its native growing conditions. The temperate weather and ample rainfall in Asheville create an ideal environment for this shrub to flourish.
Care Tips:
Planting: Select a site with well-drained, acidic soil and partial shade. Avoid planting in areas with full, direct sun to prevent leaf scorch.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells. Mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature.
Pruning: Prune after flowering to maintain shape and remove dead or diseased wood. Avoid heavy pruning, as it can reduce next year’s flower production.
Schip laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis')
Description:
The Schip laurel is a versatile evergreen shrub, noted for its glossy, dark green leaves and fragrant white flower spikes that bloom in spring. The flowers are followed by small, black ornamental berries. Its dense, upright growth habit makes it an excellent choice for hedges, screens, or foundation plantings.
Why It Thrives in Asheville:
Schip laurel thrives in Asheville due to its tolerance for a wide range of soil types and its adaptability to both sun and shade conditions. The moderate climate and well-drained soils in Asheville provide an ideal setting for this hardy shrub.
Care Tips:
Planting: Choose a location with well-drained soil and partial to full shade. It can tolerate full sun, but partial shade is preferred for optimal growth.
Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system. Once established, it can tolerate short periods of drought, but prefers consistently moist soil.
Pruning: Prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage dense growth. Regular pruning helps in keeping the plant within desired boundaries and promotes healthy new growth.
Ready to transform your Asheville landscape into an evergreen paradise?
Whether you want year-round color, privacy screens, or enhanced natural beauty, these seven evergreen trees and shrubs are perfect choices. Embrace Asheville's unique climate and picturesque setting with these resilient trees. Click below to contact Snow Creek Landscaping and request an estimate.