Defined by Aggie Horticulture as trees that are less than 30 feet high, there are many kinds of small evergreen trees that offer shade, blooms and interest to a landscape. Evergreen trees may have leaves or needles and retain their needles or leaves throughout the winter and into the next growing season. Many evergreen trees, though not all, are conifers, which are trees that produce cones.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) trees are fragrant, drought-tolerant trees that are native to Australia. The snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) and bushy yate (Eucalyptus lehmannli) are small varieties of this graceful tree that has round, blue, gray or green leaves. The snow gum, which is hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and grows to 20 feet, has smooth bark, red branches and creamy white flowers. The bushy yate, which is hardy to 28 degrees F and grows to 30 feet, has light green leaves that turn red in the fall and apple-green flowers in large clusters. Eucalyptus prefer full sun.
Sweet Bay Magnolia
The sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is an evergreen that grows to 20 feet in northern and cooler climates, but can reach 60 feet in warmer areas. This tree has gray-green leaves that are up to 5 inches long and produces a fragrant, 3-inch ivory bloom in the summer. The sweet bay magnolia is hardy in zones 6 to 9 and prefers moist, acidic soil. The Henry Hicks cultivar also has shiny, green evergreen leaves.
The wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), also known as bayberry, grows to 15 to 20 feet and is native to the southeastern U.S. A fast-growing tree, wax myrtles have glossy, dark green leaves that are up to 3 1/2 inches long and gray-white fruit coated in wax, which may be used in candle making. This tree, which is hardy in zones 7 to 10, is not fussy about its surroundings and can grow in sun or shade and can tolerate moist soil or salty conditions.