Evergreens for Full Sun in Zone 10

Broadleaf Evergreen Trees

• Flowering broadleaf evergreen trees can add a pop of color and interest to your home landscape. The African tulip (Spathodea campanulata) thrives in USDA zones 10 and 11, and prefers rich, fertile soils with good drainage. Ranging between 25 and 40 feet tall in cultivation, this tree bears gorgeous tulip-like, red-orange flowers with yellow margins. The papaya tree (Carica papaya) grows well in USDA zones 10 through 12. This tree features showy, yellow-white blooms throughout the year. The fragrant, trumpet-shaped blossoms give way to clusters of edible, melon-like fruit. Papaya trees range from 6 to 20 feet in height with slightly smaller spreads. Plant papayas in consistently moist, humusy soils that offer good drainage.

Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs

• Broadleaf evergreen shrubs add year-round color and visual interest to yards. The Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens), also called the barometer bush, makes a great hedge, screen or border plant for dry, gravelly soils in full sun locations. Mature shrubs range from 5 to 10 feet in height with 4- to 6-foot spreads. Texas sage features silvery-gray leaves and small, purple flowers that appear whenever it rains during the summer and autumn. The angel's trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens), sometimes called the maikoa, works well as an accent shrub for full sun locations with moist, fertile soils. This shrub reaches between 5 and 10 feet tall with 2- to 4-foot spreads. Plants feature large, trumpet-shaped flowers from mid-summer through autumn. The showy white flowers have a pleasant fragrance that grows stronger in the evening. Both shrubs need planting locations with good drainage for optimal health. Grow Texas sage and angel's trumpet plants in USDA zones 8 through 10.

Needled Evergreens

• Several needled evergreen trees grow well in this zone, including the Kashmir cypress (Cupressus cashmeriana) and the Montezuma pine (Pinus montezumae), which grow in USDA zones 9 and 10 and 9 through 11, respectively. The Kashmir cypress grows 40 to 60 feet in height with a 15- to 20-foot spread. It grows best in fertile sandy loams that have good drainage. This tree features aromatic, bluish-green foliage and small cones that mature to a coppery color. The Montezuma pine tolerates various soil conditions, but prefers loamy soils with good drainage. Established pines have good drought tolerance. Mature trees range from 70 to 100 feet in height with 30- to 40-foot spreads. The Montezuma pine bears bluish-green needles and large, light brown cones.

Groundcovers and Vines

• Germander (Teucrium aroanium) is a broadleaf subshrub usually grown as a small-scale ground cover. Originally from Greece, this plant thrives in USDA zones 7 through 10. Mature plants only reach about 3 inches high, with 3- to 9-inch spreads. Plants bear oval, silvery-green foliage and clusters of light purple flowers that bloom from late spring through early summer. Germanders prefer dry to medium moist, well-drained soils that have some grit. The coral vine is native to Mexico but thrives in USDA zones 8 through 11. This evergreen vine needs well-drained soils and tolerates some drought, although it prefers consistent soil moisture. This climbing tropical vine reaches up to 40 feet long with spreads ranging from 3 to 6 feet. The white to pink flowers bloom from late summer through autumn. Coral vines need a little support, so grow these plants on trellises, fences or arbors.