Broad-Leaved Evergreen Trees

USDA Zone 5

• Even though Ilex opaca "Canary," a cultivar of American holly, handles USDA zone 5 winters, protect it from biting winds to ensure its success. Canary grows between 15 and 30 feet, featuring the spiny evergreen foliage associated with the holly species. Canary produces yellow fruit on the pollinated female trees, giving it ornamental splendor from fall into winter. Magnolia virginiana "Henry Hicks" is a sweetbay magnolia for zone 5 that, despite cold weather, retains its green leaves. Henry Hicks grows to 25 feet, tolerates damp areas and features attractive and aromatic June flowers.

USDA Zone 6 and 7

• Magnolia grandiflora "Bracken's Brown Beauty" is a renowned cultivar of southern magnolia, featuring evergreen and leathery-textured foliage with a rusty appearance on its underside. Blooming in May and June, this 20- to 30-foot cultivar works as a specimen plant in USDA zones 6 and 7 with few problems. Ilex x attenuata "Fosteri," called Foster holly, requires no nearby male tree for pollination. Maturing to 30 feet, this holly generates brilliant crimson berries for winter interest. Its evergreen leaves grow to 3 inches long.

USDA Zone 8

• A short, stout trunk and low branches are trademarks of the live oak, a broad-leaved evergreen appropriate for USDA zone 8. Live oak becomes massive under the right circumstances, growing to 80 feet in full sun and well-draining sites. Live oak's dark green foliage is as long as 5 inches and this shade tree produces acorns that wildlife eat. Cornus capitata is an evergreen dogwood from China, growing between 20 and 40 feet. Its true flowers are of little significance, overshadowed by the cream white modified leaves surrounding them in June and July. Evergreen dogwood is small enough for planting on patios.

USDA Zones 9 and 10

• The fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans) is an aromatic broad-leaved evergreen from Asia, capable of handling the climates of USDA zones 9 and 10. Fragrant olive needs afternoon shade in these zones, with the species flowering in April. The broad-leaved evergreen tree, Rhododendron sinogrande, grows to 35 feet. It has large leaves--even for a rhododendron species--along with clusters of white to yellow bell-shaped blooms. This tree is a native of nations such as China and Tibet.