Plants for evergreen foliage with seasonal interest
There are plenty of evergreen plants with a variety of shapes, sizes and colours which can be used to create an attractive border with year-round appeal and also attract pollinators
Quick facts
- Evergreen plants keep their leaves year-round and can provide reliable colour
- Evergreen shrubs can create shelter and homes for wildlife
- Many evergreens are low maintenance and bring structure and height to a border
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The planting plan
This planting design provides a range of evergreen plants that, once established, will thrive and flower over a long period to provide a variety of interest throughout the year.
Evergreen plants for seasonal interest
Choosing evergreen plants
Height is provided by the central Elaeagnus, whilst all the plants contribute to year-round seasonal colour. The Geranium will provide groundcover and help prevent erosion of bare soil. The groundcover can also help to reduce soil surface moisture evaporation and will help to suppress weed growth.
Additional organic mulching, preferably with homemade compost, can further help with soil moisture retention and weed suppression. Avoid spreading bagged potting compost on beds and borders.
The plants in this scheme will attract a variety of beneficial insects to your garden. Including a variety of different flowering times and flower shapes will attract a wide variety of pollinators over time.
1 - Escallonia ‘Iveyi’
2 - Salvia rosmarinus ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’
3 - Elaeagnus x submacrophylla ‘Gilt Edge’
4 - Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’
5 - Salvia macrophylla ‘Cerro Potosi’
6 - Geranium oxonianum ‘A.T. Johnson’
1 - Escallonia ‘Iveyi’ is an evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves and large panicles of pure white flowers in mid and late summer.
2 - Salvia rosmarinus ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’ is an evergreen shrub with aromatic, dark green leaves, paler beneath. Small, light blue flowers are borne mainly in spring and summer.
3 - Elaeagnus x submacrophylla ‘Gilt Edge’ is an evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and yellow margins. Small, highly fragrant, silvery flowers appear in autumn and are sometimes followed by orange berries.
4 - Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ forms a domed shrub with dark green leaves that contrast with showy panicles of red buds in late winter, opening to fragrant white flowers in spring.
5 - Salvia macrophylla ‘Cerro Potosi’ is an evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves and tubular magenta-pink flowers from mid-summer to late autumn.
6 - Geranium oxonianum ‘A.T. Johnson’ is a clump-forming perennial, with lobed, mid-green leaves. Pale silver-pink flowers are borne freely over a long period from early summer.
About evergreen plants
A simple planting plan helps to create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.
The challenge of growing evergreen plants
Why choose a sustainable planting combination?
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.