In my view, evergreen trees are an essential part of a well-designed garden. They provide structure, colour, and a sense of continuity throughout the year.
While many trees lose their leaves in winter, evergreens remain green and vibrant, offering interest when other plants are dormant. For gardeners working with smaller spaces, choosing compact evergreen trees is a practical way to enjoy these benefits without overwhelming the garden.
The beauty of small evergreen trees is that they bring year-round presence in a manageable size. They are ideal for small urban or suburban plots, where every square metre counts. In larger gardens, they can be used as specimen trees, evergreen accents, or background planting in borders.
Their dependable foliage gives form and focus to planting schemes, particularly in winter when herbaceous plants have died back. They’re also useful for creating privacy, screening unwanted views, or dividing areas within a garden.
These trees suit a wide range of garden styles. A formal garden might use clipped yews or upright Italian cypresses for symmetry and order. In a more relaxed or naturalistic garden, a flowering evergreen like Arbutus unedo or Osmanthus can soften edges and support wildlife.
Many small evergreens are well suited to container growing too, making them ideal for patios, roof terraces, or rented spaces.
A well-chosen evergreen tree doesn’t just look good—it adds ecological value. Many offer shelter and food for birds, bees, and other pollinators, especially in seasons when resources are scarce. They also reduce wind, provide shade, and absorb air pollution.
Small evergreen trees can be the quiet heroes of the garden, offering structure, foliage and seasonal interest all year long. When space is tight, choosing the right small evergreen can make a big impact without overwhelming your plot. The ten trees featured here stay compact but pack a punch in terms of form, foliage, and overall character.
In this guide, we’ll explore ten of the best small evergreen trees for gardens of all sizes. Each one is chosen for its beauty, practicality, and adaptability, with details on how to grow them and why they deserve a place in your planting plan.
1. Ilex crenata (Japanese Holly)
Why choose it:
Japanese holly is one of the most useful evergreens for smaller gardens. Its neat, glossy green leaves and tight growth habit make it ideal for low hedges, clipped shapes or container planting. It works beautifully as a substitute for box (Buxus), particularly in areas affected by box blight.
Birds are drawn to the small black berries produced on female plants, adding wildlife value. Its formal shape and slow growth also make it excellent for topiary in urban or courtyard gardens.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral.
- Water: Moderate once established.
- Aspect: Full sun to partial shade.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 5–8; RHS H5.
- Size: Up to 3m tall and 2m wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Small, box-like, evergreen leaves. Tiny white flowers in spring are inconspicuous but attract pollinators.
2. Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree)
Why choose it:
The strawberry tree stands out for its unusual ability to flower and fruit simultaneously in autumn, adding colour and charm when much of the garden is fading. The red, strawberry-like fruits are eye-catching and edible (though mealy), while the small, bell-shaped flowers attract bees and late pollinators.
It has an elegant, rounded shape and peeling bark that adds winter interest. This is an excellent choice for coastal or dry gardens, and it also suits woodland edges. This is a tree I have always grown in my gardens and I love the reliable dark green foliage and red bark.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Well-drained, tolerates poor or sandy soils.
- Water: Low to moderate; drought-tolerant once mature.
- Aspect: Full sun or light shade.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 7–10; RHS H5.
- Size: 4–5m tall and wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Glossy green leaves, white flowers in autumn, followed by red fruits. Evergreen with reddish-brown bark.
3. Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel)
Why choose it:
Portuguese laurel offers elegant evergreen structure with a refined look. Its dark green leaves and red stems bring subtle colour and texture throughout the year. It’s a reliable screening tree and copes well with urban pollution and dry conditions.
When grown as a small specimen tree rather than a hedge, it develops a strong central trunk and attractive form. It also provides spring nectar for pollinators and berries in autumn for birds.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil.
- Water: Moderate.
- Aspect: Sun or partial shade.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 6–9; RHS H5.
- Size: 5–6m tall, 3–5m wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Glossy, deep green leaves with red stems. Fragrant white flower spikes in early summer, followed by small black berries.
4. Taxus baccata (Yew)
Why choose it:
Yew is a timeless evergreen, offering year-round structure, strong form, and incredible longevity. Its deep green needles provide a calm backdrop for flowering plants and vibrant foliage.
It responds well to pruning and can be shaped into domes, cones or informal forms, or left to grow naturally. Female plants bear red arils that are popular with birds. It’s ideal for formal gardens but can be equally at home in wilder settings.
Note, Yew is a slow growing tree, so you will need to buy in a decent sized specimen or be able to take a long term view of your garden.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Fertile, well-drained; avoids waterlogging.
- Water: Low once established.
- Aspect: Sun, partial shade or full shade.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 5–8; RHS H6.
- Size: 3–6m tall, 2–4m wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Dark green needle-like leaves; inconspicuous flowers in spring; female trees produce red berries.
5. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’
Why choose it:
‘Little Gem’ is a compact southern magnolia, perfect for small spaces. It brings large, lemon-scented white flowers in summer, which contrast beautifully with its glossy green leaves and brown, felted undersides.
It has a tidy, upright form and makes an excellent focal point or backdrop. In warmer areas, it can flower for months, providing ongoing seasonal interest. Its evergreen leaves provide good structure through winter.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Moist, acidic to neutral soil.
- Water: Regular in dry spells.
- Aspect: Full sun to light shade.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 7–9; RHS H4 (shelter in colder areas).
- Size: 4–6m tall, 2–3m wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Large, glossy leaves with rusty brown undersides. Creamy-white, scented flowers in summer.
6. Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’
Why choose it:
‘Red Robin’ adds an injection of colour with its bright red new growth, which matures to a deep green. This foliage contrast is especially welcome in spring, though it can flush again in late summer. It makes a striking specimen or can be clipped into a dense evergreen screen.
Its small white flowers are a bonus in spring, and it tolerates urban pollution well. Versatile and fast-growing, it’s ideal for mixed borders or structural planting.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil.
- Water: Moderate.
- Aspect: Full sun or partial shade.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 7–9; RHS H5.
- Size: 3–4m tall and wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Glossy green leaves with vivid red young growth. Clusters of small white flowers in spring.
7. Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’
Why choose it:
‘Compressa’ is ideal where vertical interest is needed in a very tight space. Its upright, pencil-thin shape and silvery green foliage make it perfect for rock gardens, patios, or as a formal accent.
It is very low-maintenance and highly tolerant of poor, dry, or sandy soils. This makes it a great choice for exposed or difficult spots, including coastal gardens. The blueish foliage adds a cool tone that works well with gravel or minimalist designs.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic.
- Water: Low.
- Aspect: Full sun.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 2–6; RHS H6.
- Size: 1.5–2m tall, 0.5m wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Dense, bluish-green scale leaves. No notable flowers or fruit.
8. Osmanthus × burkwoodii
Why choose it:
Burkwood osmanthus is valued for its intense fragrance in spring, when clusters of small white flowers emerge. It has a rounded, compact habit that makes it easy to fit into a mixed border or use as a specimen shrub.
Its tidy, evergreen foliage is attractive all year, and it can be pruned to shape without spoiling its natural form. It’s especially suited to placing near a seating area or entrance where the scent can be appreciated.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained.
- Water: Moderate.
- Aspect: Sun or partial shade.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 6–9; RHS H5.
- Size: 2–3m tall and wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Oval, glossy green leaves. Strongly scented white flowers in spring.
9. Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Spire’
Why choose it:
‘Green Spire’ offers strong vertical structure in a small footprint, making it ideal for low hedges, narrow borders, or formal planting schemes. It has a naturally upright, columnar shape with dense, glossy green foliage that remains tidy all year round. This makes it a solid alternative to box, especially in areas affected by box blight.
It’s also tolerant of pruning, so you can shape it to suit more formal or contemporary designs. Hardy and adaptable, it copes well in coastal, urban, or dry gardens and is excellent for containers.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates a range of soil types.
- Water: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established.
- Aspect: Full sun to partial shade.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 6–9; RHS H5.
- Size: 1–1.5m tall, 0.5m wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Dense, small, glossy green leaves with a rich, deep colour year-round. Inconspicuous greenish-white flowers may appear in summer.
10. Cupressus sempervirens ‘Totem’ (Italian Cypress)
Why choose it:
With its narrow, upright form, ‘Totem’ adds a striking vertical accent in small gardens or courtyard spaces. It evokes a Mediterranean feel and is ideal for flanking paths, entrances, or adding drama to formal planting schemes.
Its evergreen foliage is dense and aromatic, and it remains narrow even as it matures. It thrives in dry, sunny conditions, making it perfect for gravel gardens or container planting in sunny spots.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Well-drained, neutral to alkaline.
- Water: Low to moderate.
- Aspect: Full sun.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 7–10; RHS H5 (sheltered in colder UK regions).
- Size: 4–6m tall, under 1m wide.
- Foliage & Flowers: Scale-like green foliage. No prominent flowers or fruit.
11 Thuja plicata × standishii ‘Leprechaun’ (The Leprechaun™ Arborvitae)
Why choose it:
Thuja plicata × standishii ‘Leprechaun’ is a compact, slow-growing arborvitae that provides soft, feathery foliage and a naturally neat, pyramidal shape—ideal for adding evergreen structure in smaller spaces. It brings the stately presence of Western red cedar in a size suitable for urban gardens, small beds, or containers.
The Leprechaun’s rich green foliage holds colour well year-round and has a pleasant, resinous fragrance when brushed or pruned. The tree is low-maintenance, tolerant of pruning, and naturally dense, making it a great choice for screening, hedging, or as a focal point in formal and informal gardens alike. It’s also resistant to many common pests and diseases, and once established, it’s surprisingly drought-tolerant.
Growing Needs:
- Soil: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Tolerates a range of soil types, including clay.
- Water: Moderate; water regularly in dry periods until well established.
- Aspect: Full sun to partial shade.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 5–8; RHS H6 (hardy across most of the UK).
- Size: 2–3m tall, 1–1.5m wide after 10–15 years.
- Foliage & Flowers: Dense, scale-like green foliage with a soft texture. No notable flowers; occasional small cones may appear on mature plants.
Final Thoughts
Small evergreen trees are essential tools in the gardener’s palette. They provide shape, privacy, colour, and year-round beauty—without outgrowing their welcome. Whether you’re designing a formal layout or softening a border, the trees above offer dependable structure and seasonal charm. Choosing the right one depends on your garden’s aspect, soil and style, but each has something unique to offer.
Martin Cole has been an avid plant lover and gardener for more than 20 years and loves to talk and write about gardening. In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year competition. He is a member of the National dahlia Society.
He previously lived in London and Sydney, Australia, where he took a diploma course in Horticultural studies and is now based in North Berwick in Scotland. He founded GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012. The website is aimed at everybody who loves plants or has been bitten by the gardening bug and wants to know more.
Gardening Step by Step has been cited by Thompson and Morgan, the UK’s largest mail order plant retailer, as a website that publishes expert gardening content.