The Types of Small Compact Evergreens

Inkberry Holly (ilex glabra)

• The inkberry holly is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that can be used in many different geographical areas. The shrub is typically found in moist to wet soils in a variety of climates; according to authors Michael Dirr and John Alexander III of Arnold Arboretum, the shrub also has a high salt tolerance and is found near ocean areas as well. Inkberry holly shrubs flower in the spring and summer and produce black ink-colored berries in the fall. There are several cultivars including "bronze," "densa" and "nordic." The cultivars vary slightly in leaf shape, size and coloring.

Mugo Pine or Swiss Mountain Pine (pinus mugo)

• Mugo, or Swiss mountain pine, is a small, round shrub with dense needles whose dwarf varieties maintain a small, compact shape. These shrubs grow best in full sun and loamy soil and are useful in screen plantings because they keep their internal needles for many years. These shrubs can tolerate freezing as long as the roots are protected, meaning that they thrive in zones 2 through 7.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce (picea glauca 'Conica')

• Dwarf Alberta spruce shrubs are small, conical and evergreen. They have a fine texture and thick density and grow well in full to partial sun. They grow in well-drained soil in areas that allow air to circulate to keep excess moisture away. The shrub is slow-growing and is hardy to zone 2. According to Ohio State University's Plantfacts website, Dwarf Alberta spruce shrubs appear as upright pyramid-shaped columns and are usually quite short.

Golden Globe Arborvitae (Thuja Occidentalis)

• According to the Arbor Day Foundation, golden globe arborvitae are globe-shaped shrubs that can be used as a hedge plant. They grow in the climates of the northern and midwestern United States in zones 2 through 7, and they are evergreen. Golden globe arborvitae grow about 2 to 3 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide. They do well in full sun and in acidic, loamy well-drained soils.

Green Gem Boxwood (Buxus "Green Gem")

• According to the Kemper Center for Home Gardening website maintained by the Missouri Botanical Garden, green gem boxwood is best grown in average, medium-moisture soil in full sun to part shade. This shrub is a broadleaf evergreen that typically grows about 2 feet in height and width. Boxwoods are highly tolerant of pruning and shearing, and yearly thinning keeps air circulating around the plants. Although best used in a sheltered winter location to avoid color changes, green gem boxwood is typically very resistant to winter burn. This shrub grows best in zones 5 through 9.