As autumn approaches and the leaves begin to change, many trees start to lose their foliage. However, there are some trees that manage to keep their leaves all year round. These evergreen trees provide color and shade even during the coldest winter months. If you’re looking to add year-round color and interest to your landscape, consider planting one of these 14 trees that don’t lose their leaves.
1. Holly
Holy is a classic evergreen tree with shiny, spiky leaves and bright red berries. It is native to North America, Europe, and Asia, and it can grow over 50 feet tall. Holly trees are beautiful to look at, but they are also useful for birds when other seed sources are scarce because their thick, waxy leaves keep water in and let the tree photosynthesise even in the dry winter months.
2. Pine
Pines are some of the most iconic evergreen trees With their signature needle-like leaves growing in bundles along the branches, pine trees come in many different species. While some pines can grow over 100 feet tall, smaller varieties work well as landscape specimens Pines thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
3. Spruce
A conical evergreen, spruce trees flourish in cold climates. Their prickly needles contain antifreeze-like substances, allowing them to photosynthesize even when icy temperatures cause other trees to go dormant. An important source of lumber and paper pulp, spruce trees also make handsome additions to large landscapes.
4. Fir
Firs have a pyramid shape and downward-swept branches. Their soft, flat needles provide dense greenery and hold up well even when buried under heavy snow. Popular as Christmas trees, firs keep their color and needles for a long time after being cut down. Plant them as striking specimens or as privacy screens.
5. Cedar
Cedars are versatile evergreen trees suitable for use as ornamentals, windbreaks, and timber sources. They have flat sprays of scale-like leaves and knobby, aromatic bark. Though they can exceed 50 feet in height, there are more compact cedar varieties like the Lebanon cedar.
6. Cypress
A favorite throughout the southern United States, cypress trees thrive in wet conditions. They have lacy, fern-like leaves and develop buttressed trunks in flooded areas. Curving cypress knees protrude from their submerged roots. Use cypress trees as shade providers or for their aesthetic value near ponds or water features.
7. Juniper
The juniper’s spiky, gray-green foliage provides year-round interest. They require little watering or maintenance once established. Junipers come in prostrate creeping forms or more upright, columnar varieties. Use them as screening plants, ornamentals, or erosion control on slopes. Their berries are also used to flavor gin.
8. Magnolia
Magnolia trees have beautiful, big, fragrant flowers in late winter or early spring. They come in both evergreen and deciduous types. With its big, shiny leaves and creamy flowers, southern magnolia is likely the most well-known type. Other choices include the star magnolia, with its star-shaped blooms.
9. Live Oak
The emblematic live oak tree of the Deep South ranks among the most majestic of the evergreens. Live oaks are semi-evergreen, meaning they shed older leaves gradually. They provide abundant shade with their outstretched limbs and add visual interest with their gnarled branches bearded with Spanish moss.
10. Redwood
Coast redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth. Native to California and Oregon, they exceed 350 feet in height. Their bark ranges from cinnamon-red to grayish-brown. Redwoods thrive in the moderate, coastal climates of the Pacific Northwest. Their shallow root systems require frequent irrigation.
11. Japanese Cedar
Japanese cedar, or cryptomeria, is a large evergreen conifer native to China and Japan. It has elegant, irregular form and lacy foliage. The fast-growing Japanese cedar makes an excellent windbreak. It also provides high-quality, rot-resistant timber.
12. American Arborvitae
Also known as northern white cedar, the American arborvitae is prized for its beauty, aroma, and hardiness. Its fan-like sprays of scalloped leaves maintain a rich green color throughout winter. Arborvitae works well as a tall privacy screen or clipped formal hedge. Regular trimming helps keep its shape.
13. Arizona Cypress
Need a tough, drought-tolerant evergreen? Consider the Arizona cypress. Gray-green needles and furrowed reddish-brown bark give this tree year-round character. Arizona cypress thrives in hot, arid regions of the southwestern United States. It makes an excellent hedge, windbreak or accent tree.
14. Southern Live Oak
The picturesque southern live oak is emblematic of the Deep South, with graceful arching boughs draped in Spanish moss. Though semi-evergreen, its oval canopy provides shade and shelter. Majestic southern live oaks grow on coastal plains from Virginia to Texas. Their acorns nourish wildlife.
This list showcases just a sampling of the many evergreen trees suitable for landscapes across varied regions and climates. Consult a local nursery to choose the best options to provide year-round color and shade perfectly suited for your planting site. With the right selection and care, evergreens can enhance your property all year long.
Caring for Jasmine Flowers at Home
When you get your jasmine flowers home, you need to take the following steps to make sure they stay beautiful and smell good for as long as possible:
- Trim stems and place immediately in clean, fresh water. Change the water daily.
- Keep flowers in a cool spot out of direct sunlight.
- Mist blooms occasionally with soft or filtered water.
- Get rid of any flowers that fade or turn brown to stop the decay from spreading.
- For the best scent, put it somewhere open (not in a vase).
- Keep away from drafts, vents or ripening fruit (ethylene gas).
- For important events, flowers can be kept overnight in water that has been chilled.
With the right care, a batch of fresh jasmine can last up to a week for your enjoyment.
The Significance of Jasmine in Indian Culture
In India, jasmine flowers (also known as ‘chameli’ or ‘mallige’) have tremendous cultural importance. They are considered sacred flowers in Hinduism and are often used to adorn deities in temples. Indian weddings are full of jasmine garlands and loose flowers. During the ceremony, the bride and groom exchange and wear jasmine garlands. The flowers represent purity, fertility and auspiciousness for the couple’s new beginning. After religious ceremonies, festivals and celebrations, devotees will shower jasmine petals on the deities’ statues or idols as an offering.
The sweet scent of jasmine is also believed to have healing and calming properties in Ayurvedic medicine. Indians will often string the flowers together to make fragrant jasmine garlands to wear in their hair. So you can see why having access to fresh jasmine is so integral for Indian diaspora communities abroad. With the proper care the blooms can stay fresh for up to a week after purchase.
Trees That Never Lose Their Leaves! | Science for Kids
FAQ
What type of tree never loses its leaves?
Evergreen trees, a fascinating flora category, retain lush foliage throughout the year. This unique characteristic allows them to engage in continuous photosynthesis, an essential process for their survival.
What tree keeps their leaves all year?
An evergreen tree is a plant that retains its leaves throughout the year, remaining green and functional across seasons.
How many trees do not shed their leaves in the winter?
Cedars and Other Evergreen Trees Additional tree species that don’t lose their leaves in the winter include the following: Fir Tree. Holly Trees. Murray Cypress.
What is the term for a tree that keeps its leaves all year round?
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season.