Zone 6 Evergreen Plants

Scotch Heather

• Scotch heather (Calluna vulgaris) is a broadleaf evergreen species naturalized in northern parts of the continent and native to northern Eurasia. Scotch heather, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden, can grow 2 feet tall. The plant may serve as a border species and works well in mass plantings. Smaller hybrids are available as ground cover species. Scotch heather does best in full sunshine and does not tolerate high levels of humidity and heat, so Zone 6 is about as far south as this plant should be planted. Scotch heather features pinkish-purple flowers from July through September.

Willowleaf Cotoneaster

• Willowleaf cotoneaster (Cotoneaster salicifolius) grows to 15 inches tall but spreads out as wide as 6 feet, making it an excellent evergreen to semi-evergreen ground cover plant. Zone 6 is at the northern border of this plant's hardiness. Willowleaf cotoneaster's white flower clusters in time develop into brilliant red fruit that the North Carolina State University site notes persists on the plant through the winter months. Willowleaf cotoneaster requires good drainage and full sun, although it can exist in partly shady areas. An added bonus is that the leaves will turn purple-red in autumn and stay that way through the winter.

Creeping Juniper

• Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) is an evergreen plant used as ground cover, for mass plantings, to control erosion and in planters. The branches are long and flexible, with the foliage in the form of scale-like and awl-shaped blue-green needles. Creeping juniper is a very dense species, able to form thick mats but growing only about 1-2 feet tall. Creeping juniper can withstand the cold as far north as Zone 4, so Zone 6 is no problem for this evergreen plant. Creeping juniper comes in several cultivars, reports the University of Connecticut Plant Database. Among these are Bar Harbor, Blue Chip, Plumosa, Mother Lode, Hughes and Monber.

Japanese Holly

• Japanese holly (Ilex crenata), native to Japan, adapts well to Zone 6. The plant grows from 6 to 10 feet tall. Japanese holly features multiple stiff branches with dark green evergreen foliage. Japanese holly comes in male and female plants, with the females requiring a male plant for nearby pollination. The female plant will bear a small black fruit by the beginning of autumn that stays on its branches through winter. However, the dense branches and leaves typically hide the fruit. You may utilize Japanese holly as a foundation plant or prune it into hedges.