Shrubs and hedges not just add on to the beauty of your premise, but also serve privacy. This article tells you about the anatomy and other important features of shrubs and hedges that remain evergreen for years. Read on.

The evergreen shrubs and hedges are considered important from the point of landscaping. These are also used as topiary plants because they can be sheared closely. Most of the shrubs are used for privacy and as lawn in garden. However, few of the variegated species, owing to their colorful flowers and leaves are also planted to enhance the beauty of a particular place. Let us have a look at various evergreen shrub types in the paragraphs below.

Evergreen Shrub Identification
These shrubs and bushes, as the name suggests, remain green throughout the year. Height of the evergreen shrub ranges between 5-6 m. The evergreen shrubs lose some of their leaves every year. These plants grow well in sunny places and require enough sunlight during the blooming season. One of the features that helps identify the evergreen shrubs is their wider base.

Easy to Grow Evergreen Hedge Shrubs
These are some of the commonly grown evergreen shrubs and hedges used in gardens.

Common Boxwood

The Common Boxwood or European Boxwood is known by the botanical name, Buxus sempervirens. Native to southwest Asia, northwest Africa and southwestern Europe, the boxwood is mainly used as a topiary plant. This hedge plant can endure close shearing. It can reach the height of 15 feet however, is generally pruned to a much smaller size. Leaves of the boxwood are scented, oval in shape and possess a matte green color.

Euonymus

This evergreen shrub can grow up to 15 feet and flourishes in the shade of other big trees. The Euonymus is native to Korea, Japan and China. The genus Euonymus has many different species, out of which Euonymus japonicus is a popular hedge plant, especially in North America and Europe. The waxy green leaves of Euonymus are 1-3 inches in length and the shrub produces white flowers. Owing to its drought tolerant nature, the plant can survive in low water gardens.

American Arborvitae

It is one of the commonly used hedge plants that grow 40 feet tall. A mature American Arborvitae can have an expanse of 15-20 feet. Producing dense foliage is the specialty of these plants. The American Arborvitae attains a pyramidal shape and is preferred by small creatures like squirrels and birds to live. One should prune this plant at the right time or else it grows out of control, after which resizing becomes difficult.

Oregon Grape

Leaves of the Oregon Grape have close resemblance to that of holly. This drought tolerant evergreen shrub produces purple colored berries. Native to the west coast of North America, the Oregon Grape grows to a height of 3-10 feet. It is one of the few plants which is able to grow in the shade of pine trees.

Variegated Evergreen Shrubs
The variegated shrubs are known for producing colorful leaves in shades ranging from white, cream to yellow.

Aucuba

The Aucuba can grow 7-10 feet wide, while its height ranges from 3-10 feet. Leaves of Aucuba are bright & shiny and they bear yellow and green colors.

Mop Cypress

This plant grows 3-4 wide and the height attained is 4-5 feet. It is one of the best plants for growing in gardens.

Liriope

It is an evergreen shrub used as ground cover. Since the liriope spreads by means of runners, it also known by the name, 'creeping lilyturf'.

There are many uses of these plants, however, the descriptions provided above, incorporate only few of them.