The Christmas tree, a symbol of eternal life and hope, is often associated with pagan origins. Evergreen trees are cut down and worked with an axe by craftsmen, and they are decorated with silver and gold. They are fastened securely with hammers and nails to prevent it from tottering. The Bible does not explicitly mention the use of evergreen trees for decoration, but it is mentioned in the story of Christ’s birth and salvation.
The evergreen nature of the tree signifies eternal life and hope. Evergreen wreaths were used to decorate homes and Roman temples, and it was a festival of “lights”. In Jeremiah 10:1-4, the verses basically say not to cut down trees and decorate them as the heathens did. However, there is nothing in the Holy Bible against decorating trees, as long as they are not worshipped and used purely as decoration or art.
People from ancient societies believed that by decorating their homes and temples with evergreen plants, such as holly, ivy, and mistletoe, they were helping to preserve the earth. The eternal biblical symbolism of the evergreen is that it symbolizes eternity and is associated with idolatry and false worship. In at least 10 biblical references, the green tree is associated with idolatry and false worship.
Jeremiah warns against the idolatrous practices of decorating trees, which were common among pagan cultures. The evergreen tree’s spiritual significance, symbolism, and theological aspects of its use in the Bible are explored in this article.
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What is a green tree in the Bible?
The Tree of Life, also known as the Green Tree, is a central figure in the Bible, representing our relationship with God. The tree symbolizes life, favor, righteousness, presence of God, protection, and shelter. For believers, this is found only in Christ. In a scripture, Jesus declares Himself as the Messiah, using the image of the Green Tree. In Luke 23:31, Jesus warns women mourning and lamenting Him on His way to the Cross. This passage is believed to be a rabbinic form of teaching, hinting at an Old Testament passage.
The passage should be translated as “For if they do these things to a Green Tree”, referring to Ezekiel 20:47, which was recognized as a reference to the Messiah. Jesus’ reference to Himself as the Green Tree signifies his declaration of Himself as the Messiah.
What does the evergreen tree represent in the Bible?
The evergreen trees, such as pine, spruce, and fir, have been utilized by Christians as a symbol of everlasting life with God. Such trees are frequently observed in urban settings, situated at street corners or awaiting harvesting from local agricultural sources. The history of Christmas trees and their significance is a topic of debate among scholars, with numerous legends surrounding their origins and the significance of evergreen trees in the holiday season.
What are the spiritual benefits of evergreen?
The text encourages the utilisation of illuminations, ornamental embellishments, baked goods, joviality, magnanimity of spirit, and felicity in the observance of festivities.
What does green leaves represent in the Bible?
The green leaf in Christianity is a symbol of spiritual vitality and success, as described in Psalm 1:3. The leaf symbolizes the righteous’s journey of personal growth and the flourishing of their spiritual life, reflecting the new life found in Christ and the ongoing process of sanctification. Fasting, according to Jesus, is a practice steeped in humility and sincerity, focusing on the inward journey between the individual and God.
Jesus instructs fasting to anoint the head and wash the face, ensuring that it may not be seen by others but by God, who sees in secret. This act of surrender and devotion is not for the accolades of others but for a heart posture seeking divine connection and transformation.
Reflecting on the rich symbolism of the green leaf, the introspective practice of fasting, and the mysterious realm of dreams in Christian spirituality reminds us of the depth and breadth of our faith. These elements are vibrant aspects of a living tradition that continues to inform and inspire believers. By embracing these symbols and disciplines, believers can experience a faith that is dynamic, resilient, sincere, humble, and profound, interpreting dreams with wisdom. Finding strength and solace in God’s promises is paramount to nurturing a relationship with God that can weather any storm.
What does decorating the tree symbolize?
The tradition of decorating Christmas trees has a number of symbolic meanings. It represents the giving and receiving of gifts, the embrace of the holiday season, and the concept of eternal life. In Roman culture, evergreen trees symbolized light.
What is the pagan tradition of decorating a tree?
Pagans brought fir trees to Yuletide homes to symbolize life and fertility, while Druids believed trees were gifts from the Mother Goddess. They decorated sacred oak trees with mistletoe and lights to symbolize wisdom. Vikings worshipped evergreens, considered the sun god’s unique plant, as they symbolized spring and the end of winter. These traditions reflect the diverse beliefs and practices of different cultures and religions.
What is the significance of the green tree?
Trees play a crucial role in the environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, reducing climate change, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife. They absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, producing oxygen that can meet the annual needs of 18 people. Trees also filter air by removing dust and absorbing pollutants like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. They control climate by regulating the effects of the sun, rain, and wind, preserving warmth by providing a screen from harsh winds, and shielding us from the downfall of rain, sleet, and hail.
Trees also lower air temperature and reduce the heat intensity of the greenhouse effect by maintaining low levels of carbon dioxide. They are essential to the ecosystems they inhabit, holding soil in place and fighting erosion. They absorb and store rainwater, reducing runoff and sediment deposit after storms, recharging ground water supply, and preventing chemical transport into streams and flooding.
Which country came up with the tradition of decorating Christmas trees?
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition by the 16th century, with devout Christians bringing decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. Martin Luther, a 16th-century Protestant reformer, is believed to have added lighted candles to a tree. The first records of Christmas trees being cut for display come from the 1820s in Pennsylvania’s German community, although trees may have been a tradition there even earlier.
Moravian Germans in Pennsylvania had a community tree in the form of a wooden pyramid decorated with candles as early as 1747. As late as the 1840s, Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.
Can Christians decorate a tree?
In light of the doctrine of the Trinity, it can be argued that the concept of a supreme being, or “God,” is not applicable to the celebration of Christmas. This is because, according to the Christian faith, Jesus is the Lord and therefore has precedence over other deities. Consequently, the celebration of Christmas does not involve the worship of any other “gods.” In accordance with the doctrine that all things should be subjugated to Christ, the practice of decorating a tree is deemed permissible, as it serves to enhance the celebration of Jesus.
Who started the tradition of decorating an evergreen tree?
The modern Christmas tree originated in Germany, where families set up a paradise tree on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve, and hung wafers on it, symbolizing the Eucharistic host, the Christian sign of redemption. These evergreen trees, often pine, spruce, or fir, are decorated with lights and ornaments as part of Christmas festivities. They can be fresh-cut, potted, or artificial and are used as both indoor and outdoor decorations.
Although traditionally associated with Christian symbolism, their modern use is largely secular. Many families place presents around an indoor Christmas tree to be opened on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship survived their conversion to Christianity in Scandinavian customs of decorating houses and barns with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the Devil and setting up a tree for the birds during Christmastime.
Does the Bible mention decorating trees?
The customs of the people are devoid of value, as they extract a tree from the forest, shape it with a chisel, adorn it with silver and gold, and fasten it with a hammer and nails.
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Good morning everyone in the garden answer community! Hope you have a beautiful day wherever You Are. Today we will be raking leaves hopefully for the last time. The garden is all tucked in for the winter and now we are ready to decorate for the holidays. Thank you Laura and Aaron for this lovely place to come every day and enjoy with fellow gardeners. You help remind us there is a lot of good in the world. Love you both!
This is very timely for me. I live on the shores of Puget Sound and have a garden that is 15 years old. I’m getting older and beginning to realize that I need to make some changes in the types of plants I’m choosing. I’m redoing one bed to become primarily an evergreen garden, but space is limited. Could you recommend dwarf evergreens, primarily conifers, that could be suitable. I already have two good sized English yews and two Japanese maples. I’m removing roses and other random shrubs. I do love perusal your program…keeps me enthusiastic about gardening 🤗
When you impart all your knowledge about a particular topic on us I feel so blessed. It’s like I went to school without leaving my house or paying a big tuition. I share information I get from you with all my friends. They think I’m a real plant expert. I always send them to your website because I think you are one of the best gardening teachers on YouTube. Thanks for all your research, knowledge and how skillfully you share. You make it look easy but I know it’s a lot of work.
Hi Laura, When I started my garden 5 years ago, I committed to planting 50% evergreens, 25% flowering shrubs and 25% perennials. I don’t always follow the rule, but keeping evergreens a priority in the landscape has rewarded me with satisfying winter interest. My Fat Albert Blue Spruce and Hynoki Cypress being me joy all year long. I can’t wait to find a spot for an Alaskan Weeping Cedar. Thanks for all your inspiring articles and your positivity and kindness. The world needs more people like you.
We have two Princeton Maples in our yard. They are so beautiful and give a chartreuse colour all summer. A little brighter in the spring. In the fall, they go to a beautiful yellow. We have them next to some Blue Spruce and the contrast is so striking, that we have people mention it. We live in Canada and garden in a zone 4. If you can grow them in your area, I know you would love them. They would look so great in the south garden. Love your articles!
This is such a helpful article for people starting out. Three evergreens that I would be so happy if you had, are Taylor Junipers for very narrow spots, Horstmann’s Silberlocke, which has a gorgeous two tone look, and beautiful holly for hedges and topiary. Also for people in zones 7 and warmer, don’t forget camellias. Their foliage is gorgeous all year but best of all, they flower in autumn or winter when nothing else does.
We are about to loose our big spruce trees. Terrible bc we are old and do not have the time to enjoy them when grown. First is the worse – canker, those have to be cut down. Second is needle drop. They can be spray two times in the beginning of new spring growth. I hope you do not get these problems. The one small blue spruce we have that is so nice is called Baby Blue Eyes. Stays fairly small. Ours is about 8 tall now. So far it seems to be in unaffected. It is such a pretty blue. You planting a huge mix is wise! Just bc of disease. We have a hedge called Golden Hillside Privet. Stays green year round. Can be shaped. We live in the middle of Iowa. Near the top of zone 5. But we usually plant things from zone 4. Super cold here. Thank you for the information. We might need help now planting those evergreens. But love them too. Plus like to plant trees that live a super long time. Have you tried the male Ginkgo. Very yellow in the fall. November 16, 2022
Love love love your top 10 things articles! There are some I have watched multiple times!!!! They are so informative and inspiring. Your one about berries in winter inspired me to plant several Berry Heavy, Berry Poppins, and Coral Berry bushes – can’t wait for them to grow up. Thank you for all the inspiration and “get it done” attitude – my gardens have truly never looked better as a result of being inspired by you and Aaron and all you do! THANK YOU!
Good Morning! Evergreens are my favorite. They are the backbone of the garden. And best of all no messy leaves to deal with each fall. . We have many but I do pine for more. Your ten examples offer enough choices to fit any size garden. I have followed your practice of planting some in pots and then transferring to the garden.
❤️loving the evergreens. I planted 2 Trautman junipers they grow 3 to 4 feet wide and stay around 12feet high in my small space and now I want to make a little woodland the idea of winter interest really appeals to me. The winter seems so long and to look out to beautiful evergreen in your space is such a joy. I need some more dwarf versions though! Love the way your space is shaping up!
Hi, I’m Serbian, like the spruce, we call it “Pančićeva Omorika”, after Josif Pančić, who was a Serbian scientist who first described it. I’m always confused when americans say “Serbia, so cold”… are you mixing up Serbia and Siberia? We’re not the same place. Sure, I live in a rather small pocket where is extra warm, capital, Belgrade, I checked, it’s what you’d call zone 8a (we don’t use zones tho), and rest of Serbia is colder, but we’re mostly warmer than you in zone 6, right? I don’t think there are parts of Serbia in higher zones than 6, maybe somewhere in hills, where Omorika grows anyway. We’re a tiny country on Balkan peninsula, smaller than a state of NY, with less citizens than NYC, so really small. Together with Bosnia, we were part of Yugoslavia, rich and prosperous communist country that was destroyed the very moment Soviet union fell and we became last communist country in Europe, or, last “big” (for European standards) communist country in Europe, and we had to be dismantled. We were taken out by installation of idiot president, who allowed religion back into Yugoslavia, so brothers and neighbors suddenly became “the other” and it all collapsed with horrible war between different sects (catholics, muslims and orthodox xtians), until 6 tiny countries emerged. So, yeah, we’re the bad guy from pilot episode of your favorite cop show. And word to “balkanize” came out of that war where strong and rich country was turned into 6 useless countries with nothing much to show for Siberia on the other hand is basically a continent sized area of Russia, preposterously larger than Serbia, and by the virtue of being so humongous, sure, some parts are really cold, but others aren’t, it’s just too big to speak of particular climate, like how you can’t really speak of usa climate. However, Siberia is known as a super cold place, probably because labor camps (political prisons) in days of USSR, were located in north of Siberia, where it’s preposterously cold, like northern Canada, or alaska perhaps. Obviously, this horrible place wasn’t chosen for death camps on accident, they put them there cause it was such a horrible place to live. So, really it’s not that entire Siberia is cold, it’s just that death camps were put at the very cold place, which happened to fall under “Siberia”, which, considering it’s size, wasn’t surprising, it’s basically quarter of the world. Close enough ><
Good morning 🌞. I planted 42 Sprinter boxwoods around my front porch on my 1870 Queen Ann Victorian. It was like you said, hard to have something formal that would take shade and sun. I had to ordered them. I would never had known of these if not for your wonderful website and never ending knowledge I keep learning. Thank you for always giving so much detail information about so many plants. Love your new lamp in the sun porch!
Hi Laura was wondering if you had ever heard of a Bloombux. I’ve just started seeing these in my garden centre here in the uk. I love how encourage us to think about what we should put in our gardens. I’ve already started a buxus hedge but I’m keen to try the Bloombux for that extra bit of spring colour. Thank you for helping me find my new passion, I no longer dread the post Christmas blues as I look forward to spring.
Colorado Blue Spruce thrives, and is my favorite conifer, in our east Kansas yard. Along with our hollies and yews (kept trimmed at 3′ to 4′ ht) these three evergreens are the most frequently visited by a variety of birds. We enjoy perusal the cardinals, especially, as they eat the berries on several holly bushes near the bay window.
Zone 8 here! Thanks for your recommendations! I’m going through an evergreen kick😂. My personal favorite shrub are Hollies🌲! I don’t mind the needlepoints. The berries are my favorite part❤️! I just planted a 75 foot long hedge of needlepoint hollies🌲. Have yet to film a article on it for the website 😅 but I just love how fast they grow!!
Thank you for doing this article, Laura! We are in Zone 8a and I will be perusal this a few times taking notes. I want to add evergreen structure to our property but didn’t know where to start. I get overwhelmed when I walk into the nurseries because I don’t know the difference between them and which ones I can use for the look I’m going for. This article is giving me the confidence I’ve not had. I’m a happy girl. 🥰
Anyone else notice the movement to the left of the boxwoods at 4:44. Looked like a black cat. Zone 9a here in Southern California. About 30 minutes from Big Bear so we do get snow on occasion. Planted a pine two years ago and it is doing great. Plan on adding more. Love everything you do Laura. My husband and I found your website on March 15, 2020 the first day of California’s shutdown. We had no idea what we were going to do. Thank you Lord, for Garden Answer. You got our views, Lowes, Home Depot and our local nursery got the $$$. LOL
I’m planning my spring plant haul and so I’m rewatching your “must have lists”. I have 2 small hedges of Manhattan Euonymus. I am the same zone and horrid alkaline soil as you and they do AMAZING in the ground! They don’t seem to show issues with chlorosis…yay! I keep one at 4’ tall and the other is 7’. I think you would love them in the south garden!
Appreciate your articles. Just bought 30 acres (2 acre pond, 5 acre forest, rest field). Kinda overwhelming to have such a black canvas for gardening and hobby farming. I’ll be referring to your articles for inspiration. Even as early as this Christmas (already collection pine cones for pot top dressing)! 🙂
Congrats on your great coffee cup! It reminds me of the one my Mom received as a Mother Day present from my little boy many years ago . It has the thumb type hold and the curved lip making for a fantastic cup to drink from. She just loved it and constantly said “don’t ever let anything happen to this cup” ! I have it in my cupboard now in a safe place! Good luck to you and your family….greg zone 5
I’m so glad you mentioned euonymus shrubs and I wondered why you haven’t grown many of them in your garden. They are amazing to grow in both full shade and sun. They very hardy to drought in my zone 10 along with my high ph soil also. They’re low maintenance and can be great borders just like boxwoods. They definitely add color and interest to a garden. I do think they will do well in your soil.
I’m so glad your article showed up in my feed. A few years ago, we had a beautiful blue spruce planted, and then it died within a year. When I dug it out, there was metal wire (basket?) entangled with the roots. From your comment about the blue spruce that fell over, I have to think ours died because the wire basket wasn’t removed when they planted it. I was so sad to lose it. I wanted to ask if you have heard of the Arborvitae Jantar? In 2015, we planted nine of them, and they are just beautiful now. They have a golden coloring that we just love. Since then, we have been searching for them without succes; could it be they were a one-time variety? If we cannot find any more we will plant something else, as we badly need a line of privacy. Will any of the boxwoods go nicely with our Arbs, or perhaps the Manhattan Euonymous? Sorry this is so long!
Great info. I really like the Western Spring Grove Arbs also. Love to see a list of large Shrubs that don’t need to be pruned. We’re building on 2 acres & have a bad back….so low maintenance is what I’ve been looking for. This past spring/summer I put in. 8 different Viburnums and one Ninebark plus many Arbs & Junipers (which the deer took to rutting on a couple🤦♀️)
Do you ever think that your ring method of drip irrigation is promoting shallower roots?? Like the plant is getting the water only in one small area so it’s probably never going to reach out farther as opposed to a more spread out grid system which would make the plants want to spread their roots farther and deeper?
Absolutely wonderful and informative article. I love that you included zone 9!! Zone 9 is hard because we are very wet with alot of humidity …lol.. like 100% humidity and it’s hard to find things that can grow in that type of environment. Anyways, I hope everyone is having a beautiful and blessed Friday. Take care and God Bless you all.
Hi Laura! I loved this article. Personally living in New England, Massachusetts (zone 6), evergreens are everything! I adore them in my garden. I already have quite a few, with a plan to add some more this spring. The Alaskan cedar is on my list!! I wanted to tell you that I have a baby blue eyes Colorado blue spruce. When we purchased it, it was supposed to be a dwarf variety. Well just 8 years after planting, (much to close to the house to boot!!) It’s HUGE!! I actually posted a article on my website called “Winter garden stroll” a couple days ago, that shows the difference between the blue spruce when we planted jt in 2013, vs. What it looks like as of last Fall. An absolute beauty! I know your a busy girl but if your interested, I would love for you to see it. Thank you again, take care!
Off topic… An idea for days you don’t post. What about a seasonal “throwback” article? I stumbled on your “Christmas Cactus Care” article today. I just bought one yesterday that was soaking wet. Your tips helped so much! I repotted it into a smaller, terracotta pot and I think it will do much better. I don’t think I would have remembered to search your site for this article… Thanks for all you do! Blessings, Sharon
My favorite boxwood is Vadar Valley. Monrovia carries it so it is pretty easy to find. It is slow growing and the leaves are just gorgeous. I first saw it on a Hosta garden tour. I had to find the garden owner and ask him which variety it was because it was absolutely the prettiest boxwood I had seen. I think you would like it.
I live in zone 8b in the Pacific Nothwest and the deer love eating the arbor vitae here. One can see exactly how high deer can reach as from the ground to the height of the shrub is pencil thin and above that is the normal width again. They do not eat the shrub bare, I suspect they prefer the newer growth. I bring this up as you mentioned that arbs are deer resistant.
My parents garden in a zone 7b/8a in Alabama and I planted an emerald arborvitae in their front yard when I was 18 (I’m now 31) and that tree has just been the most beautiful winter interest and structure in their yard. It literally needs no special care or pruning while having a really beautiful natural shape (we did buy from a local garden center and made sure the plant we bought had a nice shape and strong leader). It was about 4ft tall when we planted it. It’s now 12 feet tall!
No green giants? Either way, loved all of these suggestions. Im a sucker for blue in my garden as well. Spruces are my personal favorite category and i have a hard time picking just one! They’re so stunning & majestic. Huge beautiful established evergreens are so wonderful during the wintertime. Loved the article 👍🏻
Hoping you can address this for the more novice gardeners like myself. I’ve been wanting to add a couple smaller evergreen varieties to my landscape but there seems to be various max height and width specs for the same tree species depending on the website/grower. How do I know what to go by? The weeping white spruce tree would be the perfect size but the specs I read online say it grows much larger than the info you have. Seriously confused 😕
Note about the Arborvitae in particular (because people put them so close to their house and fences), but applies to any plant with a high oil content: they are flamable. So not good if you’re trying to create a defensible space in wildfire prone areas. Here’s a good place to look grantspassoregon.gov
This is a great list of evergreens, love your choices. I can’t wait for the Aquavita Juniper to hit our market, Spartans do great here in Oklahoma. That plant is on my list to test. Unfortunately the Manhattan Euonymus is a terrible choice for Oklahoma and humid area gardens, we get just enough humidity to let the powdery mildew cover the plants, then the Euonymus Scale take over and discolor the leaves if& after you can kill it off. Worse part is that the flowers attract flies by the swarms.
Before I even got of bed this morning I was thinking about North Pole Arbs. Who knew you would talk about them this morning. My head is so full of garden info that came from you over the past couple of years. I Iive in North Dakota so it’s fun to see that you mentioned some varieties that I could grow.
Hi! Really great article, so helpful. I have a question about your arborvitaes. I think I remember a couple of years ago you saying that you were pruning them to have just one point on top. Wondering if you’re still doing that? Hard to tell when I see them. I think they look amazing, just curious. Thanks!
🎄Good morning GA viewers and friends, and hi Laura! I love this article, and can’t help but wish I could send you some cardinals to enjoy the cover of evergreens in your property, and for you to see them perched on the snow covered branches during winter. When I had my yard I planted arbs to replace other trees, and every winter in Wisconsin I had at least five pairs of cardinals loving my trees! Thank you for all your amazing information and love of all nature and people, too! Enjoy a safe and happy weekend everyone 🌲🍁🍂🧡
One of your best articles with so much important information. Your parents could use this as a “self-instructive” article outside among the trees for sale at the garden center. I imagine your garden will be cooler in temperature compared to your neighbors’ yards once your beautiful trees get some growth. Thank you, Laura and Aaron, for continuing to create and share through your many articles. It’s always great to see your family.
Fascinating article. I love evergreens. Here in Texas, we are limited to the choices we have to chose from. But, thanks to you Laura, I see there are more that will grow here in zone 8a. Euonymous however down here do have quite a hard time with insects. They can be controlled, but it becomes a hassle to stay on top of the problems. They are beautiful though.
I love you guys but I have to say, please don’t recommend Leland Cypress trees for an urban setting. They create so many problems with neighbours because they grow so quickly and so huge. Our neighbour finally had 12 taken down this past February because they were causing such a problem. FYI, did you know that you aren’t allowed to plant them in the UK.I can certainly see planting them on a huge property but not in suburbia. I cringe when I see garden centres offering deals on them.
I don’t know why, but I love it every time you mention stuff that grows well in Minnesota… oh right, it’s cause I live in Minnesota 😂 I need that Arb, though I am looking for evergreens that stay smaller mostly, our yard isn’t that big. Do you know of an Arb or evergreen that stays on the shorter 8-10 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide? We had two pines in our backyard and they were on their way out so this year we cut them down, it was the right choice but sad because all our winter interest is gone. I have three baby boxwoods but this year I’m wrapping them, my first one last winter had so much winter burn despite being in a sheltered spot and having a mild winter. I was thinking about doing some hedging with boxwood but if I have to wrap them in the winter, I’m not sure I will 😭
Wow!! You mentioned my home province of Newfoundland! But I need to correct the pronunciation (which I always do!) it rhymes with understand – so, understand, Newfoundland. And yes if it grows in Newfoundland, which is in the North Atlantic, it will undoubtedly be super winter hardy. Love your tree selections and have added some to my own garden in Nova Scotia.
Boxwoods had been a disaster for the last decade in Central Europe: diseases, fungal problems and lately the box tree moth, a native to Asia invaded Europe. The shrubs really look bad or even die off completly. It all results that boxwood is not planted that much anymore or is replaced by Ilex or Liguster varieties.
I started out thinking I was going to watch this article because I love Laura and all things GA, but wouldn’t come away with good options for my garden today. I was pleasantly surprised! I SO appreciate it when you list the full zone spectrum of the plants, thank you! I’m in a zone 8, but I grew up in upstate NY and I love Colorado blue spruces so much, but I know I can’t grow them here. This article gave me some fantastic ideas for beautiful evergreens I can substitute for my favorite!
Also, don’t plant cedars close to apple trees. There is a type of a cycle that will affect apples, I believe corn is also in the cycle, but is held in cedars.It has been a few years but if I recall correctly it is a three cycle “rust”. I love all three of these but do research and find out the needed distance apart to protect all three plant /crops.
Love the selection you offered. I see a couple I’d like to try in my GA zone 8A garden. I’m surprised you didn’t mention hollies. They are evergreen, gorgeous colors and they offer berries for the birds. I’ve got Nellie Stevens hollies in my yard and they can either be trimmed to hedge or left to grow naturally. I’ve got some in full shade – which grow more slowly and sparsely – and some in full sun which are lush and full. Another evergreen that grows well in zone 8 is the Sweet Tea Olive. Glossy green leaves, can grow very large or be trimmed to keep smaller, and they bloom tiny white flowers that have a HEAVENLY scent. Calloway Gardens has a huge hedge of them and when they are in bloom, oh. my. word. One is transported… 😍😍
I’m in Zone 7 and live in an apartment so I only have a balcony garden. Pieris japonica (Japanese Lily-of-the-valley shrub) and Encore Azaleas have performed beautifully over the past 2 years in a container and provide interest in every season! I can’t recommend them enough for anyone looking for zone 7 evergreens for container gardens.
Good Morning ☀️ This article was extremely informative and provided me with an answer to my problems. I have been looking for something to plant on our back wall that will provide us with privacy (the neighbors in the back are constantly throwing things over, trash) and thought the Spartan Juniper would be ideal. I went online to order and they do not ship to CA, is there a different juniper you can think of that might be similar to the spartan? I will research any and all recommendations.
I’m so inspired! Thank you for sharing. I love all of your articles thank you. P.S does anyone know any good evergreen conifers which can handle wet clay soil? In winter the water sort of springs up from underground in a few spots in our yard and although you can’t see the water as soon as you dig a hole it fills with the water and won’t drain. This is most of our temperate winter and spring zone 9b. I love the idea of a thuja hedge but we were hoping to plant one tree around the perimeter. So yes we amend the soil but need something upto 3 metres tall and it fine with clay soil and some wet clay soil.
I have been waiting for this article. I really want evergreen interest in my garden but could not find ones that did not have a huge wide foot print. I just didn’t want to looe that much growing space for one tree. I am going to watch this article again and write down all the skinny options so I can plant a bunch of them. Thank you so much Laura.
I’ve heard it said more than once by multiple people that you should buy 2 zones lower than the zone you’re in. If that were the case my garden would be empty. Do you know how hard it would be to find a zone 2 plant? I make sure that 99% of my plants are at least a zone 4 and have never had an issue. Just thought I’d put that out there. I’m sure we can agree to disagree. I’m in zone 4b.
Good morning Laura, love this article! Wondering though do you happen to have any issues with bag worms Or do you or your arborist treat your evergreens that may be prone to them? I have a baby blue spruce that happened to have an issue with them last year and luckily came across a Facebook posting of someone asking Around if anyone knew what this little sack look like. I immediately knew I had the same thing going on. Hopefully can get ahead of it the spring thank you for everything you do in the knowledge you provide.
Thanks for the great descriptions. I would also recommend yew (Taxus) and Canadian hemlock (Tsuga) for more urban landscape applications with deep shade where other conifers will not thrive. And, personally, living in the northeast, I can’t imagine a landscape without the long soft needles of Eastern White Pine with its majestic wild form and the tallest tree in our forests. There are lovely dwarf garden varieties of it too.
Planted 2 Carolina Sapphire Cypress trees this year…either side of our driveway…so excited to see them grow. Sitting on my couch I can look up to the top of the driveway and their backdrop across the street are maples, oaks and poplars and it’s just so pretty having my “blue” in the foreground. Always makes me think of your moms rule of colors to make a complete garden! Thank you for another very informative article, you’re always teaching me something I never knewr!
Hi guys, I love these super informative articles. I’m in zone 9, so most of this article is pure intertainment. My question: I still struggle with the growing zone criteria. I understand winter hardness, but our issue is summer hardness. My plants are happiest in the Fall. How do I work with extreme sun?
I love these types of articles. I garden in a zone 9b so a lot of these plants may not necessarily grow well here but I still like seeing all of your suggestions. I think you mentioned that you don’t prefer recommending plants outside of your growing zone, but maybe can you consider doing a article about plants outside of your growing zone that you wish you could grow. I do watch other YouTubers who grow 9b plants, but I really love how you talk about plants and all the things you include are so helpful!
Our property in NH is in the woods, so we have blue spruce, pines, evergreens that are part of our landscape . I’m more drawn to the cypress, and junipers.I would love to add some around the house. Thanks for telling us about the different types! The Leland cypress would look great ! And I would love topiaries in planters! I laughed when you described one of them being “Dr Seuss like” as one of my neighbors in our town has planted tons around his house. Every time I drive by I think ” it’s Who-Ville”. 😄
I love this article I’ve watched it twice now. This time of year that the deciduous trees are all going to sleep it makes me appreciate the evergreens in landscapes! The red tipped one sounds wonderful! Your south garden is going to be like a Botanical gardens. So many unique specimens. I’m excited to see how many spring blooming shrubs you add next year!
I find myself looking at the foliage of trees more this year. I’m in the market for a new one or two next year and I think it’s because I’m perusal Laura’s chloices and her decisions on trees that include fall color. I swear I hear her voice in my head. Also, the mugo pine is a great small evergreen with scruffy, compact structure. Love these tips on evergreens.
I could not leave the house this morning without listening to this article LOL. I love evergreens especially the trees. Myzone here in Indiana Southern is a 6. I have a couple Acres I planted some pine trees on but I want to make a screen fast-growing across the front of the property and this really helped me make some decisions on the trees that would be perfect for that thank you so much
ahhh, i do have blue cypress envy, lol… zone 10b, no dice unless i buy one as a christmas tree just to enjoy for the season… so many beautiful types of evergreens and what a variety of growth habits; pretty much something for everyone… we do get junipers down here, but they stink, ewww, lol… however!! you introduced me to the adorable lemon cypress in a pot, and i have one that just LOVES it here!! it’s put on beautiful growth and i found a spot i can put it in my yard if it gets too big for the pot (and then i’ll start over because i love the look where it’s at)… so yea for that!! i pet it, lol… it will be so much fun perusal all the ones you’ve planted grow and add a stunning vibe to your gardens… great article, lots of good info!! 🙂 ❤ thanks for the article!! 🙂 ❤
I live in England & We had 5 Leyland Cypress in the garden that grew extremely fast, they were about 50ft tall, 2 of them fell over and eventually we had the rest removed. But we often see the leyandii at extremely tall heights here in England, they have a bad reputation and I think there are rules about planting them because of it!
That red-tipped spruce is so cool! I found listings for a few of these and bookmarked them for future reference. Being in humid NC, a lot of evergreens don’t do well here, so thank you for including some that might! I just want to shout out the blue point juniper for folks in my area. I put one in this spring and it has done great with just an occasional extra watering.
I know blue spruces aren’t rated for zone 9 but they are my absolute fave. I told my husband I want to plant one just to see how well it would do. I have read online that some people have had success but it’s a very rare thing. I don’t care if I had to baby that tree, i want one so bad lol 😂 when we go to Washington state to visit his family, I’m always pointing them out and saying don’t they look so lovely.
We mistakenly planted 4 mugo pines (fastigiata – about 7 feet tall) and every one of them developed lophodermium fungus, we had to remove 3 of them and may lose the 4th. We moved to the high desert in Oregon from the Willamette Valley where our mugos grew very well – and probably should have done more research. I’m hoping to find an evergreen that can resist this fungus. Will try some of your suggestions. Thank you.
Arizona cypress (Carolina blue) is my current favorite. I had 14 leylands that were huge. Near 20 years old. They had died at bottom so the screening they provided when young was lost. The sticks looked like a fire hazard. I was too committed to remove them. However, Hurricane Florence in 2018, did the work for me. All went down. I will never plant another one.
I don’t know why I’m not finding yew’s among gardener’s lists of evergreens. They will do all the same things as a boxwood and are just as hardy, or will get as big as a multi trunk tree with tremendous visual impact. I’ve never lived in a house that didn’t have them. They are even referred to as faithful in Nordic mythology.
I am a new gardener and I designed 3 large, new garden beds around my house this past spring/summer. The one I built mainly around evergreen shrubs & trees is by far the best design! I learned a lot through the process – in my first garden, I focused almost solely on flowers (for an English-cottage look) and it needs to be fixed next year. It looks messy; lacks structure and multi-season interest. I’ve learned to: 1. build around anchor shrubs and trees first (flowers are exciting but should come after the vertical and horizontal shape is set), 2. plan for 4-season interest AND 3. combine at least 3 out of the 4 main colour schemes for the best look (blues & silvery greys | yellows | reds & burgundy | traditional greens). I learned a lot from you, Laura and all of the lovely commenters here so a big thanks to this community! Wish I could share a pic of the “good” garden 😂 I’m pretty proud of it for being a newbie 😊
So many beautiful suggestions, thank you for new ideas! I’m in a very wet and humid zone 7 so unfortunately not everything would work her but several will. Also, the Leyland Cypress is overused and often doesn’t last because there’s a huge problem with bag worms that kill the trees. Plenty of other options though! Thank you for all the helpful information!
Only a limited number of your choices would work in my situation (looking for under 15′ to 20′) and zone (4b). Jenny @ Creekside recommended ‘North Pole’ arborvitae, but I really like the weeping white spruce footprint. After removing a 50+ year maple 🍁 in my back yard I’m dreaming of creating a hideaway with a circle of shrubs and small conifers surrounding a floating deck/shelter and smokeless fire bowl to replicate my favorite spot on earth, the north shore of Lake Superior. 🎄 Thanks for doing so much of the fact gathering for me/us.
WOW!! THIS WAS GREAT! I LOVE SPRUCES! & ARBS & needed to know of Boxwoods. Your Fruit Tree article was GREAT TOO! WHERE OH WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR BOUNDLESS ENERGY FROM!?! How does your husband get any work done seeing your striking beautiful eyes! And THIS ENTIRE article YOU NEVER nocked your coffee cup! Mine would’ve long gone -oops-flying across the room ! Your articles and knowledge & Vitality is such a joy to behold! I Always look forward to what garden adventures in planting await! Enjoyed The Pond Guy article too! I loved seeing your folks garden ! I’m so glad I removed the wire basket from my Norway Spruce gift tree. ENDLESS ENTHUSIASM!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! So INSPIRING !!
Hi Laura😊 I have a question about thuja/arbovitae.. Do you do any maintenance after winter on yours? I dont remember ever seeing you removing inner browing parts on arbovitea after winter.. Is this “browning” common in Oregon or is it just an eastern european thing? 😁😁 Yours always look so PERFECT😉 Love your articles😊
THANKS JEHOVAH YHWH BLESS YOU SISTER LAURA BROTHER AARON LIL BENJAMIN SAMANTHA GRACE RUSSELL CHEDDAR MOM SUZAN BROTHER NICK SISTER MONICA LIL SOPHIA BROTHER JOE DADDY BMAN LOYAL LOVE FOREVER HELLO LIL BENJAMIN SAMANTHA GRACE RUSSELL CHEDDAR MOM SUZAN BROTHER NICK SISTER MONICA LIL SOPHIA BROTHER JOE DADDY BMAN LOYAL LOVE FOREVER HELLO LIL BENJAMIN SAMANTHA GRACE NICELY DONE AMAZING AWE-INSPIRING THANKS Romans 5 21 To What End So Just As Sin Ruled As King With Death So Also Undeserved Kindness Might Rule As King Through Righteousness Leading To Everlasting Life Through Jesus Christ Our Lord Amen THANKS LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS
There are so many evergreens. It’s interesting to hear your choices here. I really respect your expertise since you have so much experience and intimate knowledge. I do have a couple of questions, though. What about Alberta spruce. Also the yews of any variety. Do you not like them? I haven’t seen you use any (or did I miss it). I know both yews and Alberta spruce will grow there in your area. I’d really like to hear your opinion.💚💚💚
Thank you for all of this information. I love the details you supply with each plant. We live in zone 7, so evergreens 🌲 are a good option. We have Magnolias in our small garden. Two of then are called Magnolia Gem. Their are smaller than the old variety. I am sure they are not considered evergreens but we used them instead needle pines. The smell is wonderful in the spring. I love you website. Ann from Va.
Hello! Big fan here! perusal Garden Answer is my favorite way to start the day! In a few articles back Black Lace Elderberry was mentioned in the new garden area as well as your neighbor’s yard, we planted one about 5 years ago, and we love it but every fall/winter I struggle with how to prune it. Do the neighbors leave it unattended to get those beautiful blooms each year? I understand blossoms will only grow on old wood but it becomes so long and leggy and once the leaves freeze or fall off, the best option is to trim far down. Ours grows to be 10 ft tall and almost just as wide, so any suggestion to keep it looking great in the winter months would be great thanks!
Very informative and enjoyable article. One comment, Leyland Cypress have become very prone to disease in areas with hot HUMID summers, like most of the east coast, from NYC south. Japanese Cryptomerias and Green Giant Arbs are both much better for this area… also Nellie Stevens Hollies, but they are not as deer resistant when they are young.
I cannot live without evergreens. Nothing is better than an arb hedge for privacy/screening and boxwoods are so versatile. I am also getting into Japanese evergreens – my favorite nursery has lovely selections. False cypress is also a favorite- graceful arching branches highlighted with gold. Very hardy. Junipers here in Michigan don’t do as well – at least not in my experience. I don’t think we have enough sun and they seem to not like our humidity here in SW Michigan. I love hemlocks, but they too seem fussy. They like part sun, grow very slowly. But mature specimens are so lovely. Very fine needles. Thank you for the recommendations – I really enjoy these articles. So helpful for us all! *The Sprinter boxwoods would be perfect for my two formal beds in my front yard. I can’t find them anywhere. Are they Proven Winners? Maybe I could order direct? I like the fact their growth is limited.
I was talking with one of my employees about gardening and what it means to share it with people driving by. He told me how people would pull over and take pictures of his mom’s garden. I mentioned a certain YouTuber I adore and he said his mom watches this “lady” in Oregon I immediately knew and said “oh Laura, Garden Answers”. Of course he had no idea what I was talking about but when I said her articles always start with “hey guys” he knew exactly who I was talking about lol. Even people who dont watch your website know who you are!!
Ok, first thing; how do you get your hands and nails so clean? Mine are always stained. Evergreens: we lost our weeping cedar about 5 years ago when it split. It was only about 5’ from the house and against the neighbor’s garage so we took it out. We have a row of cedars across our back fence and last summer when we had a freaky, early heat wave (se WA; June; 120 degrees!!!), we were of course away on vacation. Our cedars and a rhododendron got torched. The rhododendron has recovered. Cedars, not so much. Mistake #1 we didn’t immediately get water on them when we got home because they generally do well on water from lawns on both sides. They now have dead tops and many limbs. They are fully mature. Anything I can do to save them?
One of the most important aspects of planting evergreens is to respect their mature size and characteristics, plant the right tree for your situation. For example, avoid Eastern White Pines (100′) as foundation plantings and no Leyland Cypress (80′) as hedges. You probably don’t need an 90′ Norway Spruce to screen the street or neighbor’s yard, how about a 12′ Cherry Laurel or a 20′ Holly instead ? I see improper plant selections like those more often than not, done all the time. There are so many evergreens for almost any situation, but it is so important to pick the right one for your situation.
Leyland Cypress is wonderful, they grow 4 ft a year in my area. My husband put them in as a hedge to stop a bored and creepy neighbor from peering into our yard. I don’t think he ever watered them, or maybe he only watered them the first time and over the years those trees take care of themselves. They are beautifully green and gorgeous in the winter when everything is dead and only snow is on the ground. I love Emerald Arborvitae also but deer love to eat those. I definitely will look to get North Pole Arborvitae to put in as a hedge in another area. Laura, thanks for this article!
Hi, I recently planted a serpentine weeping cedar atlas in a small area. I spoke to a landscaper and they said the spread can be up to 15′. My neighbor has one and they trained it to just swiggle upwards and only spreads about 3′. I’m hoping I can do the same because my front yard is only 10′ (townhouse). I’m in zone 7a and it’s a partially shaded area. Can you please do a article one day addressing how to train these please 🙂 It’s hard to find a evergreen for a small area.
I just love Boxwoods, but they just do not well in our garden We are a zone 6 and live in Highlands, NC at over 4K feet. One year, we received heavy snow and they were damaged a bit, but they all came back. This year, all 3 of my large Boxwoods died. They were in the same spot for about 6 years. I will have to replace it with a different evergreen this year. I would like to know why they died, but I am not going to take a chance with more. I will find something else because Evergreens look fabulous with snow on them. Do you have any idea why they would die, Laura? Thank you so much.
How did you get started with this nursery? You seem so young to have such vast holdings. Did you win the lottery, received a great amount of money from Grandma….etc, or you got a grant from the government and lastly you borrowed the money. Also what did you receive your degree in? I love, love to hear you speak of all the plants. I would love to Come work with you and pick your brain about plants, trees,shrubs and flowers that would a coma date our hot and humid climate in South Mississippi. I love to work with flowers but due to a ruptured vertebrae and other back issues I can’t do a lot like I use to. You intrigue me and it gets me all excited when you talk of all your landscaping and projects. I wish you were closer so I could visit and see the results of your hard labor and planning. Your Mom must have had a large impact on what you do. She is precious and I love to see when you go antiquing! Have you written any books? You would really be good to share your knowledge in a book. I certainly would purchase one! Do you have an income from the nursery selling plants.If so, I would love to have a catalog. Ok, I’m on to the next article…….lol Thanks for entertaining me so much. I just lose myself when I listen to you speak!
Question-are there any evergreens/conifers that tolerate some shade as an understory tree? So glad you mentioned euonymus-my gold/green variety is the first thing in spring to show vibrant new growth and I can prune it all summer and it doesn’t seem to mind. I have it along my sidewalk as a hedge. 😊
I am just heart broken. I planted two Emerald Green arboviata in the spring. About 5 ft tall. Zone 7b, all clay. I added mulch, compost and slow release food. They looked great all summer. But they are turning brown from the inside out. I am sure they are dieing. I think I may have under watered them but they don’t get a lot of sun. My yard is heavily wooded with hardwoods and I was desperate for some evergreens. I may replant next year but maybe I need something else?
I live in upstate SC and have a smaller garden but would really love something that stays small but resembles a Frazier fit or any type of Christmas tree! I love conifers! Some of my best memories were at my Grandparents house and they had huge Christmas get togethers and the conifers were so gorgeous. How can I find one that won’t grow but about 10 foot tall? I want a Christmas tree in my yard!!!!
You are a beast in the garden. I’m having a dry creek bed installed to replace my lawn. Hopefully we can divert the gutter downspout so when it rains in winter I’ll have a bit of a creek. I wanted a very wintery type feel to accompany my white Birch. I have no idea what it’s called but it’s majestic and it will be given it’s own drip line. It has these very large eyes that I can see from my living room window. Amazing what nature can do. Ok so I love Junipers and love you added zones and showed them in real time. Thank you for doing this article. You are a natural. Cheers and best wishes
I’m still a little confused about dwarf varieties and if it’s real or if they are duping us. I have a dwarf avatar and am hoping it won’t get as big as the one you have listed. It’s odd to me that they can take a proven winners plant and label it as dwarf, and list smaller growth habits than pw lists, yet proven winners doesn’t offer it as its own plant as they would a Limelight vs a Little Lime. (I understand the avatar isn’t pw, but I’ve seen other proven winners plants labeled as dwarf). Your list of evergreens is lovely and helpful. I always look forward to your articles each day. Your so kind, creative AND knowledge, there’s a reason we all looK up to you and wait for your articles each morning..