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Arkansas · Zones 6–8

Native Evergreen Plants in Arkansas

Native shrubs, groundcovers, and ferns that hold their leaves through winter for year-round green, screening, and cover. For Arkansas, the right natives are shaped by Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain and a humid subtropical climate. Every species below, from Foamflower and Crossvine to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Arkansas and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. Evergreen natives carry the garden through the bare months, giving structure, privacy, and winter shelter for birds when the deciduous plants have dropped their leaves. Site broadleaf evergreens out of harsh winter wind and afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorch, and water them deeply going into a dry fall so they enter winter fully charged.

The plants

5 native species for Arkansas

Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.

Perennial wildflower

Foamflower

Tiarella cordifolia

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, doesn't drop its leaves — winter green, cover for birds, and structure, 1–2 ft wide and hardy in zones 3–8.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 6–12 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Vine

Crossvine

Bignonia capreolata

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, evergreen structure and privacy through the bare months, reaching 25–50 ft and orange-red flowers.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 25–50 ft
  • Blooms Apr–May
Evergreen shrub

Inkberry Holly

Ilex glabra

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, an evergreen anchor that never goes bare, reaching 4–8 ft and cold-hardy to zone 4.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 4–8 ft
  • Blooms May–Jun
Groundcover

Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, green in January as in July, for screening and winter cover — for sand, rocky, and loam ground and hardy in zones 3–9.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 4–8 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Fern

Christmas Fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, carries the planting through winter with leaves intact, for rocky and loam ground and reaching 1–2 ft.

  • Part shade
  • Dry–average
  • 1–2 ft
  • Evergreen
Sourcing

Where to find these in Arkansas

Seeds & live plants on Amazon

Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.

Browse on Amazon

Some links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.