70 Small or Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs (With Pictures and Names)

Small or dwarf evergreen shrubs are perfect for enhancing any type of garden landscape. Varieties of compact, miniature shrubs aren’t just for growing in small yards. Due to their small size, you can plant many different types of ornamental dwarf conifers or evergreen plants in a large backyard. You can also plant little or dwarf decorative evergreen bushes such as dwarf boxwood and compact junipers in a front yard to enhance your home’s curb appeal as they don’t grow so large that they hide your property.

The Best Small or Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs

Some of the best small or dwarf evergreen shrubs include:

Dwarf boxwood (Buxus)— Low maintenance, evergreen shrub with a rounded growth that is suitable for growing as a specimen plant in the front yard or low hedge.

Small juniper shrub (Juniperus)—Fast growing dwarf evergreen that can have a low-spreading growth habit and is excellent as ground cover plant, short hedge, or border shrub.

Compact holly shrub (Ilex)—A dwarf thorny evergreen shrub with berries.

Little arborvitae shrub-like tree (Thuja)—Dwarf evergreen arborvitae shrub with soft, feathery foliage with dense growth. Some compact cultivars have rounded growth, and others have a natural conical shape.

Dwarf rhododendron bushes (Rhododendron)— Flowering evergreen shrubs that can act as a natural privacy screen in your backyard.

Compact pine shrubs (Pinus) – Small evergreen tree like shrubs.

The Advantages of Growing Small or Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs

The advantage of planting small or compact evergreen shrubs is that they are low maintenance. Compact evergreen bushes are easy to manage and require little—if any—maintenance. You don’t need to prune them to control their height. And, there are no leaves to clear up in the fall.

Another advantage of growing dwarf evergreens such as conifers in your yard is that it lets you grow plants that, otherwise, would be too large. For example, dwarf spruces, yew shrubs, and arborvitae are just a fraction of the size of the tall garden trees that grow in forests. So, they don’t risk causing shadows on your house or your neighbor’s backyard.

Small or Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs (With Pictures and Names)

Generally, dwarf, evergreen shrubs only grow a few feet high. Unlike trees that have a single trunk, shrubs have multiple woody stems growing from the ground. But you can also find dwarf trees that have shrub-like growth.

Here is a list of small and dwarf evergreen shrubs that are suitable for all yards. Along with their scientific names, the list of plants below includes descriptions and pictures of these compact shrubs to help you choose the best ones for your garden.

Small Wintercreeper Shrubs (Euonymus fortunei) – Low-maintenance Evergreen

Wintercreeper is a low-growing evergreen shrub that has a spreading growth habit. The dwarf cultivars only grow one or two feet high. These low maintenance shrubs thrive in full sun, and their bright yellow and green foliage brightens up any front or backyard. This versatile little shrub can grow as a vine or ground-cover plant for full sun.

Some of the best compact wintercreeper shrubs are:

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’—Growing between 1 and 2 ft. (30 – 60 cm), this sun-loving, compact shrub has glossy, ovate green leaves with broad yellow edges.

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’—A small bushy plant with rounded leaves that are emerald green with creamy-white margins. The leaves develop pinkish hues in cold weather, and the plant rarely flowers.

Euonymus fortunei ‘Moonshadow’—This dwarf shrub has brightly colored yellow and green foliage. Grow as a small border shrub wherever you need bold colors in your front or back garden.

Dwarf Boxwood (Buxus) – A Small Evergreen Shrub With a Rounded Growth

Compact evergreen boxwood shrubs are the classic hedging plants for living green screens. Their evergreen foliage has small oval leaves with a glossy shine. Boxwood shrubs can also grow as specimen plants, and their rounded growth creates attractive features in front yards. Use boxwoods as border shrubs, low formal hedges, or accent plants.

Some of the best compact boxwood shrubs are:

Buxus ‘Green Gem’—This little landscaping shrub grows as a round mound of dark green foliage with small oval leaves. The dense growth habit creates excellent low hedges.

Buxus microphylla ‘Green Pillow compact’—As its name suggests, this broadleaf shrub is a low-growing plant with soft foliage. Lime-green oval leaves turn a beautiful bronze color in winter.

Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’—This small boxwood hedging shrub has small, ovate leaves that create lush green foliage. Not growing higher than 3 ft. (1 m), this low-maintenance shrub is ideal for short privacy hedges.

Buxus x “Green Mountain”—This dwarf hedge plant species has a cute conical shape that looks excellent growing in containers. You can also grow this dwarf plant along garden borders or to accent a feature of your property.

Dwarf Spruce Shrubs

Small, compact, evergreen spruce shrubs are some of the most popular conifers for gardens. Their delicate needle-like foliage can be emerald green or bluish-green, depending on the cultivar. Spruce shrubs and small trees have upright growth and dense foliage that make them ideal for evergreen hedges, foundation planting, or as a specimen plant.

Some of the best small spruce shrubs are:

Dwarf Norway spruce (Picea abies ‘Pumila’)—This needled compact evergreen shrub has a circular shape with a flat top. Attractive, bright green needles create dense foliage on this dwarf conifer.

Picea pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’—Pictures of this miniature spruce show a globe-shaped, blue-needled shrub. The slow-growing dwarf evergreen will eventually reach about 3 or 4 ft. (1 – 1.2 m) tall.

Picea abies ‘Little Gem’ – A dwarf evergreen spruce shrub with needle-like dense foliage and flattened round shape. This compact shrub will look great in a rock garden or in front of other taller shrubs.

Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’) — A dense, compact pyramid-shaped evergreen spruce shrub that has light green dense foliage. Plant in a sunny spot in a formal garden or use for topiary to boost curb appeal in a front yard. This dense dwarf evergreen shrub grows to 12 ft. high in 30 years but because of its slow growth rate it’s easy to maintain it as a small compact shrub.

Compact Junipers – Ground Cover Dwarf Evergreen Shrub

Junipers are low maintenance ornamental shrubs that have needle-like foliage that is sharp or scaly. The needle foliage can be green, blue, or gold, depending on the cultivar. When grown together, junipers can make low hedges, and they are generally drought and deer resistant. Usually, juniper shrubs love sunlight and thrive in most soil conditions.

Excellent examples of dwarf juniper shrubs include:

Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper (Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’)—The cultivar name ‘nana’ indicates that this is a small, compact shrub. The conifer shrub has prickly bluish-green needles and a low-growth habit. It’s also useful as a groundcover plant.

Juniper ‘Blue Star’ (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’)—Also named ‘Flaky Juniper,’ this blue-colored shrub adds stunning color to a garden landscape. No taller than 3 ft. (1 m), the compact sun-loving shrub requires no maintenance.

Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’—This common juniper looks like a short upright columnar tree with prickly needle foliage. Ideal as a container plant or to add short vertical accents to enhance a front yard landscape.

Blueberry Delight Juniper (Juniperus communis ‘AmiDak’)—This needled evergreen shrub only grows a couple of feet tall. However, it has wide, spreading growth. Sometimes, the shrubby conifer produces blue cones.

Juniperus horizontalis ‘Andorra Compacta’—Growing less than 20” (0.5 m) tall, this creeping miniature juniper shrub has green soft needle leaves and a wide spread.

All Gold Shore Juniper (Juniperus conferta ‘All Gold’) – Dwarf Shrub With Yellow Color

The All Gold Shore juniper is a low growing spreading evergreen shrub with golden-yellow foliage that turns coppery orange in winter. The slow growing shrub reaches about 1 foot (30 cm) tall with a spread of 4 -5 feet (120 – 150 cm) when maturing after 10 years.

Grow the dwarf hardy low-maintenance shrub as a ground cover or in rock gardens in zones 6 – 9. Grow in full sun for the best leaf color, or part sun.

Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia Japonica) – Flowering Dwarf Evergreen

Japanese Skimmia is a dwarf, shade-loving flowering evergreen shrub that has dense foliage made up of leather, lance-shaped leaves. Japanese Skimmia are small evergreen flowering bushes that produce an abundance of scented flower clusters that turn into ornamental red berries. The easy care landscaping shrubs are dome-shaped and only grow to a maximum of 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall.

Japanese Skimmia is a very low-maintenance bushy plant if you want beautiful foliage and bright, showy flowers.

Dwarf Rhododendrons

Rhododendrons produce some of the showiest flowers on any shrub, and there are plenty of dwarf varieties for your garden. These flowering evergreen shrubs have a rounded shape and produce a stunning array of blooms. Flowers can be colors ranging from purple to pink, white, red, orange, and blue blossoms. Dwarf varieties of rhododendrons grow between 2 and 6 ft. (0.6 – 1.8 m) tall, depending on the variety.

Some of the best low-growing rhododendron shrubs are:

Compact ‘Hino Crimson’ Azalea (Rhododendron ‘Hino Crimson’)—A stunning flowering compact shrub that doesn’t grow more than 3 ft. (1 m) tall. The densely-growing bush has a dome shape and a spread of up to 5 ft. (1.5 m)

Rhododendron ’Bow Bells’—Beautiful clusters of pink scented flowers cover this small low maintenance evergreen shrub when it blooms. Glossy, dark-green foliage retains its color throughout the winter.

Dwarf Indica Azalea (Rhododendron eriocarpum)—Evergreen in most climates, this dwarf flowering shrub only grows to about 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall. Grow this rounded broadleaf bush in shrub borders, as a small flowering hedge, or an accent plant.

Compact Maximum Rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘Maximum Compacta’) – A small bushy and hardy evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and pink flowers that bloom in late spring. A good plant for borders or a low informal hedge.

Dwarf Holly (Ilex) – Thorny Small Evergreen Shrub

Growing dwarf hollies as security or privacy hedges is a low-maintenance landscaping solution for any garden. The glossy evergreen foliage contrasts with red berries in wintertime. Some species of evergreen hollies have dark-green foliage, whereas others have bright, variegated spiky leaves. All compact holly cultivars thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Some of the best compact small holly shrubs include:

Compact Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’)—A broadleaf, compact holly shrub with an oval shape growth that grows to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. Rounded oblong, smooth leaves create dense evergreen foliage.

Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’—Pictures of this dwarf holly shrub show it growing as a globular, compact plant. The beautiful foliage starts yellow before turning to dark green.

Ilex crenata ‘Dwarf Pagoda’—Tiny glossy green leaves growing on short stems create this decorative super-dwarf holly bush. These slow-growing, low-maintenance shrubs can take 20 years to reach their maximum height of 3 ft. (1 m).

Compact Oregon Holly Grape (Mahonia aquifolium ‘Compacta’) – A Dwarf Evergreen With Berries

These compact evergreen shrubs get their common name from bunches of berries that grow like grapes. The slow growth of these flowering bushes means that they take a few years to reach 3 ft. (1 m)—their maximum growing height. These dwarf Mahonia shrubs produce clusters of yellow flowers in the shape of spikes that contrast with shiny green foliage.

While the foliage of this small shrub is evergreen, the new leaf growth is reddish-bronze, mature foliage is green in the summer and turns purple-burgundy during fall and winter.

Small Arborvitae Cultivars (Thuja)

Arborvitae shrubs and small trees are some of the most common hedging plants used as privacy screens or windbreaks. Some compact landscaping arborvitae shrubs have a rounded growth habit, whereas others have a pyramidal shape. However, all arborvitae shrubs have a few characteristics—soft green foliage, a dense compact nature, and they are excellent low maintenance plants for hedges.

Some of the best dwarf arborvitae cultivars:

Thuja occidentalis ‘Little Giant’— Dwarf, globe-shaped evergreen shrub with soft, feathery foliage. It is an excellent bush for a low hedge or specimen plant in a sunny yard. It takes many years to reach 4 ft. (1.2 m) in height.

Thuja orientalis ‘Aurea Nana’—A dwarf arborvitae that has an upright growth and natural pyramidal shape. The foliage of this fastigiate shrub is soft with scale-like leaves and bright, golden-yellow and green colors. Excellent plant for containers in small gardens or as a living screen.

Thuja occidentalis ‘Fire Chief’—Also called ‘Congabe,’ this rounded arborvitae shrub has soft green foliage that turns from bright yellow to sage-green and then hues of red in the fall. Its miniature size makes it perfect for shrub borders, low hedges, or foundation planting.

Thuja occidentalis ‘Hetz Midget’—This pretty globe-shaped dwarf arborvitae grows as a soft round ball with a flattened top. Fan-shaped clusters of scaly conifer leaves create the dense foliage.

Thuja occidentalis ‘Woodwardii’—Another rounded Thuja conifer that is a dwarf cultivar of a larger tree. This popular landscaping shrub is green in summer and bronze-colored in the winter.

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’ – A Compact Evergreen Shrub with a Rounded Shape

As its name suggests, this dwarf evergreen shrub has a rounded, ball-like shape. Small, round leathery leaves make up its dense foliage. The shrub produces scented purple flowers. Dwarf Pittosporums are small evergreen shrubs that can grow in shade or in full sun.

Grow the small ornamental pittosporum shrub as a little border shrub, specimen plant, or 3-foot (1-m) high hedge.

Small Yew Shrubs

The soft needles and dense growth of dwarf yew shrubs make these conifers top choice when it comes to evergreen landscaping bushes. Most compact yews have upright growth and thrive in full sun. Yew dwarf shrubs are excellent hedging plants, ornamental border shrubs, or attractive foundation plants.

Some of the best dwarf yew shrubby plants include:

Dwarf Bright Gold Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata ‘Bright Gold’)—This low-growing yew shrub has a wide spread. The shrubby plant grows into a mound of dense foliage about 3 ft. (1 m) tall. Planted in full sun, the soft needled leaves are bright yellowish-green.

English Yew (Taxus baccata ‘Repandens’)—A popular dwarf shrub where spreading evergreen foliage is needed. Glossy dark green needles and red cones make this low-growing shrub extremely ornamental.

Anglo-Japanese Yew (Taxus x media ‘Densiformis’)—Described as a semi-dwarf evergreen shrub, this popular hedging plant grows as a small, rounded shrub. Soft glossy green needles and coral-red cones make this a stunning landscaping shrub.

Dwarf Pine Shrubs (Pinus) – Small Tree Like Evergreen Shrub

Dwarf pine shrubs have compact, stunted growth and are ideal for landscaped gardens. Dwarf pine shrubs look like miniature evergreen trees and they add elegance and an exotic touch at the front of the house. Some ornamental shrubs are as small as 1 ft. (30 cm) tall, and others can grow up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. Dwarf pine cultivars thrive in full sun and are cold hardy shrubs.

The best short, compact pine shrubs for front or backyards:

Pinus strobus ‘Nana’—The dwarf variety of the Eastern White pine has a dome shape, silvery-blue needles, and dense, compact growth.

Dwarf Eastern White pine (Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’)—This compact evergreen coniferous shrub is ideal for growing in containers. It has a globe shape with soft, bluish-green needles. Although it grows to 6 ft. (1.8 m), it takes many years to reach that height.

Pinus strobus Horsford’—Another stunning dwarf evergreen pine shrub with needled foliage and an oval growth habit. The stumpy shrub won’t grow over 1 ft. (30 cm) tall.

Pinus strobus Vanderwolf’s Green Globe —As with many dwarf pine shrubs, this evergreen is a rounded bushy conifer with green needles. This miniature Eastern White pine variety thrives in full sun.

Dwarf Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris ‘Pumila’)—This multi-stem needled evergreen shrubby plant has bluish-green needles and dense foliage. The dwarf Scotch pine is a low-maintenance landscaping dwarf shrub.

False Cypress ‘Golden Charm’ (Chamaecyparis pisifera’ Golden Charm’)

The False Cypress ‘Golden Charm’ is a compact, dwarf coniferous shrub that has thread-like golden-yellow needles. The graceful stems have a weeping growth habit that gives the small shrub a bushy appearance.

Grow in full sun as a small hedge, border shrub, or accent plant. This slow-growing evergreen shrub grows to 3 ft. (1 m) tall with occasional pruning to maintain its short stature.

Winter Heath (Erica carnea)

The winter heath is a compact flowering evergreen that is one of the earliest dwarf shrubs to bloom and has delightful purple flowers. The low-growing shrub has needle-like foliage that provides excellent year-round ground cover with minimal care. Not growing taller than one foot (1 m) winter heath provides plenty of color to late winter and early spring landscapes.

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Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense ‘Sunshine’)

The Sunshine Ligustrum is a sun-loving small evergreen shrub with attractive golden yellow leaves. The low growing, low maintenance evergreen shrub grows 3 to 4 feet (90 – 120 cm) tall and wide. This compact low growing shrub is easy to care for and is low maintenance. It is suitable for an informal low hedge or as a foundation plant.

Grow in USDA zones 6 – 10 in full to part sun in well-drained soil.

Kaleidoscope Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’)

Kaleidoscope Abelia (also called glossy abelia) is an evergreen dwarf shrub with colorful foliage that changes throughout the seasons. New leaves emerge yellow-green and then become darker and turn to orange and red in autumn.

Kaleidoscope Abelia is a small landscaping shrub that grows 2 to 3 feet tall (60 – 90 cm) and 3 to 4 feet (90 – 120 cm) wide in USDA zones 6 – 9. Grow in containers, as a specimen shrub or as informal hedge in full sun for best leaf coloration or part shade.

Gold Mop Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’) – Compact Evergreen Shrub With Yellow-Green Leaves

The Gold Mop cypress (also called Japanese falsecypress) is a compact hardy evergreen shrub with green and golden yellow leaves. Being a low maintenance small shrub with vibrant yellow-green color makes it an ideal evergreen plant for front of house, rock gardens, specimen shrub or for foundation planting.

Grow the slow growing dwarf Gold Mop cypress shrub in full sun to part shade in fertile moist and well-drained soil in USDA zones 4 -8. The small shrub grows 3 – 5 feet (90 – 150 cm) tall and wide after 10 years.

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Dwarf Japanese Pieris Shrub (Pieris japonica ‘Cavatine’)

The Japanese Pieris ‘Cavatine’ is a compact evergreen flowering shrub. This short evergreen shrub doesn’t grow taller than 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall which makes it an excellent choice for small gardens and landscape. The Japanese Pieris ‘Cavatine’ is a low maintenance small shrub that produces spectacular displays of creamy-white clusters of flowers in drooping panicles. The small rounded bush has dark-green leathery leaves.

Other common names for the small Japanese Pieris shrub are Japanese andromeda and dwarf lily-of-the-valley shrub.

You can grow the compact shrubby Japanese Pieris plant in full sun or partial shade in USDA zones 5 to 8. Dwarf Japanese Pieris shrubs are ideal for flower beds, informal rock gardens, low-growing hedges, and flowering borders.

Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis ‘Spreading Star’)

The ‘Spreading Star’ Pacific silver fir cultivar is an attractive small evergreen shrub with soft, dark green needles. The low-growing coniferous shrub has a rounded, spreading habit, growing twice the width of its height. ‘Spreading Star’ has long green needle leaves with silvery undersides growing densely on arching branches.

Pacific silver fir ‘Spreading Star’ grows 3 ft. (1 m) high and 6 ft. (1.8 m) wide. Although this easy-grow evergreen ground cover plant enjoys full sun, it also grows well in partial to full shade. It’s suitable for growing in USDA zones 6 to 8.

This compact small evergreen shrubby conifer is an ideal landscaping shrub for small gardens. It’s a low-maintenance shrub that doesn’t require pruning to keep its shape. In addition, its slow growth means it won’t take over your front or backyard.

Dwarf Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua)

Dwarf Japanese camellia plants are a group of flowering evergreen landscaping shrubs with showy blooms. Red, pink, and white camellia flowers are medium to large blossoms, some with double flowers and frilly ruffled petals. Dwarf camellia shrubs grow 2 to 6 ft. (0.6 – 1.8 m) tall, depending on the cultivar.

Camellia sasanqua blooms with beautiful single or semi-double flowers in the fall. The shrub blossoms range from pure snow-white to crimson red and light pink. Thanks to their open, bushy habit, elegant Camellia sasanqua shrubs work well in the landscape with other shrubs.

Camellia sasanqua thrives in part shade to full shade in USDA zones 7 to 9. Use as an evergreen flowering hedge or shrub border in a shaded part of your garden.

Japanese camellia shrubs produce showier flowers than Camellia sasanqua. The dwarf cultivars bloom with showy blossoms, some of which are over 5” (12 cm) across. The red, soft pink or brilliant white blooms flower from late winter through spring and last for up to four weeks.

Japanese camellia shrubs perform best in partial shade in organically rich, well-draining soils. They are cold-hardier than Camellia sasanqua shrubs, thriving in USDA zones 6 through 10.

Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia aquifolium)

The Oregon grape holly shrub is a broadleaf evergreen bushy plant that grows 3 to 6 ft. (1 – 1.8 m) tall. Like its dwarf cultivar ‘Compacta,’ the specimen shrub is identified by its lush, glossy green jagged leaves, clusters of golden yellow flowers, and bunches of edible waxy blue berries.

Oregon grape holly shrubs are ideal for planting in shaded gardens. The easy-to-grow landscape shrub has slow growth that spreads up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide. With its prickly leathery leaves, you can plant Oregon grape holly shrubs as a foundation planting or flowering border plant in shade gardens.

The Oregon grape holly shrub has a stunning four-season visual appeal. Its yellow and green summer colors contrast with the blue berries in late summer. Then when the temperature drops, its jagged leaves turn deep burgundy before new bronze-red evergreen leaves appear in spring.

Use Oregon grape holly to landscape gardens in USDA zones 5 to 8.

Dwarf Evergreen Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense)

The low-growing dwarf Chinese fringe flower has attractive brightly colored spindly flowers. The dwarf cultivar ‘Jazz Hands’ have creamy white or hot pink blossoms. Chinese fringe flowers consist of 1-inch (2.5 cm) long narrow, twisted petals covering the small shrub. Its foliage can be bright green or purple, depending on the cultivar.

Chinese fringe flower shrubs grow 1 to 3 ft. (0.3 – 1 m) tall and thrive in full to partial sun. The colorful landscaping shrub is ideal as a specimen plant, small evergreen hedge, or foundation planting. In small or compact gardens, the shrub performs well in containers.

Dwarf Chinese fringe flower shrubs provide all-season aesthetic landscaping appeal in gardens for USDA zones 7 to 9.

Dwarf Hemlock Shrubs (Tsuga canadensis)

Also called Canadian hemlock, many of the shrubs are miniature variations of the huge coniferous hemlock trees. The full-sun, cold-loving shrubs have small, glossy, dark green needle leaves with a white underside. Its aromatic, densely-growing foliage creates beautiful greenery throughout the year growing on drooping branches.

Here are some examples of small evergreen hemlock shrubs suitable for garden landscapes in USDA zones 4 to 7:

Tsuga canadensis ‘Cole’s Prostrate’—A dwarf coniferous shrub with tiny dark green needles contrasting with silvery-white bark. The slow-growing shrub grows 1 ft. (0.3 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide.

Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’ – A beautiful weeping evergreen tree with drooping foliage, dark green needles, and tiny woody cones. The weeping Canadian hemlock grows up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall and 10 ft. (3 m) wide.

Tsuga canadensis ‘Sherwood Compact’ – This shrub has dense branching, delicate sprays of feathery needle-like leaves, and an attractive mounded form. This dwarf hemlock grows 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall and wide.

Tsuga canadensis ‘Gentsch White’ – A variegated Canadian hemlock cultivar featuring sprays of green foliage that has silvery-white tips. The mounding hemlock shrub grows 3 to 4 ft. (1 – 1.2 m) tall and wide. The ornamental evergreen shrub looks like it’s covered in snow.

Tsuga canadensis ‘Aurea Compacta’ – Also known as ‘Everitt’s Golden,’ this dwarf decorative hemlock has golden-yellowish green needle leaves and an upright growth habit. Maturing at 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall and 3 ft. (1 m) wide, this compact hemlock is ideal for small gardens where space is limited.

Tsuga canadensis ‘Stockman’s Dwarf’—An upright, conical shrub with densely-growing needle leaves growing on drooping branches. The landscaping shrub grows up to 3 ft. (1 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide.

Tsuga canadensis ‘Nana Gracilis’—This dwarf, flat-topped spreading evergreen shrub has drooping branches and medium green needles. The shrub grows 1 to 3 ft. (0.3 – 1 m) tall and up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide.

Dwarf Japanese Spindle Shrubs (Euonymus japonicus)

Low-growing Japanese spindle shrubby plants have brightly colored creamy white, yellow, or green leaves. The flowering evergreen decorative shrubs add visual interest to a garden landscape throughout the year. The shrubs retain their foliage and color throughout the year. Dwarf Japanese spindle shrubs grow 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) tall and 2 ft. (0.6 m) wide.

Plant Japanese spindle shrubs in full sun or partial shade in USDA zones 6 to 9. The shrubs are ideal for adding bright color to a landscape as a foundation planting, accent shrub, full-sun ground cover, or a specimen plant.

Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara ‘Feelin’ Blue’)

Also called the Himalayan cedar, this low-growing, spreading conifer is the lowest type of cedar plant. The shrub’s growth is characterized by bright, blue-green needles densely growing on arching branches that spread over the ground. The valuable evergreen landscaping shrub grows up to 3 ft. (1 m) tall and 10 ft. (3 m) wide.

Ideal for growing in USDA zones 6 through 9, the Deodar cedar performs best in full sun and well-drained soils. It’s tolerant of heat, humidity, and drought.

A deodar cedar shrub can be trained to grow as a tree by staking it. The specimen tree looks attractive in evergreen landscapes with its weeping habit and bright bluish-green foliage. It doesn’t require any pruning to maintain its height or form.

Small Evergreen Doghobble Shrub (Leucothoe fontanesiana)

Doghobble or drooping leucothoe is an evergreen shrub with upward growing, arching branches, clusters of white urn-shaped flowers, and green, leathery leaves. Apart from its beautiful flower clusters, doghobble’s attractive features are its colorful foliage changing from red to green then purplish-bronze and its weeping effect.

Dog hobble is a shade-loving evergreen growing 3 to 6 ft. (1 – 1.8 m) tall. The showy clusters of white flowers measure 3” (7.5 cm) long, its lance-shaped leaves grow 5” long, and it keeps its foliage all year long in zones 5 through 8.

Planting dog hobble in a low-maintenance yard is an ideal landscaping solution for shrub borders, evergreen hedgerows, woodland gardens, or to prevent soil erosion.

Evergreen Dwarf Viburnum – David Viburnum (Viburnum davidii)

Dwarf David viburnum is a compact evergreen shrub with showy cup-shaped white or pale pink flowers. The attractive flat-topped flower clusters consist of tiny star-shaped spring blossoms growing as cymes. It has leathery green leaves measuring up to 6” (15 cm) long and clusters of small berry-like red, black, or blue drupes.

Although David viburnum is classed as an evergreen shrub for growing in zones 7 to 9, it is deciduous in the northern regions of zone 7. In the fall, its “evergreen” foliage turns orange, deep red, or purple.

David viburnum grows 3 to 5 ft. (1 – 1.5 m) tall and is characterized by its dense, rounded growth. Throughout spring, showy flowers brighten up landscapes and attract pollinators. You can plant the slow-growing shrub as an evergreen privacy screen, shrub border, or foundation planting.

Dwarf Evergreen Chenille (Acalypha Reptans)

Dwarf chenille is a spectacular ground cover evergreen shrub with vibrant red bottlebrush flowers. The sun-loving shrub forms a carpet of dark green, heart-shaped leaves that contrast with the crimson-red flowers. The flowers are deep red fuzzy spikes growing 3” (7.5 cm) long, contrasting with green foliage.

Dwarf chenille is a ground cover plant with red flowers that performs best in moist, well-draining soils in USDA zones 9 to 11. The low-growing, fuss-free shrub grows 1 to 1.5 ft. (0.3 – 0.5 m) tall and spreads via trailing stems up to 1.4 ft. (0.45 m) wide.

Due to its trailing stems, dwarf chenille is ideal as a hanging basket or container plant in hot, humid climates. However, you can also use the ornamental landscaping shrub to cover bare ground that’s exposed to more than six hours of sunshine daily.

Fetterbush (Lyonia lucida)

Fetterbush is a densely growing evergreen shrub ideal for planting in wet, boggy soil. The shade-tolerant dwarf shrub has arching, spreading stems, glossy, leathery leaves, and red, pink, or white bell-shaped flowers made up of four or five petals that bloom in late spring and early summer.

Fetterbush grows 3 to 6 ft. (1 – 1.8 m) tall and in USDA zones 7 through 9. The shrub prefers growing in partial shade to deep shade but will also tolerate dappled sunlight. In addition, its tolerance of wet, poor soil means the shrub is perfect for landscaping gardens with poor drainage or subject to flooding.

Dwarf Evergreen Japanese Holly Shrub (Ilex crenata ‘Compacta’)

A valuable evergreen landscaping shrub is the Japanese holly ‘Compacta.’ The low-growing shrub is prized for its attractive globose shape, lush, dark-green foliage, and small fragrant white flowers followed by black fruits. It also tolerates poor growing conditions, making it an excellent all-around landscape shrub.

Dwarf Japanese holly ‘Compacta’ thrives in USDA zones 6 through 9. However, it may struggle in areas with high humidity. The attractive oval to obovate evergreen leaves create dense privacy screens and hedges when the shrubs are planted in mass. Due to its rounded habit and low maintenance, the bushy plant is also ideal as a foundation planting, accent shrub, or evergreen border.

The Japanese holly ‘Compacta’ grows around 6 ft. tall and wide.

Minuet Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia ‘Minuet’)

Mountain laurel ‘Minuet’ is a dwarf, evergreen shrub that creates a dazzling floral display of red and white blossoms in May and June. The cup-shaped flowers grow in large, showy umbrella-shaped clusters. Individual flowers are white with a wide, maroon band around the edges. The ‘Minuet’ cultivar only grows 3 ft. (1 m) tall and wide.

The eye-catching red and white flowers are even more spectacular early in the season. The corymbs have colorful 1-inch (2.5 cm) red, pink, burgundy, and white flowers contrasting with white or pink flower buds.

Mountain laurel ‘Minuet’ has high landscaping value because it tolerates various conditions. It will grow just as well in full sun as in full shade and only requires well-drained soil to thrive. The shrub is suitable for planting in USDA zones 4 to 9.

California Lilac (Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’)

California lilac is a small, evergreen shrub with masses of pale purple or blue flowering clusters and dark glossy green leaves. The bright purple-bluish flowering fluffy spikes cover the mounding shrub when in bloom in spring. The shrub with lilac flowers is prevalent in California garden landscapes.

California lilac shrubs grow 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) tall and up to 8 ft. (2.5 m) wide. The purple-flowering bushy plant performs best in USDA zones 8 to 11 when it gets at least six hours of sunshine.

California lilac ‘Yankee Point’ is an excellent shrubby plant for growing alongside a wall or fence, covering a foundation line, or stabilizing banks. It’s relatively drought-tolerant when established. However, in the hotter zones, it needs regular watering during summer.

Garland Flower (Daphne cneorum)

Garland flower is an outstanding ground-hugging evergreen shrub that becomes a mass of bright pink, star-shaped flowers in spring and early summer. The ornamental shrub also has narrow, glossy green leaves growing 1” (2.5 cm) long.

Thriving in full sun or partial shade, the spreading shrub grows 0.5 to 1 ft. (15 – 30 cm) tall and 3 ft. (1 m) wide.

The best landscaping uses for garland flower shrubs are along a pathway’s edge, in front of a border, or beautifying a rock garden. In addition, you can plant the mat-forming evergreen shrub as a foundation planting or grow it in a planter to brighten up a container garden.

Hebe ‘Silver Queen’ (Hebe elliptica ‘Variegata’)

Hebe ‘Silver Queen’ is an eye-catching evergreen shrub with creamy-white and green variegated leaves and stunning purple flower spikes. Its brightly colored evergreen foliage and summer flowers give the ‘Silver Queen’ year-long interest. Hebe ‘Silver Queen’ grows 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) tall and wide.

Ideal for full sun or partial shade, Hebe ‘Silver Queen’ thrives in USDA zones 9 and 10, where it grows as dense thickets. You can plant the spreading shrub as a foundation planting, border plant, or for edging a pathway or driveway.

The low-maintenance shrub also grows well in containers. Therefore, this plant is ideal if you want to grow decorative Hebe shrubs in gardens in colder climates where you can overwinter them inside, as they don’t perform well in cold winters.

Dwarf Cape Jasmine Shrubs (Gardenia jasminoides)

Dwarf gardenia white-flowering shrubs with their thick, leathery lanceolate leaves are ideal evergreen landscaping plants. The shrubs are identified by their brilliant white or ivory white showy flowers that can be rose-shaped, cup-shaped, or star-shaped. The smaller ornamental gardenia shrubs grow between 2 and 8 ft. (0.6 – 2.4 m) tall.

Here are some of the most outstanding cape jasmine shrubs suitable for growing in sub-tropical and some temperate climates:

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Crown Jewel’—A summer-blooming rounded bush with fragrant double white flowers and leathery lanceolate leaves. The compact ‘Crown Jewel’ cape jasmine shrub grows 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 1 m) tall. Suitable for USDA zones 6 to 11.

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Pinwheel’—This cold-hardy gardenia shrub has eye-catching, heavily scented single white flowers with five or six petals forming a pinwheel. The evergreen ‘Pinwheel’ cape jasmine shrub grows up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall in USDA zones 6 to 11.

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Heaven Scent’—The attractive features of this gardenia cultivar are its showy creamy-white star-shaped flowers, compact growth, and intense fragrance. ‘Heaven Scent’ cape jasmine grows 3 to 4 ft. (1 – 1.2 m) tall and wide. Suitable for planting in USDA zones 6 to 11.

Related articles:

• The Best Small or Dwarf Weeping Trees for Landscaping
• Small or Dwarf Flowering Shrubs
• Evergreen Shrubs for Front or Backyard