Evergreen Shrubs

Most evergreen bushes can be safely pruned in early spring before new growth emerges. However, flowering evergreen plants should be pruned after they are done flowering to avoid pruning off flower buds. Bushes used as hedges or privacy screens can be pruned in late spring after new growth has emerged; this affords you easy yearly pruning of a maintained hedge.

Warmer climates, from zone 7 and up, will have the best choices in evergreen flowering bushes with Loropetalums, Camellias, Gardenias and Azaleas. Several varieties of Azalea can actually grow in zone 6 as well. Pieris Mountain Fire and Delaware Valley Azalea are great blooming evergreens for colder climates down to USDA growing zone 5.

Boxwoods, Junipers, Mugo Pines, and most Holly bushes are all deer resistant evergreen shrubs. Deer also tend to avoid broadleaf flowering evergreen bushes, Distylium, Japanese Pieris, Ligustrum, and Camellia. Learn More about our Deer Resistant Evergreen Shrubs.