Cottage garden evergreens

[Glassfullofdreams]

Hi, I'm trying to create a classic cottage garden. Please could anyone recommend evergreen plants that will give structure and interest during the winter months.

I'll like to include some ornamental grasses as well, but struggling to find some that are evergreen.

Could anyone make any recommendations?

Thanks

No idea but following for others!

Choisya fits in well. There are a few different cultures now. Euonymus 'Silver Queen' is useful as it can be grown against a vertical surface or grown as an upright shrub, or closely clipped. Yew and Privet are classic cottage evergreens too. I'd avoid Box personally as it's too problematic now.

Pittosporum is my go to. I love them all.

Sarcocccus? A bit floppy/shapeless but very trimmable, and nice shiny leaves and tiny scented flowers in mid winter.

In terms of grasses they aren't evergreen but I absolutely love Calamagrostis Karl Foerster (spelling may be wrong on that one!) It's a beautiful grass though, I have it throughout the garden as it's upright and looks beautiful all through winter in the frost. I've just cut it all down to the ground a week or so ago and it'll grow again this year and be full height from about June. So not evergreen but very low maintenance and looks good for most of the year.

Viburnam Tinus is a nice evergreen shrub, also good for shadier areas.

Hebes are good. There are a huge variety to choose from. Lots of different heights and colours and many have a wonderfully long flowering season. They tuck nicely in the border and dont mind being trimmed to fit once grown. Just check you are buying a fully hardy variety before purchase.

Callicarpa is a lovely shrub that isn't evergreen, but has purple berries throughout winter.

And some clematis are evergreen - I have Clematis Armandii that has just blossomed and is beautiful! I have it mixed in with some rambling roses so I have the evergreen of the clematis year-round and then the roses really come to life in summer. (Francis Lester is a great rambling rose!)

And not evergreen per day, but a helebore is fantastic for interest throughout winter.

Agree with Pittosporum- choose a small one like Golf ball or Tom Thumb.

And hebe - Hebe topiaria is a lovely shape and doesn’t get too leggy.

Sarcoccoca for shady areas.

Liriope is a useful evergreen bedding plant, looks like daffodil or bluebell leaves but evergreen and has smaller flowers

Aubretia is great for filling in gaps. Vinca for areas where you don’t mind it taking over…

Rosemary of course!

Nandina domestica
Photinia red robin
Pieris japonica
Skimmia
Phormium (i love Jester as it picks up on the pink of all of the above and creates flow)
Holly
Ceanothus
Mahonia
Choysia
Evergreen honeysuckle or clematis
Climbing hydrangea
Garry Eliptica

Forgot to add camelias and azaleas but will only work if you have the correct soil type x

Hellebores?