How to grow healthy broad-leaved evergreen trees

Growing broad-leaved evergreen trees requires a keen gardening eye and some knowledge of what to expect. Here's some stats and tips on growing four of these trees, and how to help them stay healthy.

• The most dependable indicator of a tree's hardiness is the lowest temperature it can endure in winter.
• To determine whether a specific tree can be expected to survive in the area where you live, check the zone designation for that tree in the Hardiness column.
• Then, look at a Hardiness Zone Map at Natural Resources Canada.
• The Zone Map divides the country into nine different climatic zones, based on average minimum winter temperatures, frost-free periods and so on.

• Height: 3-7.5 m (10-25 ft)
• Spread: 3-7.5 m (10-25 ft)
• Good to Zone 7
• This tree features toothed leaves on sticky, hairy branches. The leaves are a glossy dark green with red stems and grow 8-10 cm (3-4 in) long.
• White blooms, tinted pink or greenish, hang in 5-cm (2-in) clusters.
• The tree has strawberry-like fruits, hence the name. They're edible but not very tasty.
• Both blooms and fruits appear in fall.
• The reddish inner bark makes an attractive display when the outside cover peels and cracks.
• Survives in poor soils and extreme climates.

• Height: 10.5-13.5 m (34-44 ft)
• Spread: 6-9 m (20-30 ft)
• Zone 7
• A hybrid tree with attractive leaves that are shiny, more than 10 cm (4 in) long and have regularly arranged teeth on margins.
• Fruits are usually bright red, but can be yellow in some varieties. The fruits are commonly used as Christmas decorations.
• Needs well-drained, acid soil.

• Height:18-24 m (60-78 ft)
• Spread: 9-15 m (30-50 ft)
• Zone 7
• Leathery oblong leaves up to 20 cm (8 in) long have glossy upper surfaces and rusty undersides.
• Fragrant, large white flowers open in early and mid summer.
• The tree has a pyramidal habit of growth.
• Magnolias are one of hardiest evergreens available.

• Height: 5.5-6 m (18-20 ft)
• Spread: 7.5-9 m (25-30 ft)
• Zone 8
• Glossy leaves to 15 cm (6 in) long. Fragrant flowers in late spring. Small purple-black fruits.
• Tolerates shearing and makes a handsome windbreak.
• Shade tolerant with upward-pointing leaves.
• Prunus are usually considered shrubby.

The major trick to growing broad-leaved evergreens is to pick the right kind for your area. After that, look for something that you and your garden will love.