Best Evergreen Plants for Vertical Gardening: A Trellis Guide

Evergreen plants are a gardener's best friend, providing year-round beauty and structure to your outdoor spaces. When grown up a trellis, they create lush, living walls that require minimal maintenance. If you're looking to add some evergreen charm to your garden, here are some of the best evergreen plants to grow up a trellis.

Evergreens are known for their ability to retain their foliage throughout the year, making them an excellent choice for vertical gardening. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, ensuring there's an option to suit every garden style. Plus, growing them on a trellis saves valuable garden space and adds a touch of elegance to your outdoor living area.

Climbing Evergreens

Climbing evergreens are a fantastic choice for trellises as they grow upwards and outwards, creating a dense, green screen. They are perfect for providing privacy, blocking unsightly views, or simply adding a lush backdrop to your garden.

Climbing evergreens can be further categorized into two types: self-clinging and non-self-clinging. Self-clinging plants have adhesive pads or tendrils that help them cling to surfaces, while non-self-clinging plants require support from the trellis to grow upwards.

Self-Clinging Evergreens

Self-clinging evergreens are easy to grow and maintain, making them an excellent choice for beginners. They require minimal effort to train them onto a trellis, as their natural growth habit is to cling to surfaces.

One popular self-clinging evergreen is the English Ivy (Hedera helix). This versatile plant can grow in a variety of conditions and provides dense, dark green foliage that turns purple in the winter. It's perfect for covering unsightly walls or creating a lush, living screen. Other self-clinging evergreens to consider include Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).

Non-Self-Clinging Evergreens

Non-self-clinging evergreens require a bit more effort to train onto a trellis, but they are well worth the extra work. They often have stunning foliage and flowers that add a touch of elegance to your garden.

One of the most popular non-self-clinging evergreens is the Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). This plant is known for its glossy, dark green leaves and fragrant, white flowers that bloom in the summer. It's perfect for growing on a trellis or arbor, where its cascading growth habit can be showcased. Other non-self-clinging evergreens to consider include the Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) and the Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum).

Dwarf Evergreens

Dwarf evergreens are a great choice for smaller gardens or for adding a touch of greenery to a balcony or patio. While they may be small in stature, they pack a big punch when it comes to adding evergreen charm to your outdoor space.

Dwarf evergreens can be grown in containers or directly in the ground, and they can be trained to grow up a trellis or supported with a stake. They often have dense, compact growth habits that make them perfect for creating a lush, green backdrop for other plants or for adding a touch of color to your garden.

Dwarf Conifers

Dwarf conifers are a popular choice for adding evergreen charm to small gardens. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from low-growing mounds to tall, slender columns.

One of the most popular dwarf conifers is the Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo). This plant has dense, compact growth habit and needles that turn a beautiful silver-blue in the winter. It's perfect for adding a touch of texture and color to your garden. Other dwarf conifers to consider include the Blue Star Juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star') and the Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica').

Dwarf Broadleaf Evergreens

Dwarf broadleaf evergreens are a great choice for adding a touch of color and texture to your garden. They often have attractive foliage that adds interest and depth to your outdoor space.

One of the most popular dwarf broadleaf evergreens is the Boxwood (Buxus). This plant has dense, compact growth habit and small, glossy leaves that add a touch of elegance to any garden. It's perfect for creating low hedges or topiaries, or for adding a touch of greenery to a container. Other dwarf broadleaf evergreens to consider include the Dwarf Mahonia (Mahonia repens) and the Dwarf leucothoe (Leucothoe fontanesiana).

Growing evergreen plants up a trellis is a rewarding way to add year-round beauty and structure to your garden. Whether you choose climbing, dwarf, or a combination of both, there's an evergreen plant out there to suit your garden style and needs. So why wait? Get started on your vertical garden today and enjoy the lush, living walls that evergreens can provide.