The residents of Annapolis have been cleaning their yards and decorating for the holidays. Local yards and homes look beautiful. If you’re working on your yard, keep this is mind…It’s a great time to evaluate your yard. Are there any evergreens mixed in with their leaf-dropping cousins? Or is your entire yard grey and brown right now? Consider planting some evergreens this spring!
Evergreens often sport berry-type fruit and seed-holding cones. These, and their needles, are an important food for resident birds and the few mammals the venture out in the winter sun. Because they retain their leaves year round, evergreens, including pines, firs, spruces, cedars, hemlocks and hollies, are invaluable to wildlife for winter cover.
Here is a list of evergreens native to parts of the Chesapeake watershed and Annapolis. Remember to choose plants that are native to your area and suited to local soil, light as well as moisture conditions. They will be easier to grow and maintain and provide the best food and cover for wildlife.
Trees:
- American Holly (llex opaca)
- Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
- Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
- Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)
- Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)
- White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Shrubs:
- Great Rhododendron or Rose Bay (Rhododendron maximum)
- Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
- Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
- Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
Ground Covers:
- Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
- Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbent)
- Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)
Happy Gardening!
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