Top Cold-Hardy Evergreens for Container Gardens
These tough beauties look good year-round and add consistency to container arrangements
Stalwart shrubs like boxwood, dwarf conifers and cotoneaster can happily live in good-sized containers for years, providing year-round interest and cutting down on the need to repot from season to season. In warmer months, they can act as green backdrops for seasonal flowers tucked in around the base, while in the cold season they can stand proudly on their own or wrapped in holiday lights. Here are eight top cold-hardy beauties to consider that look fabulous in containers year-round.
1. Boxwood
(Buxus spp.)
Perhaps the most popular evergreen for containers, boxwood can be shaped any way you’d like or kept in more natural forms. Choose smaller container-friendly varieties like ‘Green Mountain’ or ‘Green Gem’. Boxwood in full winter sun can be susceptible to “winter burn” — when leaves and small twigs turn orange-brown. The symptoms are due to the leaves dehydrating and becoming freeze-dried. To avoid it, keep some moisture in the soil when temperatures dip and position pots out of direct sun in areas where the ground freezes.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone), depending on variety
Origin: Wide native range, including parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and North and Central America
Water requirement: Moderate to low; drought-tolerant once established
Light requirement: Partial shade to full sun
Mature size: Can reach about 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide, but very slow growing; choose dwarf varieties for containers.
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
Read more about growing boxwood
(Buxus spp.)
Perhaps the most popular evergreen for containers, boxwood can be shaped any way you’d like or kept in more natural forms. Choose smaller container-friendly varieties like ‘Green Mountain’ or ‘Green Gem’. Boxwood in full winter sun can be susceptible to “winter burn” — when leaves and small twigs turn orange-brown. The symptoms are due to the leaves dehydrating and becoming freeze-dried. To avoid it, keep some moisture in the soil when temperatures dip and position pots out of direct sun in areas where the ground freezes.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone), depending on variety
Origin: Wide native range, including parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and North and Central America
Water requirement: Moderate to low; drought-tolerant once established
Light requirement: Partial shade to full sun
Mature size: Can reach about 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide, but very slow growing; choose dwarf varieties for containers.
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
Read more about growing boxwood
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2. Dwarf Mugo Pine
(Pinus mugo var. pumilio)
In the coldest regions, you can’t go wrong with dwarf conifers for year-round interest. If you’re looking for a rounded shape, gum-drop like dwarf mugo pine is your best bet. Plants grow very slowly and maintain a mounded form without pruning, although some pruning in spring can even out shape and control size.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 7)
Water requirement: Low once established
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Very slow growing, from 3 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide — takes 10 years to reach maturity
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
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(Pinus mugo var. pumilio)
In the coldest regions, you can’t go wrong with dwarf conifers for year-round interest. If you’re looking for a rounded shape, gum-drop like dwarf mugo pine is your best bet. Plants grow very slowly and maintain a mounded form without pruning, although some pruning in spring can even out shape and control size.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 7)
Water requirement: Low once established
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Very slow growing, from 3 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide — takes 10 years to reach maturity
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
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3. Dwarf Blue Spruce
(Picea pungens)
With silver-blue needles and many garden-size hybrids to choose from, dwarf blue spruce make for standout container plants in cold-winter climates. For a small, conical tree, look for P. pungens ‘Sester Dwarf’, which slowly grows to 12 feet tall in the ground but can be kept smaller in containers. For a mounded form, try P. pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’, which reaches 3 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide in the ground and stays smaller in containers.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.8 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 8)
Origin: Native to the Rocky Mountains
Water requirement: Moderate, low once established
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Varies by dwarf variety
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
(Picea pungens)
With silver-blue needles and many garden-size hybrids to choose from, dwarf blue spruce make for standout container plants in cold-winter climates. For a small, conical tree, look for P. pungens ‘Sester Dwarf’, which slowly grows to 12 feet tall in the ground but can be kept smaller in containers. For a mounded form, try P. pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’, which reaches 3 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide in the ground and stays smaller in containers.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.8 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 8)
Origin: Native to the Rocky Mountains
Water requirement: Moderate, low once established
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Varies by dwarf variety
Seasonal interest: Evergreen
4. ‘Emerald Green’ Arborvitae
(Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’ or ‘Smaragd’)
Not all arborvitae grow well in containers, but smaller cultivars like ‘Emerald Green’ do well in a larger pot. The cultivar, developed in Denmark, is also sometimes called ‘Smaragd’ — the Danish word for “emerald.” Given its northern origins, it’s no surprise that it’s also particularly cold-hardy.
Dense green foliage makes this a standout plant for screening. Prune new growth to keep the plant’s shape; old wood does not sprout where it’s cut.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.8 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 7)
Origin: Cultivar of eastern U.S. native
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 12 to 14 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet in the landscape but stays much smaller in containers
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
(Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’ or ‘Smaragd’)
Not all arborvitae grow well in containers, but smaller cultivars like ‘Emerald Green’ do well in a larger pot. The cultivar, developed in Denmark, is also sometimes called ‘Smaragd’ — the Danish word for “emerald.” Given its northern origins, it’s no surprise that it’s also particularly cold-hardy.
Dense green foliage makes this a standout plant for screening. Prune new growth to keep the plant’s shape; old wood does not sprout where it’s cut.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.8 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 7)
Origin: Cultivar of eastern U.S. native
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 12 to 14 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet in the landscape but stays much smaller in containers
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
5. Japanese Skimmia
(Skimmia japonica)
These evergreen shrubs offer glossy foliage year-round as well as winter color in the form of pinkish red buds that form in fall and last through the cold season. Plants have both male and female forms. Choose male ones for the most decorative buds and spring flowers. Female plants have less conspicuous flowers but, if pollinated, produce showy red berries.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 15 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 9)
Origin: Native to China, Japan and Southeast Asia
Water requirement: Moderate; thrives in slightly moist but well-draining soil
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall and up to 5 feet wide; stays much smaller in containers
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage, decorative buds in winter, flowers in spring, followed by berries on female plants
(Skimmia japonica)
These evergreen shrubs offer glossy foliage year-round as well as winter color in the form of pinkish red buds that form in fall and last through the cold season. Plants have both male and female forms. Choose male ones for the most decorative buds and spring flowers. Female plants have less conspicuous flowers but, if pollinated, produce showy red berries.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 15 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 9)
Origin: Native to China, Japan and Southeast Asia
Water requirement: Moderate; thrives in slightly moist but well-draining soil
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall and up to 5 feet wide; stays much smaller in containers
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage, decorative buds in winter, flowers in spring, followed by berries on female plants
6. Japanese Pieris
(Pieris japonica)
Aptly called lily-of-the-valley shrub for its clusters of bell-shaped flowers with white and pale pink hues in spring, Japanese pieris provides interest year-round through its decorative foliage. New growth emerges reddish bronze and matures to glossy green. In winter gardens, variegated hybrids, such as ‘White Rim’, look as though they are edged with frost. Try these plants in mixed containers with other evergreens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 8)
Origin: Native to Japan, Taiwan and eastern China
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 9 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide; stays much smaller in a container
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage; spring flowers
(Pieris japonica)
Aptly called lily-of-the-valley shrub for its clusters of bell-shaped flowers with white and pale pink hues in spring, Japanese pieris provides interest year-round through its decorative foliage. New growth emerges reddish bronze and matures to glossy green. In winter gardens, variegated hybrids, such as ‘White Rim’, look as though they are edged with frost. Try these plants in mixed containers with other evergreens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 8)
Origin: Native to Japan, Taiwan and eastern China
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 9 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide; stays much smaller in a container
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage; spring flowers
7. Rock Cotoneaster
(Cotoneaster horizontalis)
Grown in a container or trained against a wall, rock cotoneaster will creep and drape surfaces with horizontal branches covered in micro-leaves and decorative berries in winter. Plants are evergreen in most of their range but may lose their leaves in winter in the coldest areas. They make a perfect addition to cottage-style gardens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 7)
Origin: Native to China
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet wide and 5 to 8 feet tall; stays smaller in containers
Seasonal interest: Winter berries
Read more about growing rock cotoneaster
(Cotoneaster horizontalis)
Grown in a container or trained against a wall, rock cotoneaster will creep and drape surfaces with horizontal branches covered in micro-leaves and decorative berries in winter. Plants are evergreen in most of their range but may lose their leaves in winter in the coldest areas. They make a perfect addition to cottage-style gardens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 7)
Origin: Native to China
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet wide and 5 to 8 feet tall; stays smaller in containers
Seasonal interest: Winter berries
Read more about growing rock cotoneaster
8. Juniper
(Juniperus spp.)
Junipers range in all shapes, sizes and needle colors, from chartreuse to blue-green, and the smaller varieties make wonderful container plants. Try cascading J. horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’ to spill over the side of a container or J. squamata ‘Blue Star’, which has a compact, rounded form studded with small, star-like silver-blue needles.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (zone 3 to 9); hardiness varies by species
Origin: Native to Europe, North America, Asia and parts of African and Central America
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Varies widely from small ground covers to large trees
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
Read more about growing creeping juniper
(Juniperus spp.)
Junipers range in all shapes, sizes and needle colors, from chartreuse to blue-green, and the smaller varieties make wonderful container plants. Try cascading J. horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’ to spill over the side of a container or J. squamata ‘Blue Star’, which has a compact, rounded form studded with small, star-like silver-blue needles.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (zone 3 to 9); hardiness varies by species
Origin: Native to Europe, North America, Asia and parts of African and Central America
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Varies widely from small ground covers to large trees
Seasonal interest: Evergreen foliage
Read more about growing creeping juniper
Planting Notes
Plants in containers can be more susceptible to cold damage — particularly if the soil has dried out or if the pot is in an exposed location. To set container gardens up for success, choose evergreens that are hardy to a zone or two below your usual USDA Hardiness Zone, place them in bright but sheltered locations and water accordingly to plant tag guidelines.
In general, conifers are the most cold-hardy evergreens, whereas broad-leaf plants such as boxwood and Japanese skimmia are hardy but cannot tolerate extremely low winter temperatures.
More on Houzz
12 Gorgeous Flowers and Shrubs for Winter Gardens
Read more gardening guides
Find a design or remodeling pro near you
Shop for outdoor pots and planters
Plants in containers can be more susceptible to cold damage — particularly if the soil has dried out or if the pot is in an exposed location. To set container gardens up for success, choose evergreens that are hardy to a zone or two below your usual USDA Hardiness Zone, place them in bright but sheltered locations and water accordingly to plant tag guidelines.
In general, conifers are the most cold-hardy evergreens, whereas broad-leaf plants such as boxwood and Japanese skimmia are hardy but cannot tolerate extremely low winter temperatures.
More on Houzz
12 Gorgeous Flowers and Shrubs for Winter Gardens
Read more gardening guides
Find a design or remodeling pro near you
Shop for outdoor pots and planters
Shop for Outdoor Pots and Planters
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Rick Miller
9 days ago
We’ve been using dwarf blue spruces for years in cast iron and concrete urns. And while the blue spruces in our garden, (different species of course), grow larger every year, the dwarfs in the containers never appreciably get bigger;
we prefer.
Also, it gets cold here, -20 in winter and we have never lost one.
And concrete and cast iron never crack.
They are of course more expensive, but we think of them as forever pots.
coray
2 days ago
F F