Evergreen Accent Shrubs in the Northeast

Stand-out Yellow

• Shrubs with yellow foliage stand out against summer's greenery and against winter snow. "King's Gold" false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera filifera "King's Gold") maintains its golden color all year. This mounded shrub 4 feet tall and as wide has thread-like foliage that needs little to no shaping or trimming. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, it is an accent plant for all but the coldest areas of the Northeast. A low-growing colorful accent plant 1 foot tall by eventually 3 feet wide, slow-growing "Limeglow" juniper (Juniperus horizontalis "Limeglow") forms a vase-shaped mound. Chartreuse-yellow new growth occurs during the growing season, changing to copper-bronze in winter. "Limeglow" grows in USDA zones 3 through 9, suitable for anywhere in the Northeast.

Red and Silver

• Brilliant deep-red fall foliage glows against dark-green older branches of "Fire Chief" arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis "Congabe"). With a broad, conical shape, this slow-growing plant attains 2 feet tall and wide after 10 years of growth, with a mature height and width of 4 feet. The finely textured plant has bright yellow spring growth. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, plant it in all but the coldest areas of the Northeast. The hardier "Wansdyke Silver" arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis "Wansdyke Silver") grows in USDA zones 2 through 7, suitable for all the Northeast. The conical, 5- to 7-foot-tall by 4- to 5-foot-wide wide shrub that has silvery, cream and white variegations on deep-green foliage.

Have a Ball

• For an almost topiary-like, rounded form without any effort on your part, some evergreens have a naturally rounded, ball-like form and make eye-catching accent plants. "Tiny Tim" arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis "Tiny Tim") is a slow-growing dwarf plant that gets 1 foot tall by 1 to 1 1/2 feet wide. Hardy in USDA zones 2 to 7, site it in full sun to at most part shade, since the foliage loosens in form in the shade. "Mr. Bowling Ball" arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis "Bobozam") grows in USDA zones 3 through 8 and attains 24 to 30 inches in height and spread. Lacy-green, dense foliage needs full sun.

Spectacular Spring Color

• Evergreen rhododendrons (Rhododendron carolinianum x Rhododendron dauricum var. sempervirens) for the Northeast are available. They take work to grow, since they require a highly organic, low pH soil and partial shade, from half to three-quarters sun, but showy flowers make a colorful accent. Few cultivars are hardy in USDA zone 3, but "P.J.M." (Rhododendron "P.J.M"), usually hardy in zones 4 through 8, blooms in zone 3b for horticulturist James Kohut, writing for Northscaping. Slow-growing to 3 to 5 feet tall and a little wider, "P.M.J." has bright lavender-pink flowers, mahogany winter foliage and dark green leaves in summer. "P.M.J. Elite" grows to 6 feet tall and wide, has reddish-purple winter leaves and lavender-pink April bloom in USDA zones 4 through 8.