When researching plants for your garden you may come across labels like “semi-evergreen” and “semi-deciduous.” These terms describe how plants shed their leaves throughout the year. Understanding the difference between evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous and semi-deciduous plants can help you choose the right ones for your landscape.
Evergreen vs Deciduous Plants
First, let’s define the two ends of the spectrum – evergreen and deciduous:
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Evergreen plants keep their foliage all year long. The leaves stay green and are only shed when new leaves push out the old. Evergreens like pine, spruce, and fir trees keep their needle-like leaves year-round. Broadleaf evergreen shrubs like boxwood and holly also retain leaves in winter.
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Deciduous plants shed all their leaves at one time usually in autumn. During winter the branches are bare until new leaves emerge in spring. Trees like oak, maple, and dogwood are deciduous, as are shrubs like lilac and forsythia.
So evergreens hold onto their foliage, while deciduous plants lose theirs. What about the terms in between?
What is Semi-Evergreen?
Semi-evergreen plants fall somewhere between evergreen and deciduous. There are a few reasons a plant may be labeled semi-evergreen:
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It loses its leaves briefly in late winter before quickly leafing out again in spring.
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It loses a portion of its leaves in winter or during a dormant period, but keeps the rest.
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Environmental factors like drought may cause it to lose more leaves than usual.
Some examples of semi-evergreen plants include:
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Camellias shed their leaves briefly in late winter before the new leaves emerge.
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Star magnolia loses its leaves in winter in cold climates but may remain evergreen in warmer zones.
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Rosemary can persist year round in mild winter regions but loses some leaves in colder zones.
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Oleander loses its leaves during drought conditions.
So semi-evergreen plants act more evergreen in warm climates but may lose some or all foliage in cold winters or during environmental stresses.
What Does Semi-Deciduous Mean?
Semi-deciduous plants also fall somewhere in between evergreen and deciduous. Here are some reasons a plant may be considered semi-deciduous:
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It loses its leaves based on environmental triggers like temperature or light levels. It may be evergreen in warm zones but deciduous in colder regions.
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It loses its leaves briefly for a short period before quickly leafing out again.
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New leaves may emerge at the same time older leaves are dropping.
Some examples include:
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Red twig dogwood loses leaves based on local climate. It persists year-round in warmer zones but drops leaves in cold winters.
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Rose of Sharon loses its leaves for a short time in fall before quickly leafing out again.
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Fothergilla sheds older leaves as new leaves emerge in spring.
The main difference between semi-evergreen and semi-deciduous plants is the timing of leaf loss. Semi-evergreens typically lose leaves in winter or late winter while semi-deciduous plants may lose theirs anytime temperatures cool.
Choosing Semi-Evergreen & Semi-Deciduous Plants
Here are some things to consider when selecting semi-evergreen or semi-deciduous plants:
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Look at your USDA Hardiness Zone. Plants that are semi-evergreen in warm climates may be deciduous in colder zones.
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Factor in your regional climate. Semi-deciduous plants may lose leaves based on your seasonal weather patterns.
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Evaluate your landscape needs. Do you want year-round foliage for privacy or winter interest? Evergreen and semi-evergreens hold their leaves better.
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Consider native species. They are adapted to your local conditions.
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Add a mix of evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous and semi-deciduous plants for year-round interest.
Examples of Semi-Evergreen & Semi-Deciduous Plants
Here are some common semi-evergreen and semi-deciduous plants to consider:
Semi-Evergreen Plants
- Camellia
- Carolina Jessamine
- Cleyera
- Escallonia
- Euonymus
- Gardenia
- Holly
- Laurel
- Magnolia
- Olive
- Oleander
- Osmanthus
- Pittosporum
- Rhododendron
- Rosemary
- Viburnum
Semi-Deciduous Plants
- Beautyberry
- Bluebeard
- Bottlebrush buckeye
- Fothergilla
- Fringe tree
- Red twig dogwood
- Serviceberry
- Seven son flower
- Smoketree
- Strawberry bush
- Summersweet
The terms semi-evergreen and semi-deciduous describe plants that fall in between evergreen and deciduous. Choose these plants when you want foliage during mild winters but excellent flower and fall color. With the right mix of plants that retain or lose their leaves, you can create an attractive year-round landscape.
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- Semi-Evergreen Plants
While these perennials and shrubs may not be evergreen in every garden, they do tend to keep their foliage in warmer zones, which is why we call them
Terminology Tuesday Deciduous, Evergreen & Semi-Evergreen
FAQ
What is the difference between evergreen and semi-evergreen?
Evergreen daylilies, as the name implies, will retain their foliage through the winter. Semi-evergreen daylilies are in-between the two, with the overwintering of foliage dependent on climate.
What does it mean when they say something is evergreen?
adjective. (of trees, shrubs, etc.) having green leaves throughout the entire year, the leaves of the past season not being shed until after the new foliage has been completely formed. retaining its relevance, popularity, usefulness, etc.; enduring. Some toys are evergreen favorites.
What is a semi-evergreen daylily?
Semi-evergreen daylilies possess foliage that is slower to die back in the fall than the dormants. Usually, a few green shoots, 2 to 4 inches tall, remain visible even after exposed to quite severe cold.
What are the two types of evergreens?
A broadleaf evergreen qualifies as an evergreen in the same way that others do. The only difference is in what the leaf looks like. Needled evergreens have skinny, needle-like leaves, while broadleaf evergreens have wide leaves.