Top Fast-Growing Evergreen Shrubs for your Landscape
One thing I find hard about gardening is that some plants take a really long time to grow and establish. I am not a patient person, I never have been so waiting and envisioning what something will look like 5-10 years down the road is difficult for me. I think many gardeners have this problem…it’s evidenced by overcrowding a space with plants because there’s an empty spot, all while neglecting to follow the spacing guidelines outlined on the labels (which by the way for trees is the 10-year size). It’s important to space plants properly, especially in a hot an humid climate, to allow for proper airflow which helps prevent diseases. So for us impatient folks, I thought we could dive into some of my top recommendations for fast-growing evergreen shrubs. Evergreens provide year-round color and structure, making them a popular choice for gardeners and landscapers alike. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best fast-growing evergreen shrubs, including Winterberry, Inkberry, Southern Wax Myrtle, and Eastern Red Cedar. These shrubs not only grow quickly but also offer unique characteristics that can enhance your outdoor space. Let’s dive into the details and find the perfect evergreen shrub for your garden!
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata):
You can’t go wrong with any members of the holly (Ilex) family. I’d like to highlight two outstanding performers–Winterberry and Inkberry. Ilex verticillata is better known as Winterberry and there is a varietal that fits every landscape size. While technically a deciduous shrub, the berries hiding underneath the leaves when they drop are incredibly eye-catching and worth mentioning. They are native to the United States so they support wildlife during winter when food is scarce. I enjoy cutting them for accents in my winter wreaths or tablescapes. You do need a male and a female plant to produce berries. Some nurseries may have their plants sexed or you can sometimes tell by their name. You only need one male plant to guarantee berries. ‘Berry Poppins’ and ‘Mister Poppins’ are sexed plants that get 3-5’ tall and wide for a smaller garden and ‘Berry Heavy’ and ‘Jim Dandy’ are nice choices for a larger space. The female is 6-8’ tall and 4-6’ wide with the male being slightly smaller. They prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soil and a minimum of 4 hours of sunlight per day.
Inkberry (Ilex glabra):
Inkberry (Ilex glabra) is an evergreen shrub that I always recommend to people looking to create hedges or update their foundation beds to native, evergreen plants. I recommend it because it is an excellent substitute for boxwoods that have been hit hard by boxwood blight in recent years. Inkberry comes in many different sizes from the large, straight species that is 6-8’ tall and wide, medium-sized (3-5’ tall and wide) ‘Nigra’ and ‘Shamrock’, and dwarf sizes like ‘Gem Box’ or ‘Strong Box’ that are 2-3’ tall and wide. They perform best and grow the fastest in full sun, but do just fine in partial shade as well. They can be planted in most any soil type and can occasionally stand wet feet.
Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera):
Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub that is native to much of the Eastern United States from New Jersey and all the way South through Central America and the Caribbean. In the barberry family, these shrubs can get quite large making them appropriate for hedging and privacy screening. It has dark, olive-green glossy leaves and produces blue fruit from August through September. This shrub has a high wildlife value supporting bees, butterflies, and even yellow-rumped warblers through its flowers and fruit and protecting other birds and wildlife during inclement weather. The other great thing about Southern Wax Myrtle is that it is adaptable to pretty much any growing conditions, including dry shade after its first year getting established. The straight species is 10-15’ H x 8-10’ W. A smaller varietal is ‘Strawberry Shortcake’ which tops out at 30’ tall and wide making it great for the front border of a foundation bed.
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana):
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a fast-growing evergreen tree, however, it can be easily maintained as a large shrub as long as you select the right varietals. Eastern Red Cedar is dense so it provides year-round privacy. As a flower farmer, I often snip this during the winter for wreaths and arrangements. The fragrance is delightful and makes the home feel extra cozy as the temperature outside drops. ‘Grey Owl’ is a shorter sprawling varietal at 3’ tall and 6’ wide and I can’t resist its blue-grey needles! For a larger varietal, ‘Globosa’ has the perfect rounded shape. The scale-like green foliage will bronze some in the winter. It works well as a hedge or border planting. It is 5-10’ tall and wide. Pictured also is ‘Taylor’ which is a more compact, columnar tree form. Both of these are deer and rabbit-resistant. They prefer moist (not wet) conditions and are more drought-resistant than most conifers. They can be grown in partial sun to full sun and are adaptable to moist soil types.
Incorporating fast-growing evergreen shrubs into your landscape is a great way to ensure year-round beauty and structure. Whether you choose the vibrant Winterberry, the versatile Inkberry, the wildlife-friendly Southern Wax Myrtle, or the fragrant Eastern Red Cedar, you can’t go wrong. These shrubs are not only low-maintenance but also provide essential support to local wildlife and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your garden. Start planting today (well maybe wait until the Fall) and enjoy the many benefits these evergreen shrubs have to offer!
Keep Blooming,
Nicole Dillon | Breemar Flower Farm | Ashland, VA (Zone 7b)
