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Evergreen Trees

Quick facts…

  • Most evergreens prefer full sun; some will tolerate partial shade. 
  • When selecting evergreens, consider available space, soil and site conditions, and weather factors. 
  • Evergreens have different soil moisture preferences. Group drought-tolerant types separately from those that require more moisture. 
  • All evergreens benefit from mulches. All need sufficient water to become established after transplanting. 
  • Most evergreens benefit from supplemental water during dry, warm or windy periods from November to March. 

Photo by David Dibert

Introduction

Narrowleaf evergreen (conifer) trees give a landscape year-round interest, color and texture. Conifer trees are versatile and can be used as specimens, hedges, privacy screens, backdrops for smaller flowering plants, or as a windbreak planted on the north and west to deflect or intercept winter winds. Refer to Landscaping for Energy Conservation. 

“Evergreen” refers to trees that normally retain most of their foliage (needles) through the winter. Such trees, however, do not keep all their needles indefinitely. For example, ponderosa pine drops needle each year that are three years old. These older needles are the innermost ones toward the main trunk. Younger needles, further out on the branch, are retained until they are three years old. This annual browning and drop of innermost, older needles can cause concern, but it is a natural process. 

Selection

Examine the intended planting space for good soil drainage, adequate sunlight and sufficient space to accommodate the desired evergreen tree at its mature size. Allow for clear access to driveways, sidewalks and entryways. Determine whether the tree’s growth will affect any overhead utility lines. Before planting, call the utility companies’ hotline (dial 811) to mark the location of any underground lines to avoid damaging them while digging.  

For smaller sites, consider smaller trees or shrubs. If there is sufficient space, use several kinds of evergreens to add variety to the landscape. 

Watering and Maintenance

The following list (Table 1) indicates the relative moisture needs of evergreens. Plant species with similar water needs in the same general area – do not mix trees with widely different water needs. 

Evergreens that need less moisture may work well on slopes. All evergreens usable in Colorado prefer well-drained soils. Avoid planting them in swales or poorly drained, soggy areas. Evergreens that need less moisture may not do well in lawn areas because of the amount of water needed to sustain the lawn. Even for those trees that need more moisture and are compatible with lawn watering, leave the planting area free of sod to allow for good root development. An organic mulch is recommended over the entire planting area.  

Most evergreens growing in Colorado landscapes, whether recently transplanted or well-established, benefit from supplemental water during winter dry spells. Often, such spells are accompanied by drying winds or unseasonably warm temperatures, further emphasizing the need for watering.  

For gardeners above 6,000 feet, some of the plants listed in Table 1 are not adapted. 

Planting Evergreen Trees

Growing a healthy evergreen tree begins with proper planting techniques. Mistakes such as planting a tree too deep are common in the landscape, and lead to trunk-girdling roots which can shorten the life span of the tree significantly. Proper planting techniques promote rapid root growth while reducing water stress from the harvest and planting process. 

Scientific Name Cultivar Common Name Mature Size (H x W) 
Abies concolor  White fir 60’ x 20’ 
Abies concolor ‘Candicans’ White fir 40’ x 15’ 
Hesperocyparis arizonica   Arizona cypress 30’ x 20’ 
Juniperus chinensis ‘Blue Point’ Chinese juniper 12’ x 8’ 
Juniperus chinensis ‘Hetzi Columnaris’ Chinese juniper 15’ x 5’ 
Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’ Chinese juniper 12’ x 5’ 
Juniperus chinensis ‘Spearmint’ Chinese juniper 15’ x 6’ 
Juniperus scopulorum  Rocky Mountain juniper Variable  
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Cologreen’ Rocky Mountain juniper 15’ x 8’ 
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Gray Gleam’ Rocky Mountain juniper 15’ x 6’ 
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Moonglow’ Rocky Mountain juniper 15’ x 8’ 
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’ Rocky Mountain juniper 15’ x 3’ 
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Wichita Blue’ Rocky Mountain juniper 12’ x 6’ 
Juniperus virginiana  Eastern Redcedar 40’ x 15’ 
Juniperus virginiana ‘Blue Arrow’ Eastern Redcedar 15’ x 3’ 
Larix decidua  European Larch 45’ x 18’ 
Picea abies  Norway spruce 50’ x 25’ 
Picea abies ‘Cupressina’ Norway spruce 15’ x 5’ 
Picea glauca  White spruce 50’ x 20’ 
Picea glauca ‘Pendula’ White spruce 20’ x 5’ 
Picea glauca var densata  Black Hills spruce 30’ x 15’ 
Picea pungens  Colorado spruce 60’ x 25’ 
Picea pungens glauca  Colorado blue spruce 60’ x 25’ 
Picea pungens glauca ‘Baby Blue Eyes’ Colorado blue spruce 15’ x 8’ 
Picea pungens glauca ‘Bakeri’ Colorado blue spruce 30’ x 15’ 
Picea pungens glauca ‘Hoopsii’ Colorado blue spruce 45’ x 15’ 
Picea pungens glauca ‘Fat Albert’ Colorado blue spruce 45’ x 15’ 
Picea pungens glauca ‘Iseli Fastigiate’ Colorado blue spruce 15’ x 5’ 
Picea pungens glauca ‘R.H. Montgomery’ Colorado blue spruce 12’ x 8’ 
Picea pungens glauca ‘Sester Dwarf’ Colorado blue spruce 10’ x 5’ 
Pinus aristata  Bristlecone pine 25’ x 15’ 
Pinus aristata ‘Formal Form’ Bristlecone pine 20’ x 12’ 
Pinus edulis  Piñon pine 20 x 15’ 
Pinus flexilis  Limber pine 40’ x 20’ 
Pinus flexis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’ Limber pine 35’ x 20’ 
Pinus heldreichii   Bosnian pine 20’ x 12’ 
Pinus heldreichii ‘Emerald Arrow’ Bosnian pine 20’ x 12’ 
Pinus heldreichii ‘Iseli Fastigiate’ Bosnian pine 20’ x 8’ 
Pinus heldreichii ‘Mint Truffle’ Bosnian pine 12’ x 8’ 
Pinus mugo  Mugo pine Variable 
Pinus mugo ‘Tannenbaum’ Mugo pine 12’ x 6’ 
Pinus nigra  Austrian pine  
Pinus nigra ‘Arnold Sentinel’ Austrian pine 15’ x 5’ 
Pinus nigra ‘Frank’ Austrian pine 20’ x 7’ 
Pinus nigra ‘Oregon Green’ Austrian pine 15’ x 12’ 
Pinus ponderosa  Ponderosa pine 50’ x 25’ 
Pinus strobiformis  Southwest white pine 45’ x 25’ 
Pinus strobus  Eastern white pine 50’ x 20’ 
Pinus strobus ‘Fastigiata’ Eastern white pine 35’ x 10’ 
Pinus strobus ‘Pendula’ Eastern white pine 15’ x 15’ 
Pinus sylvestris  Scotch pine 40’ x 25’ 
Pinus sylvestris ‘Fastigiata’ Scotch pine 20’ x 5’ 
Pseudotsuga menziesii  Douglas Fir 60’ x 20’ 
Thuja occidentalis  Eastern or American arborvitae 20’ x 10’ 
Thuja occidentalis ‘Degroot’s Spire’ Eastern or American arborvitae 12’ x 4’ 
Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’  (‘Emerald’) Eastern or American arborvitae 12’ x 4’ 
Thuja occidentalis ‘Green Giant’ Eastern or American arborvitae 30’ x 15’ 

Reference: CSU Fact Sheet 7.403

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