For a non-toxic evergreen tree, try growing Arbutus unedo, or the strawberry tree. The strawberry tree is native to the Mediterranean and can be grown from US hardiness zone 7 plus.

Evergreen trees and shrubs often (but not always) have needles and produce cones. These needled cone-bearing trees are called conifers. Example of conifer trees include pine, fir, spruce and cedar.

Many evergreens provide a safe space for birds in the winter. Each different evergreen tree has a unique set of characteristics regarding texture, shape, and color.

Pine, spruce, Italian Cypress, Southern magnolias, palm trees. Not all evergreen trees are related or look alike. They come from different families of trees and grow in varied types of soils.

Evergreens will lose their “leaves” (aka needles) a little bit at a time throughout the year. That’s why these trees at least appear to stay green through the entire holiday season.

The shamel or tropical ash is one of the few (semi)evergreen ashes; this Mexican native is a favorite in Southern California. The tree was also introduced in Hawaii but started escaping in the ...