Shrubs are a great way to give year-round interest, structure, and privacy in gardens. If you live in Zone 6, you’re on the right page because we’ve listed the 30 best evergreen shrubs you can add to your backyard.
Keep reading to learn the 30 best shrubs for Zone 6 gardens!
1. Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara)
| Scientific Name | Cedrus deodara |
| Common Name | Deodar Cedar |
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 60-100 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental tree |
The Deodar Cedar is a large evergreen coniferous tree native to the Western Himalayas, from eastern Afghanistan to western Nepal. It is a fast-growing tree, reaching heights of up to 50 meters and trunk diameters of up to 3 meters.
The Deodar Cedar has needle-like leaves that vary from bright green to blue-green. It also has stout stems with grayish-brown bark that becomes scaly and fissured with age.
The flowers of the Deodar Cedar are barrel-shaped and come in clusters at the tips of branches. It’s a famous ornamental tree for its graceful, weeping branches.
The timber of the Deodar Cedar is strong and durable and is used to make construction lumber, furniture, and other products. On the other hand, its essential oil is used in perfumes, soaps, and candles.
The Deodar Cedar is a low-maintenance tree as it prefers full sun and well-drained soil and can tolerate shade and drought. It’s commonly used as a specimen tree, hedge, or screen with graceful weeping branches, making it a great addition to any landscape.
2. Desert Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua)
| Scientific Name | Sphaeralcea ambigua |
| Common Name | Desert Globemallow |
| Family | Malvaceae |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, sandy soil |
| Height | 1-3 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrubs, edible flowers, medicinal |
The Desert Globemallow is a perennial shrub native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It is a drought-tolerant plant and a valuable food source for pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
The Desert Globemallow has silvery-green leaves covered in fine hairs, which helps the tree reduce water loss. Its stems are woody and branching and can grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
One of the most unique features of the Desert Globemallow is its showy flowers, typically orange, red, pink, lavender, or white. They’re also used in traditional Native American medicine.
The Desert Globemallow is easy to grow and prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Another perk of having this tree is its drought-tolerant, so it will benefit from occasional watering during the hot summer months.
The Desert Globemallow can be used as a specimen plant, hedge, or screen, especially in rock gardens and other low-water landscapes.
3. American Holly (Ilex opaca)
| Scientific Name | Ilex opaca |
| Common Name | American Holly |
| Family | Aquifoliaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist soil |
| Height | 10-30 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub, edible fruit, medicinal |
The American Holly is a large evergreen tree native to the eastern and central United States. It is a famous ornamental tree used for its wood and fruits.
One of the most unique features of the American Holly is its bright red berries that persist until the winter months.
The American Holly has dark green, leathery elliptical leaves with sharp spines, which helps to protect the tree from herbivores. It also has a dense, pyramidal crown and can grow up to 60 feet tall.
The wood of the American Holly is hard and dense and used to make cabinets, furniture, and musical instruments, while the fruits are used to make tea and jellies.
The American Holly is a low-maintenance tree, preferring only full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. They’re excellent garden plants used as specimen trees, hedges, or screens, especially in wildlife gardens.
4. Firethorn (Pyracantha)
| Scientific Name | Pyracantha |
| Common Name | Firethorn |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 6-10 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub, edible fruit |
Firethorn is a thorny evergreen shrub native to an area from Southwest Europe east to Southeast Asia. One of the most unique features of the firethorn is its showy fruits in clusters, which are orange, red, or yellow.
Firethorn has small, oval, glossy green leaves arranged alternately on the stems and are margined with sharp teeth. Its stems are filled with thorns up to 2 inches long.
Firethorn is a valuable plant for wildlife and restoration projects. It’s also also used in traditional medicine in some cultures.
Firethorn is easy to grow as it prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It’s also drought-tolerant and relatively resistant to pests and diseases.
Firethorn can be used as a specimen plant, hedge, or screen, especially in rock gardens and other low-water landscapes.
5. Dwarf Nandina (Nandina domestica ‘Compacta’)
| Scientific Name | Nandina domestica ‘Compacta’ |
| Common Name | Dwarf Nandina |
| Family | Berberidaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 2-3 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Dwarf Nandina is a dwarf cultivar of the Nandina domestica plant. Dwarf Nandina is a popular ornamental plant known for its compact size but with attractive foliage and colorful berries.
It typically grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide, making it a good choice for small gardens or planting in containers.
Dwarf Nandina has small, fern-like leaves arranged in clusters on the stems. These leaves are dark green and can turn red-orange to purple in the fall. It produces small, white flowers in spring, followed by clusters of red berries.
Dwarf Nandina prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It makes an excellent specimen plant, hedge, or screen in rock gardens and other low-water landscapes.
6. Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa)
| Scientific Name | Lithodora diffusa |
| Common Name | Lithodora |
| Family | Boraginaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, sandy soil |
| Height | 6-12 inches |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental groundcover |
Lithodora is a low-growing, evergreen plant native to Mediterranean Europe. Lithodora is known for its showy blue flowers and mat-like growth habit.
Lithodora has small, narrow, dark green leaves arranged alternately on the stems and covered with fine hairs. The plant also produces small, funnel-shaped flowers in the spring and summer, typically bright blue, white or pink.
It’s a valuable plant for pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Lithodora can be used as a ground cover, container plant, border plant, or rock garden plant.
7. Leatherleaf Viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum)
| Scientific Name | Viburnum rhytidophyllum |
| Common Name | Leatherleaf Viburnum |
| Family | Caprifoliaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist soil |
| Height | 10-15 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub, edible fruit, medicinal |
Leatherleaf Viburnum is a large evergreen shrub native to China, Korea, and Japan. They’re famous for their distinctive foliage, showy flowers, and colorful fruit.
Leatherleaf Viburnum has large, glossy leaves with undersides covered with a dense felt of hairs, which is why the plant is named as such.
Leatherleaf Viburnum produces small, white flowers in the spring. It’s followed by clusters of dark blue berries in the fall, which ripen to black in the winter.
Leatherleaf Viburnum is easy to grow since it prefers only full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It makes an excellent specimen plant, hedge, or screen, especially in wildlife gardens.
8. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
| Scientific Name | Rosmarinus officinalis |
| Common Name | Rosemary |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, sandy soil |
| Height | 3-6 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Culinary herbs, medicinal |
Rosemary is a perennial shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It is a popular culinary herb, traditional medicine and aromatherapy.
Rosemary has evergreen, needle-like leaves with a strong, aromatic scent. It produces small, white, blue, or pink flowers in spring and summer.
Rosemary leaves add flavor to meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, and soups. It’s also used to make tea and essential oil for aromatherapy and traditional medicine.
Rosemary is easy to grow since it’s drought tolerant and prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Rosemary is a popular garden plant typically used as a specimen plant, hedge, or screen, especially in rock gardens and other low-water landscapes.
9. Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
| Scientific Name | Rhododendron spp. |
| Common Name | Rhododendron |
| Family | Ericaceae |
| Light | Partial shade to full shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, acidic soil |
| Height | 3-30 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow to medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub, medicinal |
Rhododendron is an evergreen shrub native to Asia, North America, and Europe. They’re known for their beautiful flowers, which come in white, pink, red, purple, and yellow.
Rhododendron leaves are leathery and oval-shaped. They produce flower clusters at the tips of branches that can be bell-shaped, funnel-shaped, or tubular-shaped.
Rhododendrons are slow-growing plants that prefer acidic soil, full sun to partial shade, and well-drained soil. They make excellent specimen plants, hedges, or screens in gardens.
10. White Texas Star Hibiscus (Hibiscus texanus)
| Scientific Name | Hibiscus texanus |
| Common Name | White Texas Star Hibiscus |
| Family | Malvaceae |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, sandy soil |
| Height | 3-6 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrubs, edible flowers |
The White Texas Star Hibiscus is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the southern United States and northern Mexico. It’s famous for its large, showy white flowers that can be up to 6 inches in diameter, blooming from early summer to fall.
The White Texas Star Hibiscus has large, palmately lobed leaves arranged alternately on the stems.
It’s a good choice for those who want to support native wildlife and ecosystems or busy gardeners. They’re drought-tolerant and
prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
The White Texas Star Hibiscus is a popular ornamental plant used as a specimen, border, or mass plant, especially in wildlife gardens.
11. Arborvitae (Thuja spp.)
| Scientific Name | Thuja spp. |
| Common Name | Arborvitae |
| Family | Cupressaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 10-60 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow to medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental tree or shrub |
Arborvitae is an evergreen shrub native to North America and eastern Asia. It’s known for its dense, feathery foliage and flexibility for landscaping.
Arborvitae leaves are scale-like and arranged in flattened sprays, while its stems are slender and branching, covered in a reddish-brown bark that peels in narrow strips.
The arborvitae wood is light, soft, aromatic, and resistant to decay, making it a common material for shingles, fence posts, and even guitar soundboards.
Arborvitae leaves can be used to make tea and are an effective diuretic and expectorant,
Arborvitae are easy to grow and can tolerate various growing conditions. They prefer moist, well-drained soil, growing best in full sun to partial shade.
Arborvitae are great for landscaping because of their dense, feathery foliage. They can be used as hedges, screens, topiary plants or garden specimens.
12. Weigla (Weigela florida)
| Scientific Name | Weigela florida |
| Common Name | Weigela |
| Family | Caprifoliaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 3-6 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Weigela is a deciduous shrub native to eastern Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan. Weigela is known for its funnel-shaped flowers, which bloom in the spring and summer.
Their leaves are oppositely arranged, with a deep green color on the top and a paler green color on the bottom. The stems are slender and branching and covered in a brown bark.
Weigela flowers come in pink, red, white, and yellow, making them a popular choice for landscaping. The leaves and flowers are edible and are typically used to make tea or other beverages.
Weigela is easy to grow and prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sun. Weigela makes great hedges, screens, specimen plants, borders, and walkways in gardens.
13. Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa)
| Scientific Name | Forsythia suspensa |
| Common Name | Forsythia |
| Family | Oleaceae |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 6-10 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Forsythia is a deciduous shrub from the olive family native to eastern Asia. They’re known for their showy yellow flowers, one of the first plants to bloom in the spring, lasting even after a long winter.
Forsythia leaves are oppositely arranged, while the stems are slender, branching, and covered in a brown bark. Forsythia flowers, on the other hand, are bell-shaped with four petals.
Forsythia is easy to grow and prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Forsythia can be used as hedges, screens, or specimen plants to create borders and walkways.
14. Sevenbark Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’)
| Scientific Name | Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ |
| Common Name | Sevenbark Hydrangea |
| Family | Hydrangeaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist soil |
| Height | 3-5 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Sevenbark hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to moist or rocky wooded slopes, ravines, streambanks, and bluff bases in the eastern United States since the early 1900s.
Sevenbark hydrangea is known for its large, showy flowers that are initially lime green but mature to a creamy white color.
Sevenbark hydrangea leaves are oval and oppositely arranged, while the stems are slender, branching, and covered in a gray-brown bark.
Sevenbark hydrangea prefers moist, well-drained soil and grows best in full sun or partial shade. They’re best used as hedges, screens, or specimen plants or for borders and walkways.
15. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
| Scientific Name | Hibiscus syriacus |
| Common Name | Rose of Sharon |
| Family | Malvaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 8-12 feet |
| Growth Rate | Low |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Rose of Sharon is a deciduous shrub from the mallow family and is native to eastern Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan.
Rose of Sharon is known for its large, showy flowers, which bloom in the summer and fall and come in various colors, such as pink, red, white, purple, and blue.
Rose of Sharon leaves are alternate and ovate with a serrated margin. Its stems are upright and branching and covered in a gray-brown bark.
Rose of Sharon flowers are five-petaled and trumpet-shaped, blooming in clusters of one to three flowers at the tips of the branches.
Rose of Sharon prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
Rose of Sharon is a popular landscaping choice and can commonly be used as hedges, screens, or specimen plants for borders and walkways.
16. Juniper (Juniperus spp.)
| Scientific Name | Juniperus spp. |
| Common Name | Juniper |
| Family | Cupressaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, sandy soil |
| Height | 3-60 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow to medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental tree or shrub |
Juniper is an evergreen shrub from the cypress family native to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
They’re known for their needle-like foliage and berries, which are modified cones. The stems are slender, branching, and covered in gray or brown bark.
Juniper berries are common in gin and other alcoholic beverages or are used to flavor meats, sauces, and stews. They also treat digestive problems, respiratory infections, and skin conditions.
The juniper wood is also used in furniture, musical instruments, and fence posts and extracted to make essential oils for aromatherapy.
Junipers are easy to grow and drought tolerant as they prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Junipers are great for hedges, screens, specimen plants, borders and garden walkways.
17. Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
| Scientific Name | Mahonia aquifolium |
| Common Name | Oregon Grape |
| Family | Berberidaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, acidic soil |
| Height | 3-6 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub, edible fruit, medicinal |
Oregon grape is an evergreen shrub from the barberry family and is native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. It’s known for its glossy, holly-like leaves and bright yellow flowers, which bloom in the spring.
After flowering, they produce clusters of blue-black berries, which are edible but sour and are a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife.
Oregon grape leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, and evergreen. It also has slender, stiff, upright stems covered in a gray-brown bark.
Oregon grape berries can make jelly, jam, and wine, while its leaves are used to make tea. They can also treat digestive problems, respiratory infections, and skin conditions.
Oregon grape is easy to grow, can tolerate moist, well-drained soil, and grows best in partial shade to full sun. Oregon grape is a popular choice for landscaping and used as a foundation plant, hedge, or specimen plant or to create natural areas in the garden.
18. Red-tipped Photinia (Photinia fraseri ‘Red Robin’)
| Scientific Name | Photinia fraseri ‘Red Robin’ |
| Common Name | Red-Tipped Photinia |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 6-10 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Red-tipped photinia is an evergreen shrub from the rose family widely grown in temperate regions worldwide. It’s known for its striking red new growth, which emerges in the spring.
The new leaves gradually turn dark green over the summer, but the red tips remain visible for several months. Its stems are slender, upright, and covered in a smooth, gray-brown bark.
Red-tipped photinia flowers are small and white, arranged in clusters at the tips of the branches. The flowers bloom in the spring and are followed by small, red fruits.
Red-tipped photinia is relatively easy to grow and can tolerate moist, well-drained soil, full sun or partial shade. This fast-growing plant can easily shaped into a hedge or screen or used as a specimen plant or a foundation plant in the garden.
19. Boxwood (Buxus spp.)
| Scientific Name | Buxus spp. |
| Common Name | Boxwood |
| Family | Buxaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 3-6 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Boxwood is an evergreen shrub native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It’s known for its dense, evergreen foliage and its ability to be shaped into various forms, making it ideal for hedges and topiaries.
Boxwood leaves are opposite, oval to lanceolate, and leathery, while its stems are round. They produce small, greenish-yellow flowers in the spring.
Boxwood wood is very dense and hard, making it ideal for carving, woodworking, and making musical instruments, such as flutes and clarinets.
This shrub is easy to grow as it prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. They’re often used for hedges, topiary, and foundation plantings or grown as a specimen plant.
21. Blue Enchantress Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blue Enchantress’)
| Scientific Name | Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blue Enchantress’ |
| Common Name | Blue Enchantress Hydrangea |
| Family | Hydrangeaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist soil |
| Height | 3-5 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
The Blue Enchantress Hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan and is valued for its large, mophead flowers that can be either blue or pink. It also has striking black stems, contrasting beautifully with its deep green foliage.
The Blue Enchantress Hydrangea has large, oval leaves with a glossy finish that turns a yellow-orange color in the fall before dropping. On the other hand, the stems are strong and upright and can grow three to six feet tall.
The flowers of the Blue Enchantress Hydrangea are typically blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. They can grow eight inches in diameter, blooming in late spring and early summer.
The Blue Enchantress Hydrangea prefers to grow in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. They can be used as a garden plant as a single specimen, in a mass planting, or a border or container.
22. Flowering Crabapples (Malus spp.)
| Scientific Name | Malus spp. |
| Common Name | Flowering Crabapples |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 10-20 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Use/s | Ornamental tree, edible fruit |
Flowering crabapples are native to North America, Asia, and Europe. They’re prized for their showy spring flowers and purple and attractive fruit, which can be eaten fresh, used in cooking, or made into jams and jellies.
Flowering crabapples typically have oval or elliptical leaves with a serrated margin, while the stems are strong and upright and can grow to be 10 to 25 feet tall.
The flowers of flowering crabapples are typically borne in clusters, each with five petals. Then, they produce small, round fruits that can be red, yellow, or orange.
Flowering crabapples can be eaten fresh, used in cooking, or made into jams and jellies, while their wood is used to make furniture and other woodworking projects.
Flowering crabapples prefer to grow in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. They’re best used as a single specimen, in a mass planting, in a border, or a container plant in gardens.
23. Camellias (Camellia spp.)
| Scientific Name | Camellia spp. |
| Common Name | Camellias |
| Family | Theaceae |
| Light | Partial shade to full shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, acidic soil |
| Height | 6-12 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow to medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub, edible oil |
Camellias are flowering evergreen shrubs native to eastern and southern Asia. They are prized for their showy flowers, which come in white, pink, red, and purple, and attractive leathery dark green foliage.
Camellias typically have oval or elliptical leaves with a serrated margin, and their stems are strong and upright, growing 6 to 20 feet tall.
The flowers of camellias are typically borne singly or in small clusters with five or more petals. They can be used to make tea, cooking oil or in cosmetics.
Camellias prefer to grow in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. They can be planted as a single specimen, in a mass planting, in a border or as a container plant.
24. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
| Scientific Name | Hypericum perforatum |
| Common Name | St. John’s Wort |
| Family | Clusiaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, sandy soil |
| Height | 3-6 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Medicinal |
St. John’s wort is a flowering perennial shrub native to Europe and Asia. It’s a popular herbal remedy, prized for its antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties.
St. John’s wort has oval or elliptical leaves dotted with translucent glands that contain essential oils. The stems, conversely, are erect and branching and can grow to be two to three feet tall.
The flowers of St. John’s wort are bright yellow and have five petals, blooming midsummer through the fall. This shrub is a popular herbal remedy to help treat depression, anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, wounds and burns.
St. John’s wort prefers to grow in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. They’re usually planted as a single specimen, in a mass planting, border, or container plant.
25. Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
| Scientific Name | Syringa vulgaris |
| Common Name | Lilac |
| Family | Oleaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 10-20 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Lilac is a large deciduous shrub or small tree native to southeastern Europe. It’s widely cultivated for its showy flowers and sweet fragrance that you can smell even from a distance.
Lilacs have oval or elliptical leaves with a serrated margin, while their stems are strong and upright and can grow to 10 to 20 feet tall.
The flowers of lilacs are typically borne in clusters, with four petals and can be used to make tea or jelly or a natural insect repellent.
Lilacs grow best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. They make excellent single specimens, mass planting, border or container plants in gardens.
26. Dicentra (Dicentra spectabilis)
| Scientific Name | Dicentra spectabilis |
| Common Name | Dicentra |
| Family | Fumariaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist soil |
| Height | 2-3 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental perennial |
Dicentra, also known as bleeding heart, is a herbaceous perennial shrub native to eastern Asia. It’s valued for its graceful arching stems and heart-shaped flowers in shades of pink and white.
Bleeding hearts have ferny, divided leaves that are a soft green and die back in the summer. The flowering stems of bleeding hearts can grow up to 3 feet tall, with heart-shaped flowers blooming in the spring for several weeks.
This shrub thrives in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil. They’re best used as single specimens in a mass planting, border, or container planting.
27. Shadbush (Amelanchier canadensis)
| Scientific Name | Amelanchier canadensis |
| Common Name | Shadbush |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, loamy soil |
| Height | 15-25 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental tree, edible fruit |
Shadbush is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. It’s valued for its showy white flowers that bloom in early spring, followed by edible berries that ripen in late spring or early summer.
Shadbush has oval or elliptical leaves with a serrated margin and solid and upright stems, reaching 15 to 25 feet tall. The shadbush berries are edible, can be eaten fresh, cooked, or dried, and used to make jams, jellies, and pies.
Shadbush prefers to grow in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. They’re excellent in gardens as single specimens, in a mass planting, in a border or for container planting.
28. Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
| Scientific Name | Aronia arbutifolia |
| Common Name | Red chokeberry |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist soil |
| Height | 6-12 feet |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub, edible fruit, medicinal |
Red chokeberry is a deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub native to eastern North America. It’s prized for its glossy dark green leaves, bright red fall foliage, and clusters of white flowers in spring.
Red chokeberry has oval or elliptical leaves with strong, upright stems that can grow 6 to 10 feet tall. The flowers of red chokeberry are borne in clusters with five petals, while its berries are small and round in red to purple color.
The fruits of the red chokeberry have a tart flavor and are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, and iron. They can also be used to make jams, jellies, and pies. The berries are
Red chokeberry prefers to grow in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. They can be used as garden plants in various ways, such as a single specimen, in a mass planting, in a border or for container planting.
29. Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
| Scientific Name | Itea virginica |
| Common Name | Virginia sweet spire |
| Family | Hydrangeaceae |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, moist soil |
| Height | 6-10 feet |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Virginia sweetspire is a deciduous shrub native to the southeastern United States, valued for its fragrant white flowers, gracefully arching branches, and attractive fall foliage.
Virginia sweetspire has oval or elliptical leaves with a serrated margin. Its stems are slender and arching, growing 3 to 10 feet tall.
The flowers bloom in drooping racemes with five petals and a sweet fragrance you can enjoy from afar. They’re a good source of nectar for bees and other pollinators.
Virginia sweetspire prefers to grow in moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. It can be used as a garden plant in various ways, such as a single specimen, in a mass planting, in a border or for container planting.
30. Drooping Leucothoe (Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Nana’)
| Scientific Name | Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Nana’ |
| Common Name | Drooping Leucothoe |
| Family | Ericaceae |
| Light | Partial shade to full shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, acidic soil |
| Height | 3-5 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Use/s | Ornamental shrub |
Drooping Leucothoe is a compact, evergreen shrub native to North America. It’s famous for its glossy dark green leaves, graceful arching branches, and white bell-shaped flowers in spring.
They have oval or elliptical leaves with a serrated margin and stems that are slender and arching, reaching 2 to 3 feet tall. The flowers of Drooping Leucothoe are borne in drooping racemes, with five petals and a sweet fragrance.
Drooping Leucothoe prefers to grow in moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. They make excellent garden plants as a single specimen, in a mass planting, in a border or for container planting.
FAQs on Evergreen Shrubs on Zone 6
The fastest-growing evergreen shrub in Zone 6 is the Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata ‘Green Giant’). It can grow three to five feet per year and reach 30 to 40 feet tall at maturity and makes excellent privacy screens, windbreaks, and hedges.
Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) is the longest-living evergreen plant and can live for over 5,000 years. This slow-growing tree is native to the western United States and can withstand harsh environments.
The fastest-growing evergreen plant in the world is the Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla). It can grow up to 6 feet per year in ideal conditions and is a famous ornamental tree often used in tropical and subtropical climates.
The tallest privacy shrub is the Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii), which can grow 60 to 70 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. This fast-growing evergreen is a popular choice for privacy screens and hedges because it can grow tall and wide.
