By Southern Living Plants
Photographs courtesy of Southern Living Plants
Spring isn’t the only season for gardening. At the top of our fall gardening to-do list is planting evergreen shrubs. Evergreen shrubs, especially flowering evergreen shrubs, offer landscape interest all year in landscape beds or in container gardens.
Survey our choices below as you plan your fall container gardening or that landscape refresh you’ve been looking forward to beginning.
Looking to add fall color to your landscape? Add nandinas— these bold red and orange hues against a lush green backdrop will set the mood for autumn and provide year-round interest. Southern Living Nandinas grow compact and are non-invasive; plus, these nandinas don’t berry often. Full sun to part shade. Size: 3-4’ H x 3-4’ W. Zones 6-10.
Stunning, deep red new growth accentuates the evergreen leaves of this very compact-growing nandina. Flirt™ has superior color through the summer unlike similar varieties. Southern Living Nandinas are non-invasive and grow in full sun to part shade. Size: 1-2’ H x 1.5-2’ W. Zones 6-10.
These Southern beauties provide autumn color, displaying gorgeous blooms throughout fall and winter. Plant Southern Living Camellias now to enjoy the benefits! Full sun to part shade. Size: 4-6’ H x 3-4’ W. Zones 7-9.
For boxwood lovers who fear boxwood blight, Jewel Box Distylium is a great alternative. Attractive, soft, blue-green fine textured foliage is paired with a compact, rounded habit, making the pest-resistant and disease-resistant evergreen ideal for mass plantings, borders or hedges. Full sun to part shade. Size: 2-3’ H x 3-4’ W. Zones 7-9.
Brilliant white blooms make the Diana Camellia fit any garden color scheme. Compact with a medium growth rate, Diana blooms in October to November. Full sun to part shade. Size: 8-10’ H x 6-8’ W. Zones 7-9.
Add soft texture to the shade garden, and enjoy golden yellow blooms this winter with ‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia. Part sun to shade. Size: 3’ H x 3.5’ W. Zones 7-9.
The versatility and compact nature of this unique dwarf loropetalum never disappoints. Add year-round purple foliage color to garden beds, window boxes, hanging baskets or containers and enjoy delicate pink spring flowers. Full sun to part shade. Size: 1-2’ H x 4-5’ W. Zones 7-10.
This compact evergreen arborvitae, or thuja, glows with bright gold foliage in spring. Summertime brings gentle hues of orange to the fine foliage, which deepens to red in autumn. The rounded shrub remains compact without pruning and resists sun- and wind burn. Full sun to part shade. Size: 2-4’ H x 2-4’ W. Zones 5-8.
What fun are the holidays without holly? This classic evergreen plant looks tidy (and adds texture) in the landscape, and you can snip and clip from it to decorate for the holidays with greenery. Full sun to part shade. Size: 15-20’ H x 12-15’ W. Zones 6-10.
Ready to plan your autumn landscape or container garden? Fall is for planting — with us at Southern Living!
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By Delilah Onofrey, Suntory Flowers
Photographs courtesy of Suntory Flowers
Planting annual beds of flowers, especially those that are bred to take the summer heat, thereby extending their glory into fall makes a lot of sense.
Click here for an informative article that discusses an economical strategy along with design ideas that can provide color like - a living highlighter. To learn more click here.
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