Evergreen Favorites
Cedar
Thuja spp.
This group of globe-shaped and pyramidal evergreen shrubs has smooth flat foliage. The color of cedar foliage is a rich, soft, light green; some varieties have golden yellow tipped foliage. Round, ball-shaped cedars like Little Giant and Globe can be used in the landscape as foundation plants or in combination with other shrubs, trees, perennials, or annuals. Tall, upright, pyramidal cedars like Brandon or Emerald can be used as large foundation, or accent plants. All cedars perform best in locations that are sheltered from the Chinook wind and bright winter sun. All cedars require consistently moist soil conditions to survive.
Juniper
Juniperus spp.
This large group of evergreen shrubs grows in a low-spreading or upright pyramidal fashion. Juniper foliage may be scale-like and soft or needle-like and prickly. Junipers are available in various colors – shades of yellow, gray, blue, and/or green. Spreading junipers like Blue Star, Calgary Carpet, or Buffalo can be very low growing, mounding, arching, or even vase-shaped (Mint Julep). Spreading junipers can be used in the landscape as foundation plants in groupings to form a mass or in combination with other shrubs, trees, perennials, and/or annuals. Upright junipers like Cologreen, Medora, Moonglow or Wichita Blue grow in a tall, pyramidal form and can be used as large foundation, specimen, or accent plants. Several varieties of junipers are available in grafted, and/or sculptured forms. Most grafted junipers grow downward to create a weeping, pyramidal form. Sculptured junipers are most often pompom (balls of foliage on the end of many stems) and spiral forms. Both are used as specimen plants and must be sheared to keep their sculpted appearance.
Larch
Larix spp.
This group of very hardy, deciduous coniferous trees form soft green needles in the spring and summer. In the fall these needles turn golden yellow before they fall off. These trees prefer moist soil conditions. The most commonly available variety is the Siberian larch (Larix sibirica).
Pine
Pinus spp.
This large group of evergreen coniferous shrubs and trees has long needles in bundles of two, three, or five spirally arranged along the scaly branches. Every few years in the fall pines lose the needles close to their trunks and from their lower branches. To keep pine shrubs and trees compact prune the new growth or candles back by half each year during the month of June. Good varieties for Alberta are Scots, Mugo, and Bristlecone pines.
Spruce
Picea spp.
This large group of evergreen coniferous shrubs and trees has short square needles that are borne singly on scaly branches. Spruce usually have a pyramidal shape but dwarf rounded forms are also available. The foliage color varies from silvery-blue to deep green. Many spruce varieties provide a good contrast in the landscape and are especially attractive during the winter months. To keep spruce shrubs and trees compact prune the new growth tips back on branch by half each year during June when growth is fresh.
Colorado spruce is a favorite choice which comes in many forms: Columnar Blue - a narrow, upright form; Fat Albert - a dense, blue, wide pyramidal form; Globe Blue/Green spruce - a compact shrub form.
Another group gaining popularity is the Norway spruce. A few of the more common selections are: Birds Nest and Dwarf Norway - two of the many dwarf shrub forms; Weeping Norway - upright weeping or low sprawling habit. Norway spruce all have dark green foliage and contrasting bright new growth in spring.
