53 Best Low Maintenance Evergreen Shrubs

Ralph Astley is a retired gardener from Philadelphia who specializes in outdoor plants and trees. With years of hands-on experience, Ralph not only cares for a diverse range of outdoor flora but also shares his extensive knowledge through well-written articles and social media posts. A trusted authority in arboriculture, he's committed to helping the community grow healthier, more robust gardens.
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Are you tired of spending all your free time tending to your garden? Here are the Best Low Maintenance Evergreen Shrubs for you!

We have the Best Low-Maintenance Evergreen Shrubs that will help you enjoy your outdoor space without the hassle of constant maintenance.

Have a look at the best winter flowering shrubs here


Best Low Maintenance Evergreen Shrubs

1. Azalea

Low Maintenance Evergreen Shrubs 1

Botanical Name: Rhododendron

These stunning low-maintenance evergreen shrubs have clusters of beautiful flowers in a variety of colors, from pink to white to red.

Here is How to Grow Azalea in Pots

2. Arp Rosemary

Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis Arp

For a bit of spice in your garden, consider the Arp Rosemary. This fragrant herb is not only beautiful but also tough and drought-resistant in nature.

3. August Beauty Gardenia

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Botanical Name: Gardenia jasminoides

This shrub produces large, fragrant flowers in the summer, making it a favorite of gardeners and pollinators alike.

Learn about Growing Gardenias in Pots here

4. Bird’s Nest Spruce

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Botanical Name: Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub has a unique shape that resembles a bird’s nest, adding a touch of fun and personality to your landscape.

5. Blue Princess Holly

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Botanical Name: Ilex × meserveae

This evergreen shrub produces glossy green leaves and bright red berries in the winter, making it a favorite of birds.

6. Compact Maximum Rhodendron

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Botanical Name: Rhododendron maximum ‘Compacta’

For a splash of color, consider the Compact Maximum Rhodendron. This shrub produces stunning pink flowers in the spring and has glossy green leaves year-round.

7. Cherry Laurel

Botanical Name: Prunus laurocerasus

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub produces fragrant white flowers in the spring and has glossy green leaves year-round.

8. Camellia

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Botanical Name: Camellia japonica

If you’re looking for a shrub that is both low maintenance and produces beautiful flowers, then the camellia is the one for you.

9. Chinese Privet

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Botanical Name: Ligustrum sinense ‘Sunshine’

This shrub features bright yellow-green leaves that add a sunny disposition to any garden. It’s also easy to maintain and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions.

10. Dwarf Alberta Spruce

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Botanical Name: Picea glauca

For a bit of texture in your garden, consider the Dwarf Alberta Spruce. This easy-to-care shrub has a unique shape and produces soft, fluffy needles.

Here are Ornamental Dwarf Evergreen Trees

11. Dwarf Japanese Black Pine

Botanical Name: Pinus thunbergii ‘Kotobuki’

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub has a unique shape that is easy to maintain and produces bright green needles that stay green year-round.

12. Dwarf Mugo Pine

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Botanical Name: Pinus mugo

For a bit of drama in your garden, consider the Dwarf Mugo Pine. This shrub has a unique shape and produces dark green needles that add a touch of personality to your landscape.

13. Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce

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Botanical Name: Picea pungens glauca

If you want to add color and texture, consider the Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce. This shrub produces soft, fluffy needles that are a beautiful shade of blue.

Here is Everything About Growing Blue Spruce Tree

14. Emerald Fountain Canadian Hemlock

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Botanical Name: Tsuga canadensis

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub produces soft, feathery needles and has a unique, conical shape.

15. Eternal Fragrance Daphne

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Botanical Name: Daphne x transatlantica ‘BLAFRA’

This shrub produces stunning pink flowers in the winter, and its fragrance is sure to delight your senses.

16. Fire Chief Globe Arborvitae

Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis ‘Congabe

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub is quite easy to maintain and looks the part with its colorful foliage that gets the best shade in full sun.

Learn How to Plant Thuja here

17. Fragrant Tea Olive

Botanical Name: Osmanthus fragrans

This evergreen shrub produces stunning white flowers with a sweet fragrance. It’s a great choice to add a touch of charm to their garden.

18. False Cypress Golden Charm

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Botanical Name: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Charm’

With its feathery golden foliage, this shrub adds a touch of whimsy to any garden. Despite its flashy appearance, it’s surprisingly low maintenance.

19. False Holly

Botanical Name: Osmanthus heterophyllus

This shrub features glossy green leaves and produces fragrant white flowers in the spring. It’s a great choice for those who want a shrub that looks great year-round.

20. Firethorn Shrub

Botanical Name: Pyracantha x ‘Mohave’

This evergreen thorny shrub produces clusters of bright red berries in the fall and winter, making it a favorite of birds.

21. Golden Mop Cypress

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Botanical Name: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’

This shrub features fine, golden foliage that adds a soft and fluffy look to any garden. It’s also incredibly low maintenance, making it a great choice for newbie gardeners.

22. Gem Box Inkberry Holly

Botanical Name: Ilex glabra

This magnificent shrub is a true gem in the world of landscaping and gardening, and it’s easy to see. With its compact, rounded shape, it is a showstopper!

23. Green Gem Boxwood

Botanical Name: Buxus microphylla var. koreana x Buxus sempervirens

Gem Box Inkberry Holly is another true gem! With its glossy, dark green foliage, this shrub is the perfect addition to any garden looking to add a touch of elegance and sophistication.

24. Green Mountain Boxwood

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Botanical Name: Buxus microphylla var. japonica ‘Green Mountain’

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub stands out with its vibrant green leaves and compact, dense growth, making it the perfect choice for any hedge or border.

25. Green Velvet Boxwood

Botanical Name: Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Green Velvet’

If we are speaking of green, we can’t forget the Green Velvet Boxwoods! This shrub is simply stunning, with its lush foliage and neat, tidy growth habit.

26. Harland Boxwood

Botanical Name: Buxus harlandii

This classic evergreen is a staple in many gardens and for a good reason! Its dense, bushy habit and bright green leaves make it a standout in any landscape.

27. Hinoki Cypress

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Botanical Name: Chamaecyparis obtusa

And for those who love a little variety, we have the Hinoki Cypress – with its unique, textured foliage and striking color; this shrub is sure to turn heads.

28. Heather Shrub

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Botanical Name: Calluna vulgaris

This evergreen shrub produces beautiful flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white and requires very little upkeep. It’s also a great choice for those who want to attract pollinators.

Learn about Growing Heather in Pots here

29. Hollywood Juniper

Botanical Name: Juniperus chinensis

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub is another star of the show! Its shimmering silver-blue foliage and sculptural growth habit make it a true statement piece in any garden.

30. Holly Shrubs

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Botanical Name: Ilex

For those who love a little drama, we have the Holly Shrubs – with their glossy leaves and vibrant berries; these shrubs are the perfect addition to any holiday display.

31. Indian Hawthorn

Botanical Name: Rhaphiolepis indica

This evergreen shrub produces delicate pink and white flowers in the spring and has glossy green leaves year-round.

32. Inkberry Evergreen

Botanical Name: Ilex glabra

These shrubs produce blackberries that, are a favorite of birds, and have dark green leaves that stay green year-round. And best of all, they require very little maintenance.

33. Juniper

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Botanical Name: Juniperus communis

With its sturdy and adaptable nature, the juniper can withstand almost any type of weather condition. Plus, it requires little to no pruning!

34. Japanese Barberry

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Botanical Name: Berberis thunbergii

With its spiky branches and bold red foliage, this low-maintenance evergreen shrub adds a touch of drama to any garden.

35. Japanese Aralia

Botanical Name: Fatsia japonica

The hardy Japanese Aralia, also known as Fatsia Japonica, is a striking plant with large, glossy leaves that resemble the shape of an umbrella.

36. Japanese Skimmia

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Botanical Name: Skimmia japonica

The Japanese Skimmia is a hardy plant that thrives in partial shade and moist, well-draining soil, making it a perfect addition to a woodland garden or shady corner.

37. Little Gem Norway Spruce

Botanical Name: Picea abies

For all those who love a little bit of whimsy, we have the Little Gem Norway Spruce – with its adorable size and charming personality, this shrub is sure to steal your heart.

38. Lovely Boxwood

Botanical Name: Buxus sempervirens

This shrub is perfect for any garden and requires very little upkeep. With its dense foliage and compact growth, the boxwood is a great choice for creating hedges or borders.

39. Mahonia Evergreen Shrubs

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Botanical Name: Euonymus kiautschovicus

With their bold, spiky leaves and fragrant flowers, these low-maintenance evergreen shrubs are a true force to be reckoned with.

40. Moon Frost Hemlock

Botanical Name: Tsuga canadensis

Moon Frost Hemlock is a beautiful coniferous tree with striking blue-green needles and delicate white tips, giving it a frosty appearance.

41. Moonglow Juniper

Botanical Name: Juniperus scopulorum

Moonglow Juniper is a striking evergreen shrub with silvery-blue needles that shimmer in the sunlight. This is a hardy plant that thrives in a variety of growing conditions.

42. Oregon Grape Holly

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Botanical Name: Berberis

This evergreen, drought-resistant shrub produces beautiful yellow flowers in the spring, followed by clusters of deep blue berries in the fall.

43. Perfume Princess Daphne

Botanical Name: Daphne odora

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub produces stunning pink flowers in the winter, and its fragrance is sure to delight your senses.

44. Red Robin Photinia

Botanical Name: Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’

With its bright red leaves and delicate white flowers, Photinia ‘Red Robin’ shrub adds a touch of whimsy to any garden.

45. Sea Green Juniper

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Botanical Name: Juniperus chinensis ‘Sea Green’

This evergreen shrub produces soft, feathery needles and has a unique, conical shape that adds a touch of elegance to your landscape.

46. Sky Pencil Holly

Botanical Name: Ilex crenata

For a touch of drama in your garden, consider the Sky Pencil Holly. This shrub has a tall, narrow shape. It’s a great choice for those who want a low-maintenance plant.

47. Soft Caress Mahonia

Botanical Name: Mahonia eubracteata

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub produces soft, feathery leaves and has a unique, graceful shape that adds a touch of whimsy to your landscape.

48. Southern Wax Myrtle

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Botanical Name: Myrica cerifera

If you’re looking for a plant that’s both beautiful and functional, the Southern Wax Myrtle is a great choice. It is really easy to look after.

49. Texas Sage

Botanical Name: Leucophyllum frutescens

This evergreen shrub produces delicate purple flowers in the summer and has silver-green leaves that stay green year-round.

Learn How to Grow Texas Sage Plant in Pots here

50. Victory Pyracantha

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Botanical Name: Pyracantha koidzumii

This evergreen shrub adds color to your space – as it produces clusters of bright red berries in the fall and has a unique, thorny shape. Surprisingly it is easy to care for and grow.

51. Winter Creeper

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Botanical Name: Euonymus fortune

For a bit of texture and color, consider the Wintercreeper. This evergreen shrub produces soft, leathery leaves that turn a beautiful shade of red in the fall.

52. Winter Gem Boxwood

Botanical Name: Buxus microphylla var. japonica

This low-maintenance evergreen shrub produces glossy green leaves year-round and has a unique, rounded shape.

53. Yew Shrub

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Botanical Name: Taxus baccata

This evergreen is perfect for those who want to add some height to their garden without having to prune and shape it constantly.

Here are the Best Evergreen Vines for Year-Round Interest

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7 COMMENTS

  1. Hi, team,

    I’m missing the wonderful Sweetbox or Christmasbox.
    Genus: Sarcococca

    Had to tell you.
    Best regards and keep up the good work.

  2. You are talking about the flowers of the bushes and many of them didn’t have flowers, what’s your point of having a picture in it on the first place?

  3. Any article with any plant descriptions should include their cultivation zone, resistance to deer browsing, and whether they are native to north America. Throwing in water needs and size info would also be helpful.

  4. Chinese privets are considered a non native invasive nuisance in Virginia and a plant to be eradicated!! Sad to see it in this list.

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