Intriguing Evergreens for the Northwest Garden

An array of perennials and broadleaf shrubs can add new dimension to the sleeping landscape

I love a cold nipping morning . It ’s adorable to wander the garden ( coffee bean in hand to keep my finger warm ) looking for novel views of wintertime magic . This is the meter of year when I discover a newfound appreciation for evergreen perennials and broadleaf shrubs . Frost brings out the edges of the foliage on these plant life , tolerate me to notice the intricate , small patterns . Buds , dormant but standing proud , remind me of the promise of spring . And the outgrowth of these evergreens , some with peeling barque and others with other unique traits , help me intimately appreciate each works as a whole . The follow evergreen plant perennials and broadleaf shrubs can help you see your garden in a whole different way .

Fragrant rhododendron

( Rhododendron‘Fragrantissima ’ , Zones 8b–10 )

This lovely rhododendron is not commonly stalwart in my area of the Pacific Northwest , but if it has effective , moist but well - draining land and a trivial protective cover , it can live . I ’m favorable to have some mature alders ( Alnuscv . , Zones 3–7 ) that give high canopy shade and protect it from serious cold . A touch of frost highlights the leaf structure and inactive buds .

Hart’s tongue fern

( genus Asplenium scolopendrium‘Crispum ’ , Zones 5–9 )

Winter is when evergreen ferns put their best foot onward . Hart’s - spit needs light tint and good wet . A touch of Robert Lee Frost shows off the edges of the fronds and the sleeping spore just waiting for spring to spread . During other metre of the year , mine is sometimes covered by the maidenhair fern ( Adiantum aleuticum , Zones 3–8 ) dormant beside it . Winter is the best sentence to enjoy my hart ’s tongue fern .

Tassel fern

( Polystichum polyblepharum , geographical zone 5–8 )

One of my favored fern is tassel fern , which prefers full to fond shade . From the bright green new fronds emerge with soft brown fuzz dripping off the pinnule , to the stiff arching human body of the blades , it ’s a show - stopper . You ’ll also no doubt love to see the minuscule baby obtain on the tips before fall to the ground , too . And when brood with silvery frost , it is one of the best things in the garden .

‘Cavatine’ andromeda

( Pieris japonica‘Cavatine ’ , Zones 5–8 )

Andromeda enjoys a wide following among gardeners . Cultivated for many years , it sometimes seems too mundane for specialty gardens . flower in spring and summer , it is for swell pollinators , however . But when not in efflorescence , it is often neglect the relief of the class . In winter , though , you may see that it has already fructify buds for next year and is actively growing . Covered in Robert Frost and backlit with a blue wintertime sun , this plant will halt you in your track . ‘ Cavatine ’ is a dwarf variety that only convey 2 feet magniloquent and wide . Here it take care variegate but is just edged with a deep margin of methamphetamine crystals .

‘County Park’ pittosporum

( Pittosporum tenuifolium‘County Park ’ , Zones 7–10 )

One of few evergreens with dark maroon foliage , the slow - grow ‘ County Park ’ pittisporum is stunning when covered in Robert Lee Frost . Low - maturate with mythic slick , burble farewell , it should be in every garden . The summer flower are grueling to see but smell fabulous . It is often look out on in this bed until winter , when the perennial and grasses die back and you’re able to really appreciate it . It ’s a honest collector ’s plant that is deserving face for .

watch out for the next clear Nox , and be prepared to venture into the garden in the good morning while hold tight a hot potable . fiddling icy fingers of Robert Lee Frost give a glow to plants , even if just briefly . It will prompt you that the garden is merely slumbering and train to bristle back into life !

— Susan Calhoun is the owner of Plantswoman Design in Bainbridge Island , Washington .

Photos : Susan Calhoun

Fine Gardening advocate Products

Planting in a Post - Wild World : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Fine horticulture receives a delegacy for items purchased through link on this site , let in Amazon Associates and other affiliate publicizing programs .

Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel , Garden Insect House for Ladybugs , lacewing fly , Butterfly , Bee , microbe

Get our modish tips , how - to article , and instructional videos mail to your inbox .

signal you up …

Festive Greenery—Bringing the Outside In

Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for the Northwest

Fragrant Foliage for the Northwest

Northwest December Garden To-Do List

get together Fine Gardening for a gratuitous engage live webinar feature Dr. Janna Beckerman , a notable plant life pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …

When I tell apart a special sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I recognize I was in trouble . With a delicious coloring pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we want over plants our landscape needs , each time of year is fill with a never - finish list of job : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , remediate , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be heedful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a duet …