Evergreen forest trees persist year-round without losing their leaves.
Got a small garden that needs some love? Evergreen trees are your go-to solution for year-round elegance, privacy, and habitat for critters! Here are some fantastic choices for screening needs:
Picking the Perfect Evergreen Tree
Size, shape, and pace of growth matter—give thought to how large the tree will eventually become and how its figure will impact the space you plant it in. Remember to think about its adaptability to your garden conditions: soil type, sun or shade, cold tolerance, and wind resistance.
Top things to consider for evergreen tree selection:
- Ultimate height and spread
- Shape and width
- Root spread (usually matches the tree's height)
- Speed of growth
- Pruning requirements (low or none if you prefer)
Evergreen Trees for Screening in Small Spaces
Strawberry Tree, Arbutus unedo
A sweet-smelling, slow-growing tree with year-round interest thanks to its dark green foliage and red fruits. Perfectly happy in a sheltered spot.
Height x Spread: 3m x 3m
Bay Tree, Laurus nobilis
This versatile evergreen boasts dark green, aromatic leaves and is tolerant of pruning, making it excellent for simple topiary. Ideal for tight spots and pots.
Grow your bay tree in partial shade or under the windguard, and it will develop into a small to medium sized tree.
H x S: 5m x 4m
Cider Gum, Eucalyptus gunnii
Hailing from Australasia, this fast-growing tree has long, gray-green leaves with a strong menthol aroma when crushed, and white to cinnamon-colored bark. Prune it regularly, and its leaves become rounded and intensely colored. An excellent fragrant addition to your garden!
H x S: 2.5m x 1m
More Notable Evergreen Screening Trees
Bull Bay, Magnolia grandiflora
This large, glossy-leaved tree bears large, white, cup-shaped flowers during summer and autumn. Plant it in a sunny spot to create a striking privacy screen.
H x S: 12m x 8m
Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica
With large orange-yellow fruits and attractively ribbed green foliage, loquat is a show-stopper that can be grown as a small tree or trained against a wall.
H x S: 8m x 8m
Holm Oak, Quercus ilex
Native to the Mediterranean, this hardy evergreen oak grows well in milder areas and is suitable for privacy screening and topiary.
H x S: 12m x 8m
In small spaces, consider the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo) with a height and spread of 3m x 3m, or the Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis) growing to 5m x 4m when properly pruned. For a compact and fast-growing option, the Cider Gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) is a Fragrant choice with a height and spread of 2.5m x 1m.
