Top 13 Evergreen Perennials That Thrive in the Mid-Atlantic

Evergreen perennials are plants that retain their leaves throughout the year, adding color and texture to your garden even in the colder months. These plants are ideal for the Mid-Atlantic region, where winters can be harsh, but gardeners still want year-round beauty. Unlike deciduous plants, evergreen perennials maintain their foliage, providing a constant source of greenery. These plants are low-maintenance, making them a great choice for busy gardeners. Let us explore the best evergreen perennials that thrive in the Mid-Atlantic, bringing lasting charm to your landscape.

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Hellebore (Helleborus)

Hellebore is an excellent choice for the Mid-Atlantic, known for its ability to bloom even in the coldest months. These plants feature leathery, dark green leaves and produce beautiful flowers in early spring. Hellebore thrives in partial to full shade, making it ideal for garden spots with limited sunlight. It is low-maintenance and can tolerate a range of soil types, making it easy to grow.

These plants are highly valued for their long-lasting blooms and evergreen foliage. Hellebore also attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, adding life to your garden. It can be used in shady borders or woodland gardens to provide year-round interest. Its ability to bloom in winter and early spring makes it a unique and beautiful addition.

American Holly (Ilex opaca)

American Holly is a classic evergreen plant, widely recognized for its glossy green leaves and red berries. This tree thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it adaptable to various garden conditions. It is ideal for creating privacy screens or as a backdrop in landscapes. Depending on its size, it can grow between 15 and 30 feet, making it perfect for larger spaces.

American Holly provides year-round interest with its striking berries that remain even through winter. It is an excellent choice for wildlife gardens, as the berries attract birds. This tree is also quite hardy and resistant to many pests and diseases. The bright red berries and rich green leaves make it a standout feature in any garden.

Boxwood (Buxus)

Boxwood is a popular evergreen shrub known for its versatility and neat, compact growth. It can be shaped into hedges, borders, or even topiaries, offering a formal look for any landscape. Boxwoods thrive in well-drained soil and partial to full sun, making them easy to place in a variety of garden settings. They typically grow to a height of 2 to 3 feet but can be pruned to remain smaller.

These shrubs are prized for their dense foliage, which retains its color throughout the year. Boxwoods are also excellent for creating privacy in gardens or for framing other plants and structures. They do well in a variety of climates and soil types, making them a reliable choice for the Mid-Atlantic region. Their dense, dark green leaves provide consistent structure to a garden.

Juniper (Juniperus)

Juniper is a hardy evergreen shrub or small tree that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. These plants are known for their spiky, aromatic foliage and can vary in size, from ground covers to large trees. Junipers are particularly effective in rocky or dry soils, where other plants may struggle. They are also drought-tolerant and resistant to pests and diseases.

Juniper is an excellent choice for adding texture and color to the garden, especially in areas that need low-maintenance plants. The blue, green, or silver foliage provides a contrast to other plants. Juniper also produces small, berry-like cones that are attractive to birds. It is a versatile evergreen, perfect for a variety of garden uses, from borders to groundcovers.

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

Wintergreen is a low-growing evergreen perennial known for its glossy, dark green leaves and bright red berries. This plant thrives in acidic, well-drained soils and is ideal for shady or woodland gardens. It typically grows 6 to 8 inches in height, making it a great groundcover option. Wintergreen adds color to the garden throughout the year, especially with its vivid berries in the colder months.

The leaves of wintergreen have a distinct aromatic scent when crushed, making them a unique feature in the garden. It is an excellent choice for creating ground coverage in shaded areas, especially beneath taller shrubs or trees. The plant also serves as a good option for containers or hanging baskets. Its hardy nature makes it a reliable evergreen in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Epimedium (Epimedium spp.)

Epimedium, also known as Barrenwort, is a low-growing evergreen perennial that thrives in shady or woodland gardens. Its heart-shaped leaves and delicate, small flowers provide year-round interest, with the leaves staying green throughout winter. Epimedium is known for its ability to spread quickly, forming attractive ground covers. This plant is easy to care for, as it is tolerant of dry soil and low light conditions.

Epimedium’s flowers appear in spring, with colors ranging from yellow to pink, adding a soft touch to shaded garden spaces. It is highly valued for its ability to thrive in difficult growing conditions. As a groundcover, it can suppress weeds and prevent erosion. Its resilience and evergreen foliage make it an excellent choice for the Mid-Atlantic region.

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Mountain Laurel is a striking evergreen shrub native to the Mid-Atlantic, known for its showy, pink to white flowers in late spring. It grows well in acidic, well-drained soil and partial to full shade, making it a great option for woodland gardens. This shrub can reach a height of 5 to 15 feet, depending on its variety. Mountain Laurel is a slow-growing plant but adds significant value to any landscape.

Mountain Laurel offers year-round interest, with its leathery, glossy green leaves providing evergreen foliage. The flowers are a highlight in spring, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. This plant is tolerant of drought and deer-resistant, which makes it a good choice for many garden settings. Its beauty and versatility have made it a favorite in the Mid-Atlantic.

Yew (Taxus spp.)

Yew is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is well-suited for a variety of garden settings. These plants can grow up to 10 feet tall and are often used in hedging or as individual accent plants. Yews are adaptable to both full sun and partial shade, making them versatile for different landscapes. The average price of yew plants ranges from $20 to $200, depending on size and variety.

Yew has dense, dark green foliage that remains attractive year-round. It is also highly tolerant of pruning, allowing gardeners to shape it according to their needs. Yews produce small red berries that are attractive to birds but are toxic to humans and pets. This plant is particularly useful for adding structure and depth to garden spaces.

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

Creeping Jenny is a low-growing, spreading perennial that thrives in shaded or partially sunny garden spots. It is known for its vibrant, chartreuse-green foliage, which adds a splash of color throughout the year. Creeping Jenny is especially valued for its ability to spread quickly, making it an ideal ground cover plant. The plant grows between 6 and 12 inches tall and can cover large areas over time.

This plant is perfect for adding texture and contrast to garden borders, rock gardens, or hanging baskets. It is drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal care. Creeping Jenny is also known for its small, yellow flowers that bloom in spring. It is an excellent choice for gardeners looking to add a colorful, low-maintenance groundcover to their landscape.

Heuchera (Heuchera spp.)

Heuchera, commonly known as coral bells, is an evergreen perennial known for its striking foliage in shades of purple, red, and green. It thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil, making it perfect for a variety of garden settings. Heuchera plants grow to a height of 12 to 18 inches and are often used in borders or containers. The market value for Heuchera plants can range from $10 to $40, depending on variety and size.

These plants are known for their colorful foliage, which adds texture to the garden throughout the seasons. Heuchera also produces small bell-shaped flowers in late spring, attracting pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. This perennial is relatively low-maintenance and adaptable to different soil types. Heuchera is perfect for gardeners looking for an evergreen plant with both beauty and utility.

Hosta (Hosta spp.)

Hostas are classic evergreen perennials known for their large, lush leaves and tolerance of shade. These plants thrive in areas with limited sunlight and are often used as ground covers in shaded gardens. Hostas can grow up to 24 inches tall, depending on the variety, and they come in a variety of colors, from green to blue to gold. Prices typically range from $10 to $50, depending on size and variety.

Hostas are particularly popular for their ability to fill in shady spots, adding texture and color where other plants might struggle. Their broad leaves create an attractive backdrop for other garden plants. In summer, they produce tall flower spikes with lavender or white blooms that attract pollinators. Hostas are low-maintenance and thrive in well-drained, moist soil.

Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora)

The Autumn Fern is a hardy evergreen fern that adds texture and color to shaded gardens. Known for its bright red fronds that turn green as they mature, this fern is perfect for woodland gardens or shaded spots in the landscape. It grows to about 18 inches in height and spreads gradually, creating a natural look. Prices for this fern range from $15 to $30, depending on size and age.

Autumn Fern thrives in moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate some dry conditions once established. Its vibrant red foliage in the spring adds a pop of color to any garden, making it stand out in shady areas. This fern is deer-resistant, making it an ideal choice for gardens where deer are a concern. The Autumn Fern is a beautiful and low-maintenance option for adding year-round interest to shaded gardens.

Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)

Inkberry Holly is an evergreen shrub that thrives in the Mid-Atlantic region’s climate. It has dark green, glossy leaves and produces small black berries in the fall. This plant grows up to 5 feet tall and is perfect for hedges, privacy screens, or foundation plantings. The average price for an Inkberry Holly shrub ranges from $20 to $60, depending on its size.

Inkberry Holly is well-suited for both sun and shade, making it versatile for different garden settings. Its dense growth and attractive foliage make it a great choice for natural hedges or as a decorative shrub. This holly is also deer-resistant and easy to maintain, making it a popular choice for gardeners. Its striking berries in the fall add visual interest to the landscape.

The right evergreen perennials can transform any garden, offering lasting color and texture in all seasons. These plants are ideal for the Mid-Atlantic, where they thrive in various soil types and weather conditions. Their resilience and beauty make them a valuable addition to any landscape.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.