Ornamental Southeastern Evergreen Shrubs

Littleleaf Boxwood

• The littleleaf boxwood is one of two types of boxwoods commonly used as ornamental evergreen shrubs. The shrub has small and extremely thin evergreen leaves, and produces inconspicuous, star-shaped green flowers. These flowers have a distinctive and pleasant scent.

  Littleleaf boxwoods are between 2 and 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, making them and excellent choice for a low-lying hedge. There are a number of different varieties and cultivars, which have differences in mature size and shape. One, the Rubra, even has a yellow-orange foliage. All are suited to decorative borders and hedges, as they also hold their shape well after pruning.

  In the warm southeastern climates, the littleleaf boxwood should be planted in partial shade. This, coupled with their shallow root system, makes them an excellent choice to be planted beneath larger trees.

Chinese Hibiscus

• The Chinese hibiscus is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that does well in warm climates. It can reach a height of between 4 and 10 feet with a spread of anywhere between 5 and 8 feet, so some planning is required when selecting an appropriate spot for this shrub. The shrub does well with pruning, so it is fairly easy to create an informal hedge with several plants next to each other.

  The hibiscus is an eye-catching shrub with dark-green, glossy leaves and brightly colored flowers up to 8 inches in diameter. These flowers can attract a number of different kinds of birds, insects and butterflies during the blooming season, which can be year-round in warm climates.

Evergreen Azalea

• There are a number of different varieties of evergreen azaleas, all of which have brightly colored flowers in addition to their deep-green leaves. Some, like the pruneleaf azalea, are only native to southeastern states Georgia and Alabama and bloom much later than other types. Because they prefer shades areas, they do well planted as accent pieces or below taller trees. They also require protection from strong winds, and are well-suited to being planted in groups as a hedge alongside patios or buildings.

  There are many differences between the various azalea cultivars, including height and flower color. The flowers, which bloom between April and May, can come in pink, white, purple and combinations of those colors. Most attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.

Arabian Jasmine

• The Arabian jasmine is a sprawling, tropical evergreen shrub that does well in the hot southeastern climates. It has glossy green leaves and delicate, fragrant flowers that are white when they first bloom and turn pink as they age. The plant must be pruned and trained into a compact shrub, otherwise it will spread into a shape more suited to ground cover.

  Preferring full sun and warm temperatures, Arabian jasmine can reach a mature height of up to 10 feet and a similar width. It also makes an excellent container plant, and its flowers can be made into tea.