Border Gem Shrubs

Broadleaf Evergreens

• Broadleaf evergreens are plants with wide foliage that remains year-round although some evergreens may change colors during the fall. A broadleaf evergreen shrub, Buxus "Green Gem" has a slow growth pattern with a rounded globular form. This 2-foot tall plant has a width that equals its height and features deep lustrous green foliage that keeps its color during winter. The Japanese holly "Golden Gem" (Ilex crenata) is a male cultivar that grows to heights of 1-1/2 to 2 feet with a matching width. This dwarf Japanese holly has elliptical- to oblong-shaped, golden-toned foliage. Small greenish-white flowers bloom during the spring.

Narrow-Leaf Evergreens

• Evergreens are species of plants with thin, sometimes needle-like, leaves that stay green throughout the year. "Little Gem" pendula (Picea abies) is a dwarf variety of Norway spruce. Growing to a height of 2 feet, with a spread of 2- to 3-feet in width, this cultivar has a thick, flattened, bun-like appearance. This evergreen produces light green, new growth that matures into shiny, deep green needles. A species of narrow-leaf evergreen with slender scaled leaves is the "Little Gem American" arborvitae (Thuja Occidentalis), a dwarf variety of the white cedar tree. This 3-foot tall shrub has a rounded habit with dense, dark green leaves that turn bronze in the winter. It features a wide spread that supersedes the plant's height.

Deciduous

• Deciduous plants have color-changing fall leaves that die off in winter. The "Yellow Gem" cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) is a small, densely spreading deciduous shrub with a low growth habit. This border plant features red juvenile twigs with grayish-green foliage. The "Little Gem" vine maple (Acer circinatum) reaches heights of 3-1/2 feet with a thick, rounded configuration. Its simple leaves with an opposite arrangement vary in color, from reddish in the spring to green during the summer then orange to red come fall.

Flowering

• Large evergreen shrubs work for borders positioned toward the back of a garden or landscape, such as along a fence or property line. "Little Gem" southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is an erect, compact shrub with a thick configuration. This 20-foot tall evergreen has a spread of 10 feet. The 4-inch foliage has a deep green and bronze tint that offset the showy, spring-blooming creamy white flowers. "Purple Gem" rhododendron is a 2-foot tall evergreen shrub with a span of 3 feet. Bright purple to violet blooms develop in bell-shaped clusters. This eye-catching plant makes an ideal border for gardens or landscapes with non-flowering plants.