1. Abelia
This bushy shrub has compact, evergreen foliage of a dark, shiny green that takes on purple or copper tones in autumn. From June to autumn, the abelia is covered witha generous flowering generally white, slightly pink. It can be installed in full sun, but also in partial shade.
Rustic, it withstands temperatures down to -20°C. Abelia comes in different varieties that differ in the shape of their flowers, bell or tubular, as well as the degree of persistence of their foliage. Be careful when buying!
2. Rosemary
Rosemary is an aromatic plant that evokes the sun. And for good reason, it can be grown without difficulty in full sun. It can then reach a height of 1.5 meters.
Very easy to live with, it requires very little maintenance and withstands periods of drought once in place, as well as cold spells down to -15°C. Its evergreen foliage is dense, dark green on top and silver on the reverse, and is covered with a delicate bloom from the start of the year.
3. Oleander
More chilly, the oleander is a shrub that cannot be planted in the ground than in regions where the climate is mild. In the others, it must be grown in pots to be sheltered in winter. In both cases, the more it is exposed to the sun and protected from the winds, the more its flowering will be beautiful and generous. If we are more accustomed to the latter being pink, some cultivars offer white or red flowering.
4. Pittosporum
Pittosporum comes in different varieties which all offer evergreen shrubs that can be grown in full sun. The difference between the varieties lies in the color of the foliage which can then be green, variegated, underlined with pink, etc.
When choosing your pittosporum variety, make sure that its growing conditions and hardiness match your requirements. Know that there are 200 species of shrubsenough to meet all your expectations!
5. Olive Tree
Emblematic of the South, this small tree sports silvery-green evergreen foliage that will beautify your garden all year round. Not supporting the temperatures below -10°Cit will need to be planted in a pot in regions with colder winters.
This will allow you to bring it in from the first frosts. It needs to be planted in a sunny location with well-drained soil. It also has the advantage of withstanding drought well.
6. Myrtle
The myrtle is a shrub that has a crazy charm whatever the season. In summer, you will appreciate its white and fragrant flowers. Over the 4 seasons, you will enjoy its lanceolate, dense, fragrant and persistent foliage. In autumn, its bluish-black berries come to feed the birds. To benefit from all this, offer it a sunny location with drained soil.
7. Cistus
This small Mediterranean shrub has hairy, evergreen foliage. In spring or summer, it is covered with flowers which last only one day and are constantly renewed. The bloom can be white, pink, mauve or yellow. Follower of full sun, it has no requirements as to the nature of the soil: even dry soil, even stony, suits it. It withstands temperatures negative down to -10°C.
8. Arbutus
Commonly called the strawberry tree, this very ornamental shrub is also appreciated for its edible fruits. It requires little maintenance and thrives particularly in regions with a mild climate where its fruiting is assured and abundant. This preference does not prevent it from withstanding temperatures down to -17°C. It is a shrub that can also be grown in pots.
9. Mexican orange tree
Despite its origins, this shrub is very hardy and will easily find its place in a bed, in a free hedge, but also isolated. He can be grown both in pots and in the ground. From the end of spring, it is covered with a pretty white bloom which can be renewed at the end of summer. With its evergreen, shiny foliage, dark green to golden yellow, it will bring a touch of greenery to your garden all year round. It’s a undemanding shrub which thrives in full sun.
10. Japanese Charcoal
This very decorative shrub by its evergreen and dense foliage is widely used due to its high resistance. Hardy, it withstands temperatures ranging down to -15°C. Its discrete flowering does not present any real interest. It comes in different varieties that are distinguished from each other by the color of their foliage and their habit.
11. Mahonia
Mahonia is an evergreen but prickly shrub. In winter or spring, depending on the region, it is covered with a bright yellow bloom, followed by fruits of a bluish black hue. It is a hardy shrub that only requires little maintenance.
12. Wrinkle-leaved viburnum
Viburnum is a vigorous shrub with thick branches covered in dark green evergreen foliage. During the spring, it is covered with small cream-coloured flowers, followed by inedible berries, but very decorative. Viburnum can be grown in full sun in ordinary soil. Rustic, it supports temperatures down to -20°C.
13. Eleagnus
There are different varieties of eleagnus. Among them, some have evergreen foliage. Ultra resistantthis shrub withstands pollution, drought, spray and repeated pruning.
Whatever the variety, these are easy to grow plants which fear only the stagnant humidity of a very heavy soil and which require to be planted in full sun. When buying an eleagnus, you can choose from the different species to find the shrub that best meets your foliage expectations.
14. Ceanothe
With its dazzling colors, the céanothe is an ornamental shrub that will not fail to attract the eye. Here again, it will be necessary to choose a species characterized by persistent foliage, such as the lilac of California ‘Puget blue’. However, you should know that you will then have a shrub that is more sensitive to the cold and rather reserved for regions with a mild climate.
15. Escallonia
Escallonia is another evergreen shrub that comes in different species. Some wear a flowering in white clusters, others pink and still others red. But in any case, these flowers create a nice contrast with the brilliant green of the small leaves.
Not rustic, it should be planted in pots in regions with harsher climates. In areas where temperatures never drop very low, you can plant it in the ground and in full sun.