Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for the South

In an episode ofFine Gardening‘s podcast , Let ’s Argue About plant life , the hosts discuss the importance of evergreen plant plant , and the particular perks of broadleaf evergreens :

“ The key to any successfulfour - seasongarden is evergreens . Conifers are cracking , but they can be pricey and slow to bulk up . Broadleaf evergreen plant , on the other hand , bulk up quickly and are in general low-cost . The only drawback is they can be boring . In fact , most gardener think only of rhodies and hollies when it come to this compartmentalisation of plants . ”

Do n’t be fooled by the common varieties , there is much more to this plant family than one might think while walking around the local garden centerfield . To help shake off light on some fabulous , underappreciated broadleaf evergreen plant , we had regional experts pick their top four . Below , you ’ll find great pickaxe for the South . To discover more fantastic evergreens , go over outLAAP Episode 26 : Broadleaf Evergreens .

Find broadleaf evergreens for other regions:Interesting Broadleaf Evergreens for Your Region

1. Jelly palm

Name:Butia capitata

Zones:8b–11

Size:15 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide of the mark

weather condition : Full sunlight ; fat , well - drained soil

Native range : Brazil

This is a works I tell everyone they should have . It ’s a slow - growing palm that may not fit the distinctive broadleaf evergreen description , but it make a year - circular instruction in the temperate zones where it is intrepid . The 3- to 6 - foot - long , drab - grey-headed leaf arch gracefully from the top of a exclusive trunk that eventually reaches only about 10 to 20 feet tall . The edible , orangish - yellow fruits taste mildly like pineapple ; it is worth figuring out how to harvest them . Jelly palm apprize coherent moisture and protection from gamy hint , and it will become most displeased in wet soil and full shade .

2. ‘Janet Blair’ rhododendron

Name:Rhododendron‘Janet Blair’

Zones:5–8

Size:5 to 6 foot magniloquent and wide

Conditions : Partial shade ; moist , acidic , well - drain soil

Native range : Garden origin loan-blend

‘ Janet Blair ’ tend to get more wide than tall , and it is worth every bit of garden veridical estate . Evergreen rhododendron can be a bad group to grow in the South , but reproducible wet and protection from sear Sunday will help this beauty thrive . It is a showy botch , with clusters of ruffled , unaccented pink spring efflorescence that are like garden sirens , luring anyone who get sight to occur nigher . As with most rhodies , acidulent , well - drain soil is a must .

3. Daphniphyllum

Name:Daphniphyllum macropodum

Zones:7–9

Size:15 feet grandiloquent and wide

Conditions : fond to full shade ; moist , rich , well - drained stain

aboriginal reach : China , Korea , Japan

Interestingly , this coinage has no common name that has stuck or is deserving mention . However , it is by all odds worth a mention and a spot in your garden , provide you have good soil . The rhododendron - comparable leaf of this medium - size , rounded shrub are made more striking by their bright red petioles . I ’m sure it blooms , but I ca n’t say I ’ve ever remark . The fact that this well - influence , coarse - textured flora does best in tint situations makes it a magnanimous winner in my book .

4. ‘Hosoba Hoshifu’ aucuba

Name:Aucubajaponica‘Hosoba Hoshifu’

Size:4 to 6 feet marvelous and wide of the mark

Native range : Japan , China , Taiwan , Korea

This cultivar ’s Nipponese name can be translated as “ narrow - leaved , star - vary . ” Its leave of absence are in spades more narrow than they are on most aucubas . At the Atlanta Botanical Garden we have it plant in deep shade under an oak tree , where it would appreciate more water . But it is still doing well despite the siccative conditions , possibly because the oak tree shields it from winds .

Amanda Bennett is vice chairwoman of horticulture and collections at the Atlanta Botanical Garden .

fall into place here to encounter plant pick , garden tips , and more for the South .

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Jelly Palm

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