California Lilac roots are also not known to travel upwards to ground level, so they dont create problems with cracking concrete or uneven ground. The hardy shrubs are very low-maintenance and require average watering. One reason that it is so hard to control is because the seeds can lie dormant for many years, making it very difficult to eradicate completely. Grow in containers, as a specimen shrub or as informal hedge in full sun for best leaf coloration or part shade. Heres a list of evergreen trees with non-invasive root systems: Invasive roots are sometimes the main cause of cracks in concrete foundations. Its suitable for growing in USDA zones 6 to 8. Along with their scientific names, the list of plants below includes descriptions and pictures of these compact shrubs to help you choose the best ones for your garden. The fact that these plants do not have extensive root systems which can reach deep into the soil means that they are unable to withstand periods of drought. Here is a list of evergreen azalea shrubs: Juniper Blue Star is a low growing and hardy evergreen shrub. These low maintenance shrubs thrive in full sun, and their bright yellow and green foliage brightens up any front or backyard. There are varieties available with purple leaves, which can help add color. The slow-growing dwarf evergreen will eventually reach about 3 or 4 ft. (1 1.2 m) tall. If plants with invasive roots get close to your home, then this can cause very expensive problems. The mature leaves maintain their signature dark green shade throughout the year, while the maroon tinge of emerging foliage adds to the ornamental allure of this tree species. Azaleas are hugely popular for their bright and beautiful flowers, which come in a wide range of colors. Perfect for shade gardens, this species of MahoniaOregon Grape is an evergreen shrub that provides beautiful colors in a backyard throughout the season. Evergreen azaleas are native to China, and there are also some hybrid varieties, most notably the Encore Series, which was developed at the University of Minnesota. The flower color is affected by the soil's pH level, with alkaline soil producing pink flowers and acid soil producing blue flowers. Boxwood cultivars such as Green Velvet, Blauer Heinz, and Wintergreen are compact mounding shrubs. Many types of evergreen shrubs with non-invasive roots make excellent foundation plantings. Hydrangeas Fraser photinia Viburnums Hollies Barberries Hollywood juniper Glossy Abella Boxwoods Gardenia Camellias Bottom Line Choosing the appropriate tree varieties and planting the same shouldn't be an abrupt but a well-thought decision. Due to its trailing stems, dwarf chenille is ideal as a hanging basket or container plant in hot, humid climates. Whether youre looking for an evergreen tree, a fruiting tree, or a shading tree,you can always find a variety with non-invasive roots at your local tree nursery. Doghobble or drooping leucothoe is an evergreen shrub with upward growing, arching branches, clusters of white urn-shaped flowers, and green, leathery leaves. Azaleas (Rhododendron spp. Spreading Star has long green needle leaves with silvery undersides growing densely on arching branches. Although this easy-grow evergreen ground cover plant enjoys full sun, it also grows well in partial to full shade. Usually, juniper shrubs love sunlight and thrive in most soil conditions. The evergreen Pinwheel cape jasmine shrub grows up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall in USDA zones 6 to 11. Boxwood are densely branched, with each branch heavily clothed in green foliage which retains its color all year round. The shrubs retain their foliage and color throughout the year. Small, round leathery leaves make up its dense foliage. Many Viburnum species are medium to tall flowering shrubs with glossy, dark green leaves and dense evergreen foliage. Buxus microphylla Green Pillow (in the picture) is a compact low growing evergreen shrub with rounded shape. It provides moderate to dense shade and bears tiny fragrant flowers in the spring, but little or no fruit. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. I did enjoy picking some with my family while I was there, though. Common gorse is covered in cheery yellow blossoms each year, but that is not enough to negate the fact that it is a noxious weed. Buxus x Green MountainThis dwarf hedge plant species has a cute conical shape that looks excellent growing in containers. The Japanese Arlia has spectacularly large glossy leaves with deep lobes and yellow veins. The pink-red young leaves of Japanese Andromeda turn green when they mature. Thanks to their open, bushy habit, elegant Camellia sasanqua shrubs work well in the landscape with other shrubs. Japanese maple (zones 5-8): A popular scarlet-colored tree that's ideal for planting at a curbside location or near a patio. Some shrub varieties with non-invasive roots include the following. Birds spread the seeds after they eat the fruit, contributing greatly to the spread of this shrub. Deodar cedar Feelin Blue is a small evergreen shrub for full sun with weeping branches. Small, compact, evergreen spruce shrubs are some of the most popular conifers for gardens. Dwarf Norway Spruce is a low spreading evergreen shrub which can tolerate sun, shade or partial shade. While birds love the fruit of mulberry treesa phenomenon that will also cause unwanted messes in your yardwe must admit that we do not. It tolerates heat and dryness, adapts to clay, loam or sand and grows equally well in acidic or alkaline soil. Flowers can be colors ranging from purple to pink, white, red, orange, and blue blossoms. This evergreen has the most amazing purple flowers from autumn through winter. Juniperus horizontalis Andorra CompactaGrowing less than 20 (0.5 m) tall, this creeping miniature juniper shrub has green soft needle leaves and a wide spread. Both flaunt white blooms in spring. Lisa, our Guide to Pool and Patio, was telling me about her Cape honeysuckle last night. The stunning Fatsia japonica Variegata has bright white and green variegated leaves and clumps of white flowers. One key feature is the high oil levels in this plant, making is especially susceptible to fire. Fetterbush is a shade loving evergreen small shrub suitable for wet, boggy and poor draining soil. The dwarf cultivars only grow one or two feet high. Hebe Silver Queen is an eye-catching evergreen shrub with creamy-white and green variegated leaves and stunning purple flower spikes. The pinkish ovate leaves gradually turn dark green as creamy-white pendulous flowers appear. Its important to have an understanding of which plants have invasive roots so that you can avoid planting these close to your home. Here are the best trees with non-invasive roots: Also known as Malus Adams, this vibrant, red-colored tree has non-aggressive roots that mostly lie close to the ground surface even when fully matured. Dwarf Chinese fringe flower shrubs provide all-season aesthetic landscaping appeal in gardens for USDA zones 7 to 9. The dwarf Norway spruce is an excellent low maintenance front yard foundation plant that grows into a small mound of dense evergreen foliage. Thank you very much for this information. You will enjoy quick growth, and a variety of colors and scents. starter size plant with an approximate 4 inch diameter root zone . Here are some other Euonymus cultivars that are worth considering for your formal landscape: Japanese Aralia is one of the best evergreen flowering shrubs for shade. These dwarf Mahonia shrubs produce clusters of yellow flowers in the shape of spikes that contrast with shiny green foliage. The stumpy shrub wont grow over 1 ft. (30 cm) tall. After flowering, red fruits grow on the bush and contrast with the shiny green foliage. Shrubs generally have multiple woody stems that grow from the ground, whereas trees typically have a single trunk. It costs lots of time and money to unclog underground plumbing pipes blocked by invasive tree roots. You can plant the spreading shrub as a foundation planting, border plant, or for edging a pathway or driveway. Chinese fringe flower shrubs grow 1 to 3 ft. (0.3 1 m) tall and thrive in full to partial sun. These compact evergreen shrubs get their common name from bunches of berries that grow like grapes. Like other raspberry species, it can form new plants wherever the cane touches the ground. This Photonia species is a shrub with red leaves that doesnt shed foliage in winter. Lindsey Purcell, Urban Forestry Specialist; Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources: Sherry Rindels, Department of Horticulture; Iowa State University Extension: Sharon Morrisey, Consumer Horticulture Agent, Milwaukee County UW-Extension. It bears pretty, pale blue-purple flowers from April to September. She says it had gone wild, turned more into a vine and covered a whole hillside. Cherry laurel is a fast growing flowering evergreen shrub that can be used to landscape your front yard. Sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua) has larger leaves and a somewhat more loose growth habit than boxwood or azalea. It is an excellent bush for a low hedge or specimen plant in a sunny yard. The slow growth of these flowering bushes means that they take a few years to reach 3 ft. (1 m)their maximum growing height. The shade-tolerant dwarf shrub has arching, spreading stems, glossy, leathery leaves, and red, pink, or white bell-shaped flowers made up of four or five petals that bloom in late spring and early summer. Their rounded growth habit makes these low maintenance evergreen shrubs excellent for hedges or mixed shrub borders. But within fifty years of its introduction, something menacing started happening . Grow the small ornamental pittosporum shrub as a little border shrub, specimen plant, or 3-foot (1-m) high hedge. This evergreen cultivar is a dwarf pine shrub-like tree with dense foliage made up of jade-green needle leaves. They are prolific bloomers, with flowers seemingly cloaking the entire bush in a burst of blue. Glossy dark green needles and red cones make this low-growing shrub extremely ornamental. in journalism from Boston University. Its leathery, holly-like leaves appear red in spring before turning green in summer and then turning deep burgundy in the fall. The Minuet cultivar only grows 3 ft. (1 m) tall and wide. Dwarf rhododendron bushes (Rhododendron) Flowering evergreen shrubs that can act as a natural privacy screen in your backyard. The low growing, low maintenance evergreen shrub grows 3 to 4 feet (90 120 cm) tall and wide. This shrub spreads itself easily through rhizomes and seeds. Varieties of compact, miniature shrubs arent just for growing in small yards. Compact evergreen boxwood shrubs are the classic hedging plants for living green screens. To prevent and minimize this kind of damage, try growing fruit, shade, and privacy trees with non-invasive roots. Pacific silver fir Spreading Star grows 3 ft. (1 m) high and 6 ft. (1.8 m) wide. However, since English holly is dioecious, flowering only occurs in female plants. The small shrub grows 3 5 feet (90 150 cm) tall and wide after 10 years. It has leathery green leaves measuring up to 6 (15 cm) long and clusters of small berry-like red, black, or blue drupes. Tsuga canadensis Coles Prostrate is a shade tolerant evergreen small shrub. Some of the best dwarf yew shrubby plants include: Dwarf Bright Gold Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata Bright Gold)This low-growing yew shrub has a wide spread. Evergreen trees with non-invasive roots Tibouchina 'Alstonville'. Compact pine shrubs (Pinus) Small evergreen tree like shrubs. This hardy shrub is drought tolerant and survives well in full sun or partial shade. Mountain Laurel is another evergreen shrub that thrives in full sun. This versatile little shrub can grow as a vine or ground-cover plant for full sun. In larger Arborvitae shrubs, the root system will remain in the upper 2 feet of the soil, which anchors the sizable plants without causing any damage below ground level. Family: Rhamnaceae USDA hardiness zones: 7 - 11 Mature height: Up to 20 feet Mature spread: Up to 20 feet When planting compact foundation shrubs with non-invasive roots, take care to plant a shrub no deeper than the depth it was growing in its container. Japanese Skimmia is a very low-maintenance bushy plant if you want beautiful foliage and bright, showy flowers. The bronze loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa) grows to 15 to 25 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide in USDA zones 9 through 10, providing moderate shade. Also called the Himalayan cedar, this low-growing, spreading conifer is the lowest type of cedar plant. Mountain Pine plants have shallow root systems which can spread wider than the total height of the shrub, but they remain within the uppermost layers of the soil. Discover the most beautiful small or dwarf evergreen trees for your garden (with pictures). There are a few main trees able to both tolerate shade and have non-aggressive roots. This mountain pine grows to a maximum of 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and a spread of 3 ft. (1 m). Weeping Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis Pendula). Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Majestic Beauty Olive, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Fraser Photinia, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Australian Willow, Friends of the Urban Forest: Australian Willow, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Big Bull English Holly, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Bronze Loquat, Friends of the Urban Forest: Bronze Loquat, How to clean a showerhead, according to an expert. Watch out for the thorns all over the plant. Other invasive shrubs in this list include: Like its sibling Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), the autumn olive is hardy and survives where many other plants fail. Most conifers have taproots or a combination of a taproot and fibrous-root system. I love being around plants, and being able to grow my own fruits and vegetables in my backyard garden makes me feel fulfilled. Grow the American Arborvitae in a position of full sun, with dappled shade in hot climates. English Yew (Taxus baccata Repandens)A popular dwarf shrub where spreading evergreen foliage is needed. It is a beautiful and non-invasive plant that is relatively easy to grow in your garden. Be careful with the decorative winter daphne shrub as its poisonous to animals and humans. Dwarf plums generally grow in zones 4-9. This bramble is considered to be either a shrub or subshrub and bears its fruit on canes that are covered with sharp thorns. In addition, its slow growth means it wont take over your front or backyard. This fairly extensive list acknowledges the broad range of growing conditions experienced by gardeners around the country; hopefully, there is sufficient variety to suit most areas. Amur maple grows best in hardiness zones 3-8. 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