Although the evergreen plants are hardy, meaning they retain their green leaves even in the cold season, proper care is the be-all and end-all: Regular watering on frost-free days, for example, is important for ornamental shrubs to prevent drought damage. These usually occur when too much water evaporates through the leaves. To prevent sunburn from excessive radiation in winter, you can protect sensitive plants with a shade net or garden fleece. And if it snows heavily, it is important to free thin branches from the heavy load – otherwise they could break. Otherwise, all you have to do is enjoy the evergreen shrubs. Below we present some examples to you.
With a distance of 30 to 40 centimeters between the plants, the evergreen shrub ‘Red Robin’ grows into a dense hedge that can reach a height of two to a maximum of three meters. The special thing about the medlar (Photinia fraseri) is its young shoots, which – in contrast to the green leaves – glow red and are a real eye-catcher. Between May and June the hedge even has white flowers, which later turn into red berries. In order for the plants to develop well, they need a sunny to partially shaded location.
The blue Ceanothus ‘Blue Mound’ is equally suitable for flower beds and pots. The evergreen shrubs are not only hardy, but also bloom for a relatively long time – more precisely, from spring (May) to autumn. Also known as the sackflower or California lilac, the plant grows up to one meter high if the site conditions are right (sheltered from the wind and prefers sunny rather than partial shade). When digging, it is also important to maintain a minimum distance of 80 to 100 centimeters from other plants.
These evergreen shrubs are said to combine the best properties of boxwood and holly (Ilex). For this reason, the hardy ‘Luxus® Globe’ is also known as a box substitute. Due to its compact, spherical growth habit, the plant grows up to 60 centimeters high and up to 50 centimeters wide. Provided it was planted in permeable, humus-rich soil, alternatively it can tolerate clay, sandy soil or moor. It is suitable as a low hedge, but also comes into its own as a formal shrub.
The evergreen rhododendron is more than just hardy: unlike other shrubs, it is said to be resistant to disease. Although ‘Nugget by Bloombux®’ is a dwarf variety, it is still equally suitable as a hedge or for container planting. The plant shows its beautiful flowers in June, after which it should be pruned. Depending on how much you cut back the evergreen bushes, they will grow to between 50 and 100 centimeters high (in a sunny to semi-shady spot).
This evergreen hedge is an eye-catcher that is as beautiful as it is fast-growing. The cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is delivered in a pot, but should then be transplanted – at a distance of 30 to 40 centimeters from its immediate neighbors. If you find a sunny to semi-shady location, a perennial cherry laurel hedge can grow up to four meters high. Here too, regular topiary is important; the best time for this is in autumn or spring (between March and April).
The Ilex stem ‘Golden King’ (Ilex actaclerensis) is also an evergreen shrub. Its visual advantages include not only the lush green leaves: red berries can be found on the plant for several months, which give the holly that certain something. Another positive aspect is that the winter-hardy ornamental stems should be robust, cut-friendly, easy to care for and drought-resistant. The plant grows in a sunny or partially shaded location – or even in the shade.
Source: My Beautiful Garden
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