Southwood | Conifers and Evergreens

By Paul James

Is there a difference between conifers and evergreens? You bet there is. And at the risk of making your head spin, let me make one critical distinction right off the bat by saying not all conifers are evergreens and not all evergreens are conifers. How’s that for clarifying the matter?
So here’s the deal — a conifer is any plant that produces cones. Simple enough, right? And here’s a list of those that grow well in our area.

Arborvitae	Dawn Redwood	Pine
Cedar	False Cypress	Spruce
Cryptomeria	Ginkgo	Yew
Cypress	Juniper

(In other parts of the country you’ll also find Firs and Hemlocks, but growing them around here is tricky at best.)

Now, because nearly all of these conifers keep their leaves (or needles) throughout the winter, we commonly refer to them as evergreens (even though their foliage may be blue or golden-yellow or even bronze).

And that’s all well and good up to a point. Problem is, some conifers – Ginkgos, Bald Cypresses, and Dawn Redwoods, for example — are deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves in winter. It’s no wonder folks get confused!

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Now here’s a list of the most popular evergreens that aren’t conifers, all of which are commonly referred to as broad-leaved evergreens.

Aucuba	Euonymus	Mahonia
Azalea	Holly	Nandina
Boxwood	Laurel	Photinia
Distylium	Leucothoe	Wax Myrtle

Combined, that’s nearly 25 different plant groups to consider adding to your landscape this fall, and within each group there are several different varieties to choose from. For example, we offer more than 15 different Junipers and 35 different Azaleas! And both lists include trees and shrubs of various sizes, shapes, colors, and textures.

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Many conifers have been on the planet for at least 250 million years, and even managed to survive a devastating asteroid that wiped out 75% of plant life.

Iseli Order on the Way

Iseli Nursery in Boring, Oregon, is the premier grower of great conifers (and Japanese Maples), and our most recent order is on the way! If you want the best quality available -- and I know you do -- then you owe it to yourself to shop our selection of cool conifers. (We anticipate the arrival of the order sometime next week.)

Sun or Shade?

Nearly all conifers and evergreens grow best in mostly sunny spots, but a little afternoon shade is perfectly fine. Exceptions include Aucubas, Azaleas, Camellias, Mahonia, and Yews, all of which require mostly shade, but a bit of morning sun is okay. So chances are you’ve got at least one spot that's ideal for any of the plants listed.

Best Soil Type

Nearly all conifers and evergreens also grow best in rich, well-drained soil, but as always, there are exceptions. Bald Cypress is perhaps the most adaptable of all conifers, tolerating wet soils, rocky soils, and pretty much everything in between. Loblolly Pines can adapt to heavy clay soils.
Yaupon Hollies can handle wet soils as well. And Wax Myrtle will grow in every soil imaginable.

Ginkgo is often spelled gingko due to a transcription error that dates back several hundred years. Even the venerable Carl Linnaeus misspelled it.

Mulch is a Must

I recommend mulch for darn near everything that grows, but when it comes to conifers in particular, and evergreens in general, mulch is an absolute must for stabilizing soil moisture and temperatures, especially during the hot summer months and the dead of winter.

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Read it and Weep

Plants that weep are among my favorites, and weeping conifers are my favorites of all, especially Spruces and Pines. In the landscape, they make dynamite specimens that draw the eye year ‘round, even in the dead of winter. A great example is the White Pine known as ‘Angel Falls.’

Conifers in Containers

Many conifers and evergreens can be grown in containers, and the effect can be striking, especially when the containers are grouped together in a courtyard, on a patio or balcony, or used to flank an entryway.

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The term semi-evergreen refers to plants that will likely remain evergreen during mild winters but may lose their leaves during extreme winters.

Coming Next Week -- Fescue

Fescue can be planted in both spring and fall, but of the two seasons, fall is better. And the fall planting season is now, which is why next week I’ll offer tips and tricks on how to make your lawn the one that’s always greener.

Tip Of The Week

As a general rule, a good landscape design should include at least 30% evergreens.

Conifers and Evergreens