EVERGREEN PLANTS: THE BEST SPECIES TO DECORATE THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE

Whether it's summer or winter, it's always nice to be surrounded by a touch of green, even inside the home. Not surprisingly, plants have now become a piece of furniture, able to give class and elegance to any environment. home. Certainly, the best ones to choose from to decorate your apartment or a balcony or garden are the evergreen ones because they are easy to grow and able to remain luxuriant throughout the year.

For this reason, we have collected the most famous indoor and outdoor perennials, with different species able to adapt to anyone's spaces. From the elegant bearing of the spathiphyllum, the domestic "moon flower", to the historic boxwood hedges to the decorative trees of the strawberry tree for gardens: discover the evergreen plants that are right for you!

Indoor evergreen plants

As we have already mentioned, plants are considered by many to be an integral part of home furnishings: a piece of furniture accessible to all at the price level and which gives great satisfaction. Whether you live in a city apartment or in an isolated house, placing a floral species in a corner of the living room or bedroom gives refinement to the environment and, in the case of some species, even helps purify the air. We have selected the most beautiful varieties of indoor evergreen plants, ideal for both gardeners and non-gardeners.

Sansevieria

The Sanseveria genus are part of the perennial and evergreen plants that are very widespread thanks to both their ornamental conformation and the ease of cultivation that distinguishes them. It belongs to the family of Ruscaceae and is native to different tropical locations depending on the species, ranging from Asia to Africa. The beauty of the sanseveria lies in its refined posture and in its fleshy, shiny leaves that grow in height. Normally they have a dark green color in the center with white-yellowish edges, but there are different variants. They can reach a considerable size, exceeding 60 cm in height.

As already mentioned, these evergreen plants are not difficult to grow. Just place them in a point of the apartment where they can enjoy light, without exposing them directly to that of the sun. In summer it is possible to place them outside, while in the rest of the year they must be kept indoors because they suffer from the cold. As for watering, sanseveria should be considered as a succulent plant, that is, it should only be wet when the soil dries up, without exaggerating the amount of water.

Dieffenbachia

Belonging to the family of Araceae and native to Central and South America, dieffenbachia is one of the evergreen plants that is most frequently found in our homes, also because, thanks to its many varieties, it can have different sizes and best adapt to any need. The dieffenbachia has very large oval-shaped leaves, the color of which can vary depending on the case. Some species have dark green foliage, while others are lighter with white streaks. Contrary to what one might think, this plant produces flowers, but these are inconspicuous: they always remain in shades of green or white and resemble that of the calla in shape.

Given its tropical origins, dieffenbachia prefers a warm environment and therefore apartment living suits it. Pay attention to cold shocks and not expose the vase to drafts. Similarly, it is recommended to place it near a source of light but not direct because the sun's rays could burn it. As for watering, it is sufficient to keep the soil always moist while avoiding water stagnation.

Spathiphyllum

Spathiphyllum belongs to the family of Araceae, comes from Central America and is an evergreen plant of limited size, so it lends itself to the embellishment of any domestic environment. It is also known as the "moon flower" and is characterized by its foliage and flowering. In fact, it has long glossy dark green leaves and its flower has a particular conformation. It resembles that of the calla lily, with a single white petal that wraps around the pistil. The elegant and refined posture has made the spathiphyllum one of the most loved species.

In general, it does not need a lot of light and should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Moreover, given its origins, it prefers humid and warm environments: it cannot stand the cold, so it lends itself only to life in the apartment and not in the garden. Throughout the year, the "moon flower" should be wet regularly, making sure that the soil is practically dry between one watering and the next.

Ficus lyrata

Native to Africa, Ficus lydrata is one of the most popular species of ficus for decorating home interiors. In fact, this evergreen plant is easily recognizable by its conformation that leads it to grow in height and reach dimensions similar to those of a tree. It does not give flowers, but it is very popular for its large dark green leaves, often with white or yellow veins. Like the other ficus, the lydrata variety also produces fruits, but they are not edible and rarely appear in the cultivation in the home.

Given its development in height, one must be sure to have the necessary space for the growth of the ficus. In addition, like many other evergreen plants, the lydrata also prefers a position in a rather bright corner of the apartment, also taking advantage of direct sunlight. Finally, this species needs frequent watering, especially during the summer months. The important thing is to always check the state of the soil in the pot before giving more water, to prevent the roots from rotting.

Evergreen outdoor plants

Looking out onto your balcony or terrace even in autumn and winter and seeing lush plants is not impossible: you just need to know how to choose the right species. For this reason we have selected the best varieties of evergreen and perennial outdoor plants, which adapt to everyone's different needs and price budget. Some are perfect for a fairly large garden, perhaps as a hedge, while others are ideal for smaller balconies.

Oleander

Coming from the Mediterranean region and belonging to the family of Aponyaceae, the oleander is an evergreen shrub that has been decorating our gardens and terraces for years. Depending on the species, this plant can reach considerable size and has become famous as an ornamental element for its foliage and flowering. Its leaves are glossy. , oval in shape and resistant to different climatic situations, while its flowers can show off different colors ranging from pink to red, from white to yellow. They bloom in mid-spring, around May, and can last until September, embellishing any environment with their colors.

Since it is one of the most resistant evergreen plants, oleander cultivation is not complex at all. It prefers exposure to the sun, even direct, so as to obtain an excellent flowering. Likewise, it needs a lot of water during the summer months, while in autumn and winter watering must be sporadic. Finally, we want to remember that the leaves of the oleander are toxic for all animal species: it is therefore good to place it with caution if pets are left in the garden or on the terrace. .

Strawberry tree

The strawberry tree, also called Arbutus unedo, is a shrub typical of the Mediterranean maquis but also native to Ireland. It belongs to the family of Ericaceae and can reach a considerable size in height, up to 4-5 meters. Not surprisingly, it is often equated with a real tree. It has leaves similar to those of the oleander, oblong in shape and dark green. In addition to its foliage, the strawberry tree is known for its flowering. In fact, the end of summer marks the period of the sprouting of its beautiful white flowers. - which for some varieties may be either red or green - with a bell-shaped conformation. At the same time, the strawberry tree also produces its fruits, round and red, which fall naturally when ripe.

Thanks to its autumn flowering and its characteristic fruits, this evergreen plant is very popular in the decoration of large terraces and gardens, often arranged in rows of trees. It prefers to be placed in sunny areas, but it adapts to live in shady places if the temperatures are warm enough. The strawberry tree is a shrub that resists the cold and does not require special care. It does not need large quantities of water because it prefers drought and usually only fertilizer is recommended during the spring.

Heather

Belonging to the family of Ericaceae, the heather is a perennial shrub originating from different areas of the world depending on its species: it usually comes from Africa or from the Mediterranean territories in Europe. As already mentioned, there are many varieties. In Italy there are at least 8, of which the most popular is the so-called Erica gracilis. It is a small plant that lends itself to decorating flower beds and gardens as well as city balconies. It turns out to be particularly ornamental thanks to its flowering which takes on various shades. In fact, its flowers can range from purple-purple to white, red and pink and appear in clusters, in dense and continuous groups.

The heather is famous for being a rustic plant and, therefore, does not require much care. It is suitable both for cultivation in pots and planted on the ground. During the summer it prefers shady areas: it resists heat but fears direct exposure in the light and heat of the sun for a continuous period.The soil must be kept constantly humid and so watering will be frequent in the hottest months and sporadic in the winter ones.

Boxwood

Also among the evergreen shrubs we find boxwood, belonging to the family of Buxaceae and coming from tropical countries such as Cuba and Madagascar. Unlike other perennials, boxwood is famous neither for its lush trees nor for its particularly colorful flowering. However, it has been used for years and years in exterior decoration, especially as an ornamental embellishment of a garden in the form of a hedge. In fact, boxwood grows slowly and has very small leaves. All these aspects make it perfect for creating hedges with the most diverse shapes. It is therefore not surprising to know that these shrubs have been used precisely as a hedge in numerous parks of historic villas, including the Medici Villas or those of the Baroque era.

The plant at the base of the most famous hedges of all time is easy to grow and even adapts to life in pots. It grows well both exposed to direct sunlight and in shady areas. The boxwood usually does not need frequent watering, because rainwater is sufficient. In cases of extreme drought, some watering is recommended without ever flooding the ground excessively.