by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Evergreen shrubs with fragrant spring flowers are timeless favorites when creating a vibrant and inviting garden landscape. These local favorites provide year-round foliage and burst into captivating blooms when spring arrives, infusing the air with their delightful scents. Whether you aim to add charm to your outdoor space, attract pollinators, or simply indulge in the pleasures of a fragrant garden, the top 10 evergreen shrubs on our list offer an array of colors, shapes, and fragrances to suit any landscape.

Top 10 Evergreen Shrubs of Spring

#1 Azalea, Rhododendron spp, offers a dazzling display of blooms in various shades of pink, red, purple, and white. These compact evergreen shrubs are easy to care for and thrive in partial shade. They are ideal for adding color to shady spots in the garden, patio containers, and covered entrances.

#2 Camellias are famous for their elegant, waxy flowers in pink, red, and white shades. These evergreen shrubs bloom profusely in early spring, providing a stunning focal point in the garden and attracting pollinators with their nectar-rich flowers.

#3 Daphne is cherished for its intoxicating fragrance and delicate clusters of pink or white flowers that bloom in early spring. These compact evergreen shrubs are perfect for small gardens or containers near outdoor seating areas, where their sweet scent can be enjoyed up close.

#4 Gardenia offers an irresistible combination of fragrant, creamy-white blooms, glossy green foliage, and all-season interest. With its elegant appearance, the gardenia lends an air of sophistication to any garden or landscape. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the intoxicating fragrance of its blooms creates a captivating sensory experience, making it a favorite for outdoor enjoyment or indoor cut flowers.

#5 Heath, Erica, first-time growers of these alpine evergreens, are impressed by their lengthy bloom period. In most seasons, they flower from late winter through spring.

#6 Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina, is evergreen with bright red highlights through winter. Bamboo-shaped foliage is graced with clusters of white flowers in spring that form red berries as summer heat arrives. Think versatility with this 3-foot tall plant, as it is happy in any amount of sun and most soils and tolerates all mountain cold and heat.

#7 Holly, Ilex, is a broadleaf evergreen that usually grows 6’+ feet tall. The holly leaves develop a darker color, contrasting nicely against the bright red berries. Perfect for north-facing borders, screens, hedges, and foundation plantings. Easy to grow and impervious to mountain wildlife.

#8 Indian Hawthorn, Rhaphiolepis, produces vast clusters of fragrant, pearl-pink flowers. Perfect for planting along driveways and parking medians where reflected heat is an issue for many other plants. This spring-blooming evergreen loves Arizona heat!

#9 Lily of the Valley, Pieris japonica, also known as Andromeda, is prized for its graceful clusters of bell-shaped flowers that emerge in early spring. These evergreen shrubs feature glossy foliage that adds year-round interest to the garden, making them a versatile choice for borders, hedges, or container planting.

#10 Oregon Grape Holly, Mahonia, is the perfect mountain evergreen, often mistaken for holly. Solar yellow flowers cover the entire plant in spring, followed by an attractive and edible summer berry. Heading into winter, the leaves turn a mixed cranberry and orange color that remains until spring blooms. This plant loves sun, heat, wind and requires less water. A true Arizona native in the landscape.

Bonus: Red Cluster Berry Cotoneaster has white flowers in spring, evolving to red berries that remain on the plant through winter. It is a welcome food source for feathered friends hanging around after welcoming in the New Year. Growing 10′ feet tall and wide, it loves the sun and wind and is impervious to all animals, including the javelina.

Ridiculous: Rhododendrons are renowned for their stunning clusters of vibrant flowers that add color to any garden in early spring. These evergreen shrubs offer a wide range of sizes and colors, from delicate pinks to bold purples, making them a versatile and captivating choice for any landscape.

See the Entire List of Evergreen Shrubs available to plant now at Top10Shrubs.com. Buy online or pick up in-store.

Learn more at a free garden class. The spring class schedule is up, and next week, we will go deep into tips, tricks, and local garden hacks, so join the garden fun. Here’s the 2024 Garden Classes lineup and the following few classes.

February 24 @ 9:30 am: Evergreens that Bloom in Early Spring

March 2 @ 9:30 am: Spring To-Do List for Betters Gardens this Year.

March 9 @ 9:30 am: Growing Better Landscape Evergreens

Until next week, I’ll be helping local gardeners in the gardens here at Watters Garden Center.