Small Ornamental Weeping Evergreens

Small weeping evergreens cascade like water over the landscape. These shrubs have the ability to keep their colorful foliage all year long, even in the winter. Weeping evergreens also provide interest to front flower beds or containers flanking a pergola or arbor. With their signature flowing effect of weeping branches, the pendulous shape creates an unusual and unexpected addition to the surrounding landscape.

Weeping Himalayan cedar

This weeping ornamental shrub has a hardiness zone of 7 to 8. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Weeping cedar grows up to 3 feet in height and 10 feet wide, for a low, cascading evergreen plant. Its long, dark green needles weep downward into a free swinging, pendulous shape. Weeping Himalayan is also a spreading plant and can be used as a ground cover in small garden spaces to help fill out the landscape.

Weeping Japanese red pine

Weeping Japanese red pine is an ornamental evergreen shrub that grows only 2 feet in height. This small weeping evergreen has a hardiness zone of 4 to 7 and requires full sun. The dark green needles grow up to 4 inches long, and the bark maintains a reddish brown color, hence the name red pine. The cascading or weeping branches of the Japanese red pine form a dense and creeping carpet if not staked when young.

Dwarf American holly

The dwarf American holly is a low growing, compact holly with a hardiness zone of 5 to 9. This evergreen shrub grows up to 3 feet in height, making for a small evergreen ornamental. The cascading foliage has glossy leaves that are deep green in color. Red berries emerge on the dwarf holly during the winter to contrast with the dark leaves and create a colorful splash of color to a winter landscape.

Gold Mop false cypress

This broadleaf evergreen has a hardiness zone of 4 to 8. The yellow to green foliage weeps down like a mop, giving it the name "gold mop cypress." Gold mop cypress tolerates drought and grows in dry soil, making it a very diverse evergreen to plant inside the garden. The compact foliage grows to a maximum of 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide and is very slow growing. Gold mop cypress requires full sun to partial shade. Moist and well-drained soil is essential for this small cypress and a hard pruning in the spring or fall helps to maintain the desired shape or size.

Chansonette Weeping Camellia

This unusually short weeping evergreen shrub has glossy dark green leaves that cascade down to provide a brilliant ground cover. Weeping camellia grow 2 to 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide. The hardiness zone is 6b-11. The bright pink double flowers contrast with the dark green foliage and look lovely planted in a hanging basket or along a front flower bed. The blooms emerge in the fall and last through early December, making this evergreen a winter must to any garden. The weeping camellia prefers full sun to part shade.