Evergreen shrubs are popular choices for full sun, drought tolerant landscaping. With their year-round foliage, evergreens provide consistent structure and color. Many tolerate dry conditions once established, needing little supplemental water even during hot, rainless summers.
When planted in full sun locations, evergreen shrubs develop dense growth that helps block wind and provide privacy. The foliage often takes on rich hues in winter, adding welcomed color.
Below are some of the best evergreen shrubs to grow in full sun and dry conditions
Boxwood
Boxwood (Buxus species) is a classic broadleaf evergreen shrub with dense, small leaves. There are over 70 species, with common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) and Japanese boxwood (B. microphylla) among the most popular. Boxwood flourishes in full sun or light shade and is drought tolerant once established. Regular pruning encourages dense growth.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’) is a small cone-shaped evergreen conifer. It grows slowly, only reaching 1-2 feet tall in 10 years. The needles are blue-green. Native to western Canada, it thrives in full sun and is very drought tolerant when grown in well-drained soil. Use dwarf Alberta spruce as a foundation planting in rock gardens, or as part of evergreen hedges.
Japanese Barberry
Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a compact deciduous shrub with tiny oval leaves that emerge red in spring then mature to dark green. The foliage turns brilliant shades of orange and red in fall. There are many cultivars to choose from most growing 4-6 feet tall and wide. Japanese barberry thrives in full sun and is drought tolerant. Take care when planting, as some types spread aggressively.
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster is a large group of evergreen and deciduous shrubs, many of which tolerate full sun and drought. A good choice is rock cotoneaster (C. horizontalis), a spreading evergreen shrub that grows 2-3 feet tall. It has small, glossy leaves that turn red in fall and winter. Showy red berries attract birds. Use rock cotoneaster as a groundcover on slopes or cascading over walls. It needs little water once established.
Lavender
Lavender (Lavandula species) is a woody evergreen perennial covered in fragrant gray-green foliage and topped with upright spikes of purple flowers. It thrives in full sun and hot climates. English lavender (L. angustifolia) and Spanish lavender (L. stoechas) are two commonly grown types. Prune lavender plants each spring to maintain vigor. Protect from excessive winter moisture.
Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an aromatic evergreen herb with needle-like leaves and blue flowers. Upright types like ‘Tuscan Blue’ grow 3-4 feet tall while prostrate varieties spread 2-4 feet wide. Rosemary thrives in hot, sunny spots with dry soil. It can suffer damage in harsh winters in cold climates but often recovers in spring. Use rosemary for cooking, as an ornamental, or in butterfly gardens.
Juniper
Junipers are needleleaf evergreen trees and shrubs that tolerate heat, drought, poor soil, and periods of neglect. Their scales or awl-shaped needles come in shades of green, gray-blue, or gold. Juniper varieties recommended for full sun and xeric landscapes include Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis), oneseed juniper (. monosperma), and Rocky Mountain juniper (J. scopulorum).
Texas Sage
Texas sage or cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens) is a beautiful drought tolerant evergreen shrub for full sun gardens. Gray-green leaves offer a fine texture as a backdrop for the shrub’s showy summer flowers. These blooms completely clothe the foliage in hues of purple, pink, or white depending on variety. Texas sage reaches 4-8 feet tall and wide. Little to no irrigation is needed once plants are established.
Arborvitae
Arborvitae are fast-growing evergreen trees perfect for privacy screens, hedges, and windbreaks. They prosper in full sun and need surprisingly little water. Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) is an large arborvitae species, while smaller types like emerald green arborvitae (T. occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) and golden arborvitae (T. occidentalis ‘Aurea Nana’) work well in home gardens.
Blue Star Juniper
For silver-blue color, try blue star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’). This petite shrub grows slowly, reaching 2 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide at maturity. Its stiff branches form a mushroom shape and feature dense, silvery-blue needles. Blue star juniper maintains its colorful foliage through winter. Site in full sun with well-drained soil. It is remarkably drought tolerant.
Heavenly Bamboo
Heavenly bamboo (_Nandina domestica_) isn’t a true bamboo, but a member of the barberry family. It resembles bamboo with its thin, cane-like stems and delicate lacy leaves that emerge tinted red then mature to green. Airy clusters of small white flowers produce red berries for winter interest. Heavenly bamboo grows 4-8 feet tall and wide. Varieties like ‘ Harbour Dwarf’ stay under 3 feet. site in full sun to light shade.
Rockrose
Rockrose (Cistus species) offers colorful blooms and textured foliage on compact evergreen shrubs. The saucer-shaped flowers come in white, pink, purple, yellow, and orange shades depending on variety. Rockrose thrives in hot, dry conditions. Most species grow 2-4 feet tall and wide. Prune after flowering to encourage more buds. Use rockrose in Mediterranean style gardens, rock gardens, and other full sun sites with sharp drainage.
New Zealand Tea Tree
New Zealand Tea tree or manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is an evergreen shrub with small, aromatic leaves that give off a pleasant, herbal aroma when crushed. Tiny white or pink flowers bloom in late spring. Tea trees prosper in sunny coastal areas as well as hot, dry inland sites. They are quite drought tolerant when mature. New Zealand tea tree grows to 10 feet tall in ideal settings but is often shorter in gardens.
Sage
Sage (Salvia species) includes a large group of ornamental plants grown for their drought tolerance and intensely colored flowers. Garden sages for full sun include purple sage (S. officinalis), Berggarten sage (S. officinalis ‘Berggarten’) with gray-green leaves, and Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) with airy blue-green foliage and lavender-blue blooms. Most garden sages reach 2-4 feet tall and wide. Prune annually to maintain shapely growth.
Yucca
Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees native to hot, dry areas of North and Central America. Stiff, sword-shaped leaves grow in rosettes directly from the roots. Tall flower stalks bear clusters of bell-shaped creamy white blooms. Soaptree yucca (Yucca elata) forms a tree to 15 feet tall while Adam’s needle (Y. filamentosa) is a multistemmed shrub reaching 2-3 feet tall. Yuccas need excellent drainage and thrive with little or no supplemental irrigation.
Olive
Olive (Olea europaea) trees offer silvery-green leaves and gnarled branching that add texture. Olives grow 15-30 feet tall and can live for centuries. They produce edible olives if grown under ideal conditions. For ornamental purposes, use olives to screen out unwanted views and provide dense shade. Olives tolerate heat, drought, wind, and poor soils. Water young trees regularly until established then let them fend for themselves.
Myrtle
Myrtle (Myrtus communis) is an aromatic evergreen shrub with small, glossy leaves and white summer flowers. Myrtle reaches 8-12 feet tall but can be kept smaller with pruning. It is quite drought tolerant and thrives in hot, sunny Mediterranean climates with lean, dry soil. Myrtle leaves can be dried for culinary use. The purple-black berries are used in Mediterranean cuisine and to flavor liquors.
Lentisk
Lentisk or mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus) is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean region. Glossy, leathery pinnate leaves emerge red then mature to green. Lentisk bears red berries on female plants. This adaptable shrub thrives in poor soils
Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)
The Strawberry tree is an evergreen known for its unique orange-red fruits. It grows slowly and can be left as a bush or cut back to look like a small tree. In fact, it’s related to our northwest native, the Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii). In the fall, clusters of white flowers in the shape of urns show up, followed by round fruits that birds enjoy eating all winter. Strawberry trees prefer full sun to partial shade. They grow slowly to 15’-30’ (about 1’-2’ per year).
Barberries are tough landscape plants whose saturated colors add intensity to the garden. These shrubs are easy to take care of and don’t attract deer. Their small thorns make them a great choice for a barrier planting. They can be left in a natural shape or pruned to a dense, formal-style hedge. Barberries thrive in full sun or partial shade and can even handle extra-hot spots.
Wild lilacs do well in poor, well-drained soil that doesn’t need extra water or fertilizer in the summer. They do best in troublesome, dry spots that get full sun or partial shade. Most are quite cold-hardy as well. Varieties range in height from the 9-foot-tall ‘Victoria’ to a low-growing groundcover. These plants are native to the west coast of the United States and Canada. Most of them bloom in April, May, or June. Their fuzzy blue flowers are very attractive to bees (and to humans as well)!.
These evergreen shrubs have their origins in the Mediterranean region and are well-suited to our dry summers. They prefer full sun and well-draining soil, making them ideal for rock gardens and sunny parking strips. The single flowers are composed of papery, crinkled petals and come in shades of pink, purple, and white. Plant them with other drought-tolerant plants such as rosemary, lavender, and wild lilac. Size ranges from 1’-6’ feet tall. Shorter varieties make a great mounded ground cover for hot spots.
Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica)
Nandina is a trouble-free shrub with delicate, colorful leaves that turn red in the spring, then green, and finally purple-red in the fall. It is not a true bamboo, so you don’t have to worry about its runners. In the spring, panicles of white flowers appear, and soon after, red berries follow. However, the berries should be removed because they are poisonous to some birds (it’s worth noting that birds won’t eat nandina berries unless they have nothing else to eat). Nandina is very adaptable and will grow in sun or shade.
There are many varieties of spruce that make excellent plants for the PNW landscape. Heights can range from 25’ to just under 1’ tall. Some of my favorites are the blue spruce (Picea pungens), which has beautiful powder-blue leaves; the weeping Norway spruce (Picea abies ‘Pendula’), which has beautiful branches that hang down; and the bird nest spruce (Picea abies ‘Little Gem’), which is a slow-growing dwarf with tiny needles and a horizontal habit. Most prefer full sun to partial shade and are extremely cold-hardy.
Pittosporum tenuifolium is a native of New Zealand. It is a great low-maintenance shrub for modern gardens because it has beautiful dark stems and evergreen leaves (some varieties have striped or ruffled edges). It makes a great tall hedge, with some varieties growing up to 30’ tall and 15’ wide. It is salt-tolerant and thrives in full sun but will also grow well in partial shade. Many varieties have fragrant flowers.
Top 5 Shrubs for the Heat
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