In zone 7a Virginia, wax myrtles can get pretty ugly after a cold winter. Our average winters are mild but once a decade we get a cold one. Have you considered a laurel?

It would also be pretty unusual for a wax myrtle to achieve 20 feet. Typically, they are much shorter when grown under culitvation.

Yes, cecily got it... I'm in Virginia (outside of DC).. good info about Wax Myrtle during winter, might look elsewhere then. How well do they grow after getting established?

In my mind laurel are even shorter and slower growing than a Wax Myrtle would be? But maybe I'm wrong or there is a different variety?

The two areas I'm looking for screening would be one set of windows about 5 feet off the ground, and one a bit higher, that I know nothing would provide screening for several years. It's mainly winter season screening I am looking for hence the quest for evergreen.

Anyone know what type of tree this is? This is from late Feburary in Washington DC... I didn't get super close to it, but from what I can tell the leaves looked larger than a Holly, but smaller than a Magnolia, the fact that it's so dark green in the winter had me fascinated.

Zoomed in:

Since you're in northern Virginia, get thee to Merrifield Gardens. There is a location in Merrifield (duh!) in Fairfax county and one in Gainesville (Prince William county). Pet the spineless hollies, ogle the schip laurels and chat with nursery employees who know their stuff and give meaningful advice.

ETA: For the shorter section of screening, consider camellias.

Maybe sweet bay magnolia, Magnolia virginiana. Certainly appropriate to the location.

Thanks for the responses. I'll probably take your advice and check out both Merrifield Garden Center and Meadows Farms.

I agree the Sweet Bay Magnolia could be a good option... will check out the spineless holly as well.

Merrifield has an astonishing selection and correspondingly higher prices. You can find some neat plants there. Both do delivery & installation and both guarantee the plants.

My M. virginiana trees are not evergreen here in Alexandria. They hold onto a few sparse leaves, but nothing like hollies or camellias. Nonetheless, I do love them and may add one or two more to the backyard. I have a camellia I bought years ago at Behnke's. It is over 8 feet tall at this point and blooming like mad right now with lots more buds. My schip laurel is a very slow grower as is my Morella pennsylvanica (Northern Bayberry). For the last 5-10 years I have been adding more natives. Maybe the Ilex glabra (inkberry holly) would suit your purposes if you want a native Virginia shrub.

ETA. If you are near Purcellville or in the mood for a country drive, there is a native nursery near there. Watermark Woods. I have not been, but plan to head to it this spring. Be careful at Merrifield-it used to be my go-to spot, but I will not buy annuals or perennials there any more because they said they could not guarantee their plants are free of neoniccotinoids (neo-nics) which kill bees and other pollinators. I was so disappointed, especially since my son gives me a gift certificate from there every year. I have bought trees the last two years.

Cyn427, great info thank you! Had no idea the magnolia would lose leaves... That saves me a lot of future frustration.

Thanks for the other suggestions as well, will look into .

Thanks for the other suggestions as well, will look into thethethemthethethe.

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OK Jeff, I think you need to give us some dimensions to work with. Many trees should not be planted near the house because of their size and it makes it difficult to maintain the siding, utilities, etc.

So there are several kinds of Mag virginiana. Mag. virginiana var. australis is evergreen. So if you like those, you should get a var. australis. They can get quite large though. Named varieties of that might include 'Henry Hicks', ‘Apalache’ , or 'Moonglow', if you can find them. Ask for an evergreen one at your better garden center. But try to find someone who really knows Magnolias. You don't want a deciduous one. I have a variegated one called 'Mattie Mae Smith'. Sweet bay magnolies are not known to be particularly dense though. So maybe not the best for screening unless you have a lot of space to let it get big.

For a protected and sheltered spot, some of the Magnolia figo (Banana shrub) varieties might work. I have 'Stellar Ruby' which is taking on a compact upright form.

There are other less spiny hollies. Check out Ilex x 'Virginia'. It's available at Merrifield Garden Center. It's beautiful! There's a similar one called 'Scepter', which can be seen at Green Spring Gardens behind the visitor center. But it's hard to locate in commerce. I was able to find one in Baltimore and it's a really nice small tree! Other less spiny hollies (but hard to find) include 'Spartan', x wandoensis, Blue Maid, Castle Spire.

Some of the Japanese hollies can grow big and can be sheared. No spines! They appreciate a bit of shade and good drainage.

Hollies will stand up to snow loads much better than Wax Myrtle, by the way.

Osmanthus x burkwoodii has small leaves and white flowers in early spring. Can be sheared into a very compact upright conical shape. If you can find it.

Ilex integra is a spineless species of holly that is quite nice. Mine, called 'Ogon', has new bright yellow-green foliage in spring and early summer. You can probably only get that one through mail-order.

Prunus laurocerasus 'schipkaensis' is always a good bet, if you can keep it watered during droughts.

There's also an evergreen Dogwood, Cornus capitata 'Empress of China'. Really nice! If you can find it. Sometimes Merrifield carries it. It's more of a spreading small tree.

Prunus caroliniana 'Bright n Tight' is a more compact Caroline cherry laurel.

If you have a somewhat shady location, Camellia japonica is always nice, but slow growing.

If deer are not an issue, there are Euonymus japonicus varieties - some all-green, some variegated, like 'Silver King'. But be warned, they are just about the favorite winter food of deer.

Aucuba japonica tends to get wide, but can be sheared more upright. Very dense and prefers some shade. Deer will eat this too.

Ternstroemia gymnanthera(so-called Cleyera) is a nice spineless upright grower with really glossy leaves. Not much for blooming, but would be attractive as large shrub/small tree. Deer don't bother mine.

Beyond broad-leafed evergreens there are many conifers that are upright and narrow.