Sherman Nursery Company, Charles City, Iowa 
37 
Evergreen Varieties 
Types of Evergreens 
Almost all of the evergreens are valued for 
their distinct shape and symmetry. In select¬ 
ing and grouping evergreens it is well to con¬ 
sider their shape if a pleasing result is to be 
secured. 
Evergreens can be divided into six general 
groups, as illustrated above. A classification 
such as this makes it much easier to select the 
right evergreen for the right place. It must 
be remembered that the members in each group 
are alike only in shape or outline. Each has 
its own characteristics and may be a tall grower 
or a dwarf grower according to its class. 
Type A. This broadly pyramidal group of 
the Christmas tree type embraces quite a few 
of the common evergreens including some of 
the spruces, pines and firs. As a rule they 
make large trees at maturity and make most 
perfect specimens when growing without inter¬ 
ference. This class is good for lawn groups, 
shelter planting, avenues or specimens. 
Type B. The evergreens in this group are 
usually medium height growers suitable for 
backgrounds and foundation plantings. They 
are useful to give height at corners and accent 
at each side of a doorway, gateway or garden 
entrance. Various varieties of Arbor Vitae and 
Juniper are included in this group. 
Type C. These are the upright, columnar 
varieties which introduce an exclamatory note 
in the landscape, wherever an accent plant is 
needed or where formal effects are desired. 
Certain Junipers and the pyramidal arbor 
vitae offer such narrow types. 
Type D. In the family of evergreens there 
are many fine dwarf varieties which grow more 
or less globular. These are very useful for 
specimen planting, either alone or in combina¬ 
tion with taller growing varieties planted in 
back. The Mugho pine and Globe and Com¬ 
pact arbor vitaes belong in this group. 
Type E. The evergreens in this group con¬ 
stitute an intermediate stage between creeping 
Juniper and upright growers. All are dwarf 
and consequently are desirable plants for foun¬ 
dation planting. Two of the most commonly 
known of this group are Juniper Pfitzeriana 
and Juniper Savin. 
Type F. The creeping varieties of Juniper 
which constitute this group are at home on 
slopes where they can spread out at will or 
wherever a low carpet of evergreen foliage is 
desirable. 
Each variety listed here has a type letter 
following the name, and by consulting the above 
chart you can readily see to which class it be¬ 
longs. The numbers following the type letter 
indicate the height of the mature tree. 
ARBOR VITAE, AMERICAN (Thuya Occiden- 
talis). Type B—40 feet. Sometimes called 
white cedar. A thrifty growing tree with 
bright green foliage, hardy anywhere. It is 
especially recommended for screens, hedges 
and windbreaks, as it grows very dense and 
responds well to trimming. 
ARBOR VITAE, COMPACTA (Thuya Occiden- 
talis Compacta). Type D—3 feet. A dwarf 
round tree with bright green extremely com¬ 
pact foliage. Slow growing and clean. Can 
be used in a formal or informal planting. 
ARBOR VITAE, DOUGLAS GOLDEN (Thuya 
Occidentalis Aurea Douglasi). Type B—15 
feet. A valuable golden form of Arbor Vitae. 
It is a strong grower, forming a broad, bushy, 
heavy specimen. Its unusual color makes a 
fine contrast. It can be sheared and kept to 
any form desired. 
ARBOR VITAE, GLOBOSA (Thuya Occideil- 
talis Globosa). Type D—4 feet. Grows natur¬ 
ally round like the compacta arbor vitae. Has 
dense foliage bright green in color. Often 
planted in tubs or set along walks. Always 
looks well when planted in front of taller 
evergreens. 
ARBOR VITAE, HOVELS GOLDEN (Thuya 
Iloveyii)—A rather slow growing form of 
Arbor Vitae, especially fine for group plant¬ 
ing on account of its golden green foliage. 
In shape it closely resembles the Globosa 
Arbor Vitae. Type D—6 feet. 
ARBOR VITAE, LITTLE GEM—(Var. of 
Thuya Occidentalis). Dwarf Globe type. 
Much hardier than Globosa. A slow grower. 
Very neat and compact. Is especially fine 
for low borders, foundation groups, tubs, 
or urns. Type D—3 feet. 
ARBOR VITAE PYRAMIDAL (Thuya Pyra- 
midalis)—Another form of the American 
White Cedar, a handsome, graceful tree, 
rather slow growing. As its name indicates, 
it grows paturally in the shape of a rather 
slender pyramid. This type of tree is much 
used as sentinel trees, as well as in back¬ 
grounds or at the sides of groups of other 
evergreens to balance the effect. Dark green 
foliage. Type C—12 feet. 
