Waxy-Leaf Evergreen Shrubs for Landscaping

Low-Growing Shrubs

• The low-growing "Silver Mist" shore juniper (Juniperus conferta "Silver Mist") has metallic, blue-green needles coated in a bloom of wax. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 9, this coniferous shrub thrives in sun or light shade and moist, well-draining soil. It tolerates salty soil, which is good news if you live in a coastal area or near roads treated with salt in the winter. "Silver Mist" grows to 18 inches tall and spreads to 4 feet wide. The "Blue Maid" meserve holly (Ilex x mesereae "Blue Maid") grows to 3 feet tall and has waxy, blue-green foliage. It grows in USDA zones 5 to 9, where it prefers well-draining soil and sun to partial shade. These hybrid hollies bloom with white flowers and bear small, long-lasting red fruits.

Medium Shrubs

• For fragrant flowers and the subtle glow of waxy leaves, plant a Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternata "Sundance"). Hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10, this 6-foot-tall shrub blooms with white flowers in spring, then again in late summer or autumn, offsetting its lustrous, yellow-green leaves. The Mexican orange blossom grows in rich, well-draining soil. The "Lee's Dark Purple" catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense "Lee's Dark Purple") has waxy, dark foliage. This evergreen shrub is prized for its showy, deep purple buds and blooms that appear in spring. Catawba rhododendrons are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8 and grow slowly to 10 feet tall. Plant them in moist, well-draining soil and protect them from afternoon sun.

Tall Shrubs

• The Japanese euonymous (Euonymus japonicus) grows to 15 feet tall and 6 feet wide. This evergreen has dense, dark, waxy foliage, making this Asian native a good choice for hedges or privacy screens. Plant Japanese euonymous in USDA zones 7 to 9, where it grows in a range of soil types and exposures. The "Chindo" viburnum (Viburnum awabuki "Chindo") also grows to 15 feet tall. This fast-growing shrub has a pyramidal form created by dense layers of tough, dark and waxy leaves. It's hardy in USDA zones 7b to 9 and grows in sun to partial shade and well-draining soil.

Very Tall Shrubs

• Fill a large space with the waxy, dark leaves of a cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). This 20-foot-tall evergreen is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9 and grows in sun or shade. If you don't prune your cherry laurel, it will produce white blossoms in spring, followed by clusters of small, black berries. The shrubby podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki) grows even taller, reaching heights of 35 feet. This shrub's shiny, waxy needles grow in spirals and are offset by small, red-purple fruits. The shrubby podocarpus is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 11 and grows in sun or shade. It needs well-draining soil to thrive.