By Nancy Penrose
Evergreen trees provide beauty to your landscape all year round. Here are nine great evergreen trees that will add to your property. Now is an ideal time to plant a new tree in your landscape.
Douglas Fir
The Douglas fir is a dense evergreen native to the Pacific Northwest. It has a strong pyramidal shape when young and has a tendency to limb itself up as it matures. Its size will be difficult to control in urban landscapes so it is best to have adequate space for this large native tree. Needles are soft and occasionally have a bluish tint. Average growth rate is moderate, mature size 80′ tall x 30′ wide. Likes full sun to partial shade.
Deodar Cedar
The Deodar Cedar has a very graceful habit that can be quite striking in the landscape. It is grown easily in our mild northwest climate. Branches of the Deodar are pendulous, and the central leader often droops. It has dense evergreen needles that grow in tufts or whorls on the branches. Needles have a unique bright green to a bluish tint. Average growth rate is moderate, mature size 70′ tall x 30′ wide. Likes full sun.
Nordman Fir
The Nordman fir is a nice ornamental evergreen for the landscape. It has the classic evergreen look with its dark green needles and layered branching. The Nordman fir is a popular choice at Christmas for those who want a live tree. It is best in full sun and it prefers well-drained soil. This tree grows in a pyramidal form. Average growth rate is slow to moderate, mature size 60′ tall x 25′ wide.
Giant Sequoia
The Giant Sequoia is an impressive addition to any landscape. It grows to magnificent heights and gains enormous trunk girth. A large landscape is necessary because size will be difficult to control. The giant sequoia is extremely long lived and is highly regarded as one of the most majestic trees. Average growth rate is moderate, mature size 100′ tall x 30′ wide. Prefers full sun.
Excelsa Cedar
The Excelsa cedar is a hybrid of the western red cedar. It grows 2-3’ per year but tops out at about 25’ tall and 15’ wide. It makes a beautiful stand alone tree, or can be planted together to form a screen or hedge. Likes full sun to partial shade.
Grand Fir
The grand fir is one of the tallest firs, reaching heights of 150 feet. It is easily distinguished from other Pacific Northwest firs by its sprays of lustrous needles in two distinct rows. They are usually horizontally spread so that both the upper and lower sides of the branches are clearly visible. The needles are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long with glossy dark green tops and two highly visible white lines of stomata on the undersides. Average growth rate is fast, mature size 150′ tall x 25′ wide. Likes full sun to partial shade.
Mountain Hemlock
Native to high mountains, from Alaska south through higher Sierra Nevada in California to northern Idaho, and Montana. Good for large rock gardens, containers & bonsai. Average growth rate is slow. Likes full sun to partial shade.
Incense Cedar
Calocedrus decurrens, commonly known as Incense cedar is a beautiful evergreen known for its distinctive reddish brown bark and aromatic foliage. It can grow up to 70’ tall, but stays columnar for an evergreen, usually topping out around 10-15’ in width.
Vanderwolf Pine
This fast-growing evergreen develops into an attractive, pyramidal specimen, with twisted, blue-green needles and large, decorative pine cones. It is also disease, pest and drought resistant once established. It makes a lovely background plant, a stand alone specimen, or, planted in a row, a good screening plant. Likes full sun to partial shade.
Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.
Big Trees Inc.
10928 Springhetti Rd
Snohomish, WA 98296
360-563-2700
https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/
https://arboristblog.com
https://bigtreesupply.com