Plants can lose their leaves slowly while regrowing them, never being completely leafless, and those are called evergreen. Those that do lose all their leaves before regrowth are called deciduous. For gardeners that never want completely bare plants in their container or garden plot, they’ll want to consider evergreen plants to grow.
Hardy Prickly Pear
Hardy Prickly Pear is a member of the Cactaceae (cactus) family and is known botanically as Opuntia humifusa. It is an evergreen perennial with over 200 species that is good for use in containers. The cactus pads are 2 to 6 inches long with bright yellow springtime flowers 3 to 4 inches wide. There are egg shaped edible fruits 2 to 3 inches long with edible pulp in the pads that tastes like watermelon. The plant requires full sun and is drought tolerant. Propagate via seeds or by pad rooting.
Umbrella Sedge
Umbrella Sedge is a member of the Cyperaceae (sedge) family and is known botanically as Cyperus involucratus. It is a perennial fast growing evergreen grass that is easy for beginners to grow. It will grow in clumps around 2 to 6 feet high with leaflike bracts 6 to 15 inches long. Small greenish flowers are in clusters that small fruits will come afterwards. The plant needs good soil, sun or shade conditions, and can take shallow water or moist soil. To propagate divide the clumps.
Jelly Palm
Jelly Palm is a member of the Arecacea/Palm (palm) family and is known botanically as Butia capitata. It is an evergreen palm that is easy to grow and can be drought tolerant. It can get to 20 feet tall with light green or bluish gray leaves 5 to 10 feet long. There are bright orange fruits. This palm requires full sun or moderate shade, sandy well drained soil, and can be propagated via seeds.
Cape Lily
Cape Lily is a member of the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family and is known botanically as Crinum X powellii. It is an evergreen perennial that is easy to grow. The leaf mound is 3 to 4 feet long with a bulb up to 7 inches wide. Flowers are fragrant and can be 4 inches long in white or pink. The Cape lily requires full sun or partial shade, will a well drained soil, and can be propagated via division of bulbs every 3 to 5 years in fall season.
Cigar Plant
Cigar Plant is a member of the Lythraceae (loosestrife) family and is botanically named Cuphea ignea. It is a fast growing evergreen that is good for a beginner gardener and a plant that will bring hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. There are 1 inch long tubular flowers on a 3 feet high subshrub. Leaves are dark green and 1 to 1.5 inches long. Cigar plant requires full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It can be propagated via seed or spring to summer tip cuttings.
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