10 Beneficial Pennsylvania Native Evergreen Trees

Having Pennsylvania native evergreen trees not only add the green spot in your yard, but also useful for the wildlife habitat. Moreover, planting the native plant doesn’t require too much adaptation since the plant already understands the weather and soil as well.

So, if you want to get one for your home, why don’t you keep reading before choosing the plants you want to get in your yard. Selecting one, two, or all of them is no problem as long as you know what they need.

Table of Contents

BEST Pennsylvania Native Evergreen Trees
Final Thoughts
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- What is the most hardy evergreen tree?
- What are the native trees of Pennsylvania?

BEST Pennsylvania Native Evergreen Trees

In the age-old tapestry of Pennsylvania’s woodlands, there’s an enduring tale woven with steadfast evergreens. These native trees stand tall through seasons, whispering stories of centuries past and promising shelter to the creatures of the forest. But beyond their historical roots, they offer homeowners unparalleled beauty and year-round verdant charm.

Join us on a journey through Pennsylvania’s evergreen legacy, and discover the trees that can make your garden timeless.

1. Christmas Ferns (Polystichum Acrostichoides)

If you live in Pennsylvania, then you are familiar with this evergreen tree. At a glance you will know that this one has deep green and firm leaves. The plant is best placed in a shady location or under part shade sun.

Also, the best soil type for Christmas fern is loam or sandy with dry to medium texture. Don’t you worry about the deer around your hometown, since this plant is deer-resistant.

You can see its blooming time in early summer.

2. **Inkberry Holly (Ilex Glabra)**

If you are looking for something easy to plant, then this one is a great choice. This Pennsylvania native evergreen trees will give you a great color when the winter comes. The plant has smooth and dark green leaves, and greenish white flowers.

And according to the plant’s name also, the tree produces berries, and its fruits will attract beehives and wild birds.

Planting Inkberry holly is best in the area with damp soil, so you can choose the woodland garden or you can plant it around the fond near from home. As its best habitat is near from the fond, then it can thrive in wet and cool climate.

3. **American Holly (Ilex Opaca)**

You can call this tree Christmas holly, with its beautiful red berries. American holly also has the pyramid shape on its tree with spiny green leaves.

The evergreens are suitable to be planted using well-drained soil and it loves full sun to part shade. Since the plant can thrive under the full sun, hence it is a drought-tolerant plant as well.

4. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana)

This might be the tough Pennsylvania native evergreen trees you can have in your spacious backyard. This Pennsylvania native plant is drought tolerant, and can adapt easily in all type soils you have, such as poor dry soils, alkaline soil, and many more.

The bloom period of its flower is late winter, and it reaches full maturity in fall season.

So, if you want to plant the low maintenance and easy to adapt evergreen, you can choose Juniperus Virginiana or people often call it Eastern Red Cedar, although the plant does not belong to cedar genus.

5. **Mountain Laurel (Kalmia Latifolia)**

These stunning and vibrant flowers are Pennsylvania native plants and state flowers of Pennsylvania. The plant loves warm weather, its favorite is moist soils, well-drained, and acidic soil.

Mountain Laurel is considered a slow growing plant, it adds one foot tall for years.

Although it has pretty flowers, you should be careful with this one since it is toxic for humans and pets. You can plant it together with Rhododendron and Azaleas.

6. **Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron Maximum)**

The flower clusters of this plant are terrific. These evergreens have various flowers that you can choose to plant, there are green, white, orange, purple and pink flowers. Also, you can place it under the full sun and part shade.

Besides being poisonous to humans, this plant has benefits for the wildlife habitat, particularly for coverage on winter and extreme weather.

The plants attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees as well since they love its nectar. Hence, these large shrubs are good for the environment, but humans, especially children, should be careful when picking and trying to eat them.

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7. Eastern White Pine (Pinus Strobus)

Pinus Strobus (Eastern White Pine) — Eastern White Pine (*Pinus Strobus*)

Pine is always identical to the Christmas trees, and yes people often use this one for it. Also, you can find the trees easily as the landscape of residential areas.

The Pinus Strobus loves humid weather and well-drained soil. It is a fast grower, so trimming the trees is needed regularly. This will be useful and suitable if your backyard is spacious!

8. **Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis)**

Although usually this plant is a slow grower, which is good for you who wants a low maintenance plant, Tsuga Canadensis can be a fast grower. These evergreen trunks might look sturdy, but they cannot tolerate strong and drying winds.

It also needs good drainage soil. The evergreens have needle-like leaves and the color is dark green with silvery for the underside. Planting this one is beneficial for the wildlife as well since it will be useful for showing the insects and attracting butterflies and birds.

9. Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia Virginiana)

A sturdy tree with stunning creamy white flowers on it. It not only has beautiful flowers, but also a sweet and attractive fragrance. This one is suitable for your ornamental tree in the backyard because you don’t have to worry about its mess.

Magnolia Virginiana or people often call it Magnolia Sweet Bay will be happy if you place it under the full sun or part shade, with medium-moist to wet soil.

Hence, you should water it regularly to keep the soil like that.

10. River Birch (Betula Nigra)

Betula Nigra (River Birch) — River Birch (*Betula Nigra*)

You can choose soil such as moist, acidic, sandy or rocky soil to plant Betula Nigra. This native deciduous tree loves full sun because it will show the foliage color at its best.

Although not that steady, it can thrive in a mild windy season. So, no worries about it later. The other name is River Birch, because the plant is often found along the river banks and floodplains.

So, this one is tolerant of floods as well.

Final Thoughts

In the heart of Pennsylvania, the timeless elegance of native evergreen trees has been nature’s gift for generations. Beyond their undeniable beauty, they’ve shaped the region’s ecology and inspired countless landscapes.

Choosing these evergreens isn’t just about gardening; it’s about embracing a piece of Pennsylvania’s soul. Let these majestic trees uplift your space, and together, let’s celebrate and preserve our state’s green heritage.

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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the most hardy evergreen tree?

Most of the evergreen tree in Pennsylvania belongs to the hardy zone plant. For instance, Mountain Laurel and Ilex Glabra in zone 5. Pinus strobus and tsuga canadensis belong to zone 4.

Zone 5 is the area where the temperature is -20’F and zone 4 is the area where the temperature is 10’F colder than zone 5.

What are the native trees of Pennsylvania?

All of them are evergreen native to Pennsylvania. But for us, the most unique one is the Mountain laurel, which is the native tree of Pennsylvania. The flower became the state flower of Pennsylvania as well.

Followed by Betula Nigra or River Birch that native to Pennsylvania too.