10 Evergreen Plants That Look Good Year-Round in Utah

One of the most important parts of having a great landscape design year-round is incorporating different colors and textures. This is true even during the snowiest months! Having plants that will peak through the ice and offer a color contrast to the white snow will make a huge difference during the winter months. A common misconception is that the only evergreen plants are pines. These are wonderful evergreen species, but they’re not the only ones! The following list will include several species that you may have not known are evergreen. 

1. Blue Spruce

 Blue Spruces are one type of evergreen that you’ve probably heard of already. If you don’t have any spruces in your yard, these are definitely a species you might want to consider. The bluish color creates an amazing contrast to snow, and they’re super hardy making them extremely easy to care for. One of the best parts of having a Blue Spruce is that they’re almost completely deer resistant. Deer will only eat spruce if they’re extremely hungry making them the last resort. 

2. Boxwoods

Boxwoods are definitely used a lot in landscaping, but did you know that they’re evergreen? These are great plants to use as hedges, and if they’re pruned properly, they’re also very low maintenance. You can plant these along your walkways or any areas that need a divider. These will stand out against the snow and light up your landscape this winter!

3. Euonymus

 Euonymus is a great evergreen plant because there are so many different varieties. You could have 3 different types of Euonymus in your yard and they’ll hardly look alike or have the same growing habit. You can use climbing Euonymus to create height, or Japanese Euonymus to create a rich green contrast against the white snow.

4. Cherry Laurel

 Cherry Laurel is another really good hedge plant. They bloom beautifully in the spring and stay green throughout the winter. They also grow very fast making them a great species to have year-round. This plant has a rich dark green color that really pops during the winter.

5. Atlas Cedar

 Atlas Cedars are a really unique plant. These trees can grow to be very tall and don’t have the same needles that other pine trees have. If you look closely, the needles look like little puffballs. However, they’re not soft. This creates a really unique and beautiful texture! You can put this tree next to softer foliage and it will stand out and be beautiful all winter long.

6. Japanese Barberry

 Japanese Barberries are evergreen but not actually “green”. Their leaves and stems are a beautiful reddish color. While the leaves fall off during the winter, the vibrant red berries stay on the stems late into the winter, and even when they’re gone you’re left with eye-catching red stems. These stand out against the snow and look great next to your green evergreen plants.

7. English Yew

Yews are great plants to have in your landscape for many reasons. One of those reasons is that they stay green in the winter! They are great for hedges, or just for having as accents to other plants. They’re super hardy and grow red berries that are beautiful against the green needles and white snow.

8. Mugo Pine

 Mugo pines may be one of the most commonly used landscaping plants in the U.S. They’re everywhere and for good reason. They are great because they don’t get very big which makes them great medium height plants. They’re very hardy, and extremely low maintenance. These stay green during the winter and are definitely recommended for your landscape!

9. Dogwoods

 Dogwoods aren’t true evergreen species, but they do offer a lot of color in the winter. Like Japanese Barberry, when the leaves fall off you’re left with vibrant red stems that stay colorful during the snowy season. Dogwoods are known for the electric red color they offer, and they’re great landscaping plants in general!

10. Creeping Juniper

If you’re looking for an evergreen groundcover to fill in a big area, Creeping Juniper is a very reliable plant. It grows quickly and is super low maintenance. It can be grown in almost any soil and doesn’t really need to be pruned. It can be difficult to remove, so only use it if you’re looking for a long-term option.

We hope these plants come in handy as you’re looking for evergreen options for your landscape. Give our landscaping professionals a call for more information!