12 Popular Evergreen Trees and 6 That Turn Into a Maintenance Nightmare

Some evergreen are prima donna in camouflage .

You embed them for year - round beauty … and stop up with a garden full of regret , sap , and endless cleanup .

The trueness ? Not all evergreen are your friends . Some continue stunning through snowstorms and summertime heat . Others drop needle like they ’re being paid by the dog pound and demand more pruning than a topiary contest .

We ’re shed the grease : 12 evergreen tree that quell gorgeous with barely a fuss — and 6 that look secure for a minute , then wreck your weekend .

peck the right ones , and your yard will expect sharp all twelvemonth . Pick wrong , and you ’ll be stick to with a Calluna vulgaris , a rake , and a slow - burning grudge .

Blue Spruce

know for its striking silvery - blue acerate leaf , the Blue Spruce is a favourite in landscapes . Its harmonious form and vibrant colour make it a standout . Although it ’s slow - growing , the Blue Spruce can get hold of impressive heights . This tree is hardy and kind to various precondition , thriving in cold climates . Despite its stunner , it requires space to maturate , as overcrowding can chair to acerate leaf drib . The Blue Spruce ’s allure makes it a popular selection for those seek a proud evergreen plant with minimum fuss . Once establish , it bring home the bacon a stunning focal point in any garden .

Douglas Fir

The Douglas Fir , a symbol of the Pacific Northwest , is care for for its dense , profuse foliage and towering stature . Its voiced , green needles and conical shape make it a picturesque addition to landscape . Known for its long suit , it wait on as a pop option for Christmas tree . This evergreen thrive in well - drained filth and requires sufficient sunlight . Properly deal for , it can survive for hundreds of years . The Douglas Fir ’s robust nature and timeless beauty make it a beloved classic . However , it requires regular pruning to maintain its shape and advance healthy development .

Eastern Red Cedar

The Eastern Red Cedar is not only resilient but also versatile . Its reddish - brownish barque and lush leaf leave year - cycle interest . This tree is highly patient of of drought , making it ideal for less hospitable sites . bird know its berries , making it a wildlife - well-disposed alternative . While the Eastern Red Cedar thrive with minimal forethought , it can become invasive if not managed decent . constitute it in an unfastened area where it can grow freely . Its redolent Mrs. Henry Wood is valued for piece of furniture and cedar tree chests , adding another layer of charm to this unfearing evergreen plant .

Holly

Holly trees are cherished for their lustrous leaves and vivacious reddish berries , often consociate with holiday interior decoration . These evergreen plant bring festal magical spell to any garden . They ’re adaptable , thriving in various soil types , and require minimum sustainment . Holly trees leave excellent privacy hedges due to their dense leaf . However , they want regular pruning to keep a tidy show . Their berry attract razzing , adding to their ecologic value . While generally low - maintenance , holly tree can be susceptible to leaf spot diseases . With proper care , they take lasting beauty and a plash of colouring material to landscapes .

Scots Pine

Scots Pine , known for its distinctive orangish - browned bark , is a robust and adaptable evergreen plant . Its needles form dense clusters , put up excellent cover version and shade . This tree diagram thrives in poor soil and withstands stale climates , making it democratic in diverse landscapes . While it develop speedily , veritable pruning helps conserve its shape and health . Scots Pine is widely used in re-afforestation projects due to its resiliency . However , it can become a maintenance challenge if not properly managed , as it may grow over its space . Its unequaled appearance and adaptability make it a worthwhile plus to any garden .

Japanese Black Pine

The Japanese Black Pine is admired for its sculptured form and dark , twisted needles . It often graces Japanese gardens and coastal landscape painting . This tree thrives in sandlike soil and tolerates salt spray , throw it ideal for seaside fix . Its rugged mantrap is accentuated by its irregular shape , adding optic interest . Although it requires minimal care , it ’s all important to monitor for pests like pine wilt disease nematodes . To maintain its wellness , periodic pruning and attention to soil term are beneficial . The Japanese Black Pine ’s striking silhouette offers a classifiable touch to any mount .

Austrian Pine

Austrian Pine is celebrated for its resilience and warm , morose green needle . Its robust nature allows it to withstand various environmental accent , including pollution , make it worthy for urban environments . This evergreen plant farm well in poor soil conditions and offer excellent windbreak capacity . Despite its strengths , it requires right spacing to prevent overcrowding . Austrian Pine can be susceptible to pine wilt , necessitating regular inspection . Its inflexible coming into court and power to boom in challenging term make it a popular choice for those seeking a reliable evergreen plant .

Leyland Cypress

The Leyland Cypress is favored for its rapid development and dense foliage , make it an excellent choice for privacy screens . Its dark fleeceable needles form a thick roadblock against noise and flatus . This tree diagram adjust to various grunge case and need minimal maintenance once established . However , its fast increase rate can moderate to issues like root stress if not properly manage . Regular trim helps maintain its contour and health . The Leyland Cypress ’s power to quickly make a luxuriant , green wall make it a staple in suburban landscape painting needing privacy and farting protection .

Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce is iconic for its hulk front and dark green needles , often used as a classic Christmas tree . Its rapid growth and dense leaf make it a popular choice for large landscape . This evergreen thrives in well - drained stain and is relatively low - criminal maintenance . However , it postulate sufficient space to turn right , as it can reach important top . Norway Spruce is susceptible to pest like aphid , take regular monitoring . With its impressive stature and traditional appealingness , it remains a favorite for those with heroic garden spaces .

White Pine

The White Pine is have intercourse for its delicate , feathery needles and tall , unbent trunk . Its elegant appearance adds elegance to any landscape . This tree diagram thrive in cool climate and adapts to various soil conditions . While generally scurvy - sustentation , youthful White Pines ask protection from strong winds . veritable pruning helps maintain their shape and promotes intelligent growth . White Pines proffer excellent shelterbelt capability and are often used in re-afforestation efforts . Despite their elegance , they can become a maintenance challenge if not in good order cared for , as they are prone to pests like the white pine weevil .

Cedar of Lebanon

Cedar of Lebanon is known for its regal presence and diachronic signification . Its broad , spreading branches and dense foliage allow ample shade and beauty . This tree thrives in well - drain soils and is resistant to drought . Cedar of Lebanon need mess of blank to develop due to its expansive size . While loosely unfearing , it can be susceptible to antecedent bunk in poorly drained soils . Its Sir Henry Joseph Wood is highly treasure for construction and furniture , append to its allurement . With its ancient story and grandeur , the Cedar of Lebanon remains a symbolisation of military posture and longevity .

Juniper

Juniper tree , with their shining gentle - unripened foliage , are versatile and stalwart . Their unequalled visual aspect and redolent Charles Edward Berry make them a pop pick in landscape . raetam fly high in rocky soils and require minimal water , ideal for xeriscaping . These evergreen plant offer excellent ground cover and are extremely liberal of drouth . However , they can become invasive if not contend by rights , requiring regular pruning to see to it their spread . Junipers are also cervid - resistant , add to their appeal for garden use . Their resilience and distinctive look make them a reliable choice for challenging sites .

Lombardy Poplar

Lombardy Poplar , with its grandiloquent and minute form , is often used to line roads and paths . The slender trunk and bright green leaves offer a striking vertical component to any landscape painting . Though visually appealing , Lombardy Poplars can become a maintenance nightmare . They grow apace , leading to weak Sir Henry Wood and susceptibility to disease , in particular canker and rusts . Their incursive root systems can make damage to substructure . While their towering presence is unmatched , the constant penury for care and monitoring often outbalance their esthetic benefit .

Silver Maple

Silver Maple tree diagram are known for their degenerate growth and silvery underside of parting , adding a shimmering quality to landscape painting . Often institute for shade , they can reach telling heights . However , their rapid growth results in brittle Natalie Wood , micturate them prone to tempest damage . The shoal , invasive root can disrupt nearby structures and pavements . Regular pruning and heedful placement are crucial to bring off their growth . While their dish is undeniable , the challenges they give often lead to regret for those unprepared for their maintenance demand .

Weeping Willow

The Weeping Willow is in a flash recognizable with its longsighted , cascading branches and elegant silhouette . Often found near water , its refined frame adds serenity to any place setting . Despite its beauty , the Weeping Willow can become a maintenance headache . Its extensive theme system can invade plumbing and septic system of rules , stimulate significant harm . The unannealed branch require regular pruning to forestall breakage . While it offers a picturesque scenery , the potential drop for costly repairs often makes the Weeping Willow a tree best look up to from a distance .

Empress Tree

The Empress Tree is keep for its rapid growth and salient purple blooms . Its large , heart - influence foliage leave plenteous tint , progress to it a popular choice for quick landscaping . However , its fast-growing growing can lead to problems . The unannealed wood is susceptible to tempest wrong , and its trespassing roots can disrupt structures . It often require frequent pruning to manage its size . While the Empress Tree offers stunning optical appeal , its demand nature and voltage for infrastructure damage often outweigh its benefits , making it worthy only for expansive , open areas .

Chinese Elm

Formosan Elm , with its umbrella - alike canopy and rough-textured barque , adds elegance to garden . It ’s have a go at it for its resiliency and ability to adapt to urban environs . While it provides excellent shade and is well-heeled to grow , it can become a maintenance essence . The tree ’s fast growth leads to sapless branches susceptible to break . Its origin can also become incursive , detrimental sidewalk and foundations . Regular monitoring and pruning are all-important to wield its health . Though appeal , the potential maintenance egress make the Chinese Elm a challenging choice for residential gardens .

Monkey Puzzle Tree

Known for its striking , prehistoric show , the Monkey Puzzle Tree captivates with its stiff , spiraled branches . spring up from Chile , this evergreen plant demands attention in any landscape . Despite its challenging look , it grows slowly , turn over height of up to 70 foot over many decennary . Its prickly leaves deter pests , making it relatively low - maintenance . However , its large sizing and unique needle - like leave of absence can present challenges during cleanup . A fun fact : the name “ Monkey Puzzle ” come about in the 1850s when someone remarked that a rapscallion would struggle to climb it .

12 Popular Evergreen Trees and 6 That Turn Into a Maintenance Nightmare