Broadleaf Flowering Evergreen & Foundation Plants
- Broadleaf evergreens can have large or small leaves, distinguished from evergreens that have needle-like leaves. Azaleas are broad-leaved shrubs with small leaves and can be deciduous, such as native azaleas, or evergreen, such as hybrid cultivars. Prized for their showy flower displays in early spring, some newer varieties are remontant, or reblooming. A variety of plant sizes, flower colors and bloom times make azaleas a favorite ornamental plant. Immediately after flowering, azaleas can be pruned to maintain smaller shapes as front-of-the-border foundation plants.
- More than 2,300 named cultivars are registered with the American Camellia Society, according to the Clemson University Cooperative Extension. Camellia sasanqua species bloom in fall and early winter, and C. japonica species bloom in winter and early spring. By planting several foundation shrubs with different flower colors and staggered bloom seasons, gardeners can enjoy camellia flowers for up to six months. Mississippi State University rates Shishi Gashira, a more compact form, as the best landscape camellia on the market.
- Chinese loropetalum is a broadleaf flowering evergreen shrub covered with pink or white fringy flowers in early spring. Adaptability to different light levels, compatibility with different soil types and resistance to insects and disease are traits that won this plant the Georgia Gold Medal Shrub Award in 1997. Loropetalum can reach mature heights up to 10 feet tall, but it is often pruned much shorter and used similar to boxwoods as hedge plantings or as smaller specimen foundation plants.
- Glossy abelia is an older shrub that is finding new favor in home landscapes. Improved cultivars have more compact growth forms and a greater variety of foliage and flower colors. Delicate bell-shaped pink or white flowers emerge in May and persist until frost on most cultivars. Abelias are drought and heat tolerant with high resistance to insects and disease. Flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Rose Creek and Canyon Creek abelias are award-winning introductions from Michael Dirr’s plant breeding program at the University of Georgia.