Evergreen Shrubs for Banks

Dwarf Shrubs

• Shrubs less than 3 feet tall that grow well on banks include the creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis). This slow-growing shrub reaches heights of 2 feet with spreads to 10 feet. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 9, creeping juniper thrives in sunny, well-draining soil and comes in a range of cultivars, such as "Wiltoni," which has blue-green foliage. Another 2-foot-tall evergreen, the bearberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri), also grows well on banks. This drought-tolerant shrub spreads to 6 feet tall and has dark foliage that turns red-purple in winter, contrasting with its red berries. Bearberry cotoneasters are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 7 and prefer moist, well-draining soil.

Small Shrubs

• For color and fragrance on your banks, plant lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). This evergreen has gray-green foliage and blooms with aromatic blue-purple blossoms atop 3-foot-tall stems in summer. Lavender grows best in sunny, dry sites in USDA zones 5 to 8. The cranberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus) also grows to 3 feet tall. This evergreen blooms with pink summer blossoms, followed by a profusion of bright-red berries. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7, this shrub tolerates a range of site conditions, including banks.

Medium Shrubs

• For screening or hedging, the Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) offers dense, small leaves offset by tiny red berries in fall and winter. This bank-tolerant shrub grows to 6 feet tall with a slightly wider spread. It's hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7 and tolerates drought and pollution, making the Japanese yew a good choice for urban plantings The Taunton or anglojap yew (Taxus x. media) also grows well on banks. It grows slowly to heights of 5 feet and and has shiny, dark foliage. This yew is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7 and grows well in sunny or shaded sites.

Tall Shrubs

• For large banks, choose an upright holly such as the Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria). This dense shrub grows from 15 to 30 feet tall and has lustrous foliage that contrasts with its long-lasting, wildlife-attracting red berries. Great for moist, rich soils, the yaupon holly is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 11 and grows in full sun to partial shade. Other large shrubs suitable for banks include the American arborivitae (Thuja occidentalis). This North American native is hardy in USDA zone 3 to 7 and grows in several shapes and sizes, such as "Degroot's Spire," a narrow, upright shrub that reaches heights of 10 feet. Arborvitaes prefer sunny sites with well-draining soil.