Narrow evergreen trees are a great addition to any garden or landscape, providing year-round color, privacy, shade, and aesthetic appeal. These trees are particularly suitable for small, compact gardens where there is limited space for trees to grow. They can also be used in planters to add greenery to patios, container gardens, or entryways.
There are several types of narrow evergreen trees that can complement a garden landscape, including spruce, arborvitae, juniper, and cypress. If you are looking for the best evergreen trees to plant that have a slim and narrow growth pattern, this article will showcase 24 beautiful options.
Narrow Evergreen Trees: Columnar Skinny Evergreen Trees With Their Picture and Name
Narrow evergreen trees are a great addition to any yard as they make a bold statement. These trees with dense foliage and a columnar growth pattern are perfect for creating a natural screen along a fence or driveway. They also work well as specimen trees to add height and structure to a garden. Below is a list of some of the best types of narrow evergreen trees to consider for your yard.
Columnar Evergreen White Spruce Tree (Picea glauca ‘Pendula’)
The white spruce is a tall and slender columnar evergreen tree that has a weeping appearance, which makes it a perfect addition to small gardens. This fast-growing tree can reach up to 12-40 feet (3.6-12 meters) in height and 5 feet (1.5 meters) in width. Its slender columnar shape makes it a great vertical accent while requiring minimal space.
The narrow evergreen white spruce prefers USDA zones 2 through 6 and grows best in full sun and well-drained soils. Its conical crown, cascading branches, aromatic needle leaves, and cylindrical tan-colored cones make it an attractive choice for landscaping. This evergreen tree is also low-maintenance, making it an excellent option for homeowners who want to add a touch of greenery without a lot of upkeep.
‘North Pole’ Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘North Pole’)
The ‘North Pole’ arborvitae, also known as Art Boe thuja, is a tall and slim evergreen with an upright, columnar growth habit. This slender conifer has delicate deep green leaves that form a pyramidal shape. It grows up to 4 to 6 feet (1.2 – 1.8 m) in height and width and requires minimal care.
This columnar tree is an excellent choice for small gardens. It is cold-hardy and grows slowly, thriving in USDA zones 3 through 7. The slender pointed landscape tree is great as a specimen tree, hedge, evergreen screen, foundation planting, or shrub border. It can also be grown in a pot as a vertical accent in an entryway.
Malonyana Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Malonyana’)
The slender ‘Malonyana’ arborvitae is an attractive ornament that adds a striking vertical dimension to any garden. This columnar tree has an upright pyramidal shape and features beautiful green leaves with soft feather-like sprays that emit an aromatic fragrance. Growing up to 20-30 feet (6-10 meters) tall and 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide, it has a narrow form that is perfect for small gardens or as a replacement for Italian cypress in colder regions. The ‘Malonyana’ arborvitae is cold-hardy and can thrive in USDA zones 4 to 8.
Moonglow Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Moonglow’)
The Moonglow juniper cultivar is a popular ornamental evergreen with silvery green leaves and a tall, neat, and fastigiate growth habit. Its bluish-green or glaucous blue-gray foliage and vertically ascending branches give it a somewhat pointed crown. This large evergreen tree can grow up to 20 feet (6 meters) tall and 8 feet (2.4 meters) in diameter.
Moonglow juniper is an excellent choice for evergreen hedges and as an addition to driveways, paths, and fences. It can be grown in USDA zones 3 to 9.
Narrow Skyrocket Juniper (Juniperus virginiana ‘Skyrocket’)
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The Eastern Red Cedar cultivar ‘Skyrocket’ is a tall, slender, and low-maintenance evergreen tree known for its unique, narrow growth pattern. Its blue-green foliage adds a touch of elegance to any garden. This striking columnar evergreen can grow up to 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) in height and width.
‘Skyrocket’ juniper is an excellent choice for creating an evergreen screen or as a specimen accent tree. It requires minimal maintenance once established and does not require pruning to maintain its pencil-like form. The tree is suitable for USDA plant zones 4 through 9.
Evergreen American Arborvitae ‘Yellow Ribbon’ (Thuja occidentalis ‘Yellow Ribbon’)
The ‘Yellow Ribbon’ arborvitae is a great choice for creating a screening hedge with its decorative golden yellow spray-like leaves providing an elegant backdrop. This small, upright conical evergreen can grow up to 8 to 10 feet (2.4 – 3 m) tall and spreads up to 3 ft. (1 m). It thrives best in USDA zones 2 through 7.
This semi-dwarf evergreen conifer with yellowish-green leaves is perfect for creating a privacy screen, noise buffer, natural border, or lining a driveway. Additionally, its upright growth makes it an ideal tree to add bright colors throughout the year to any landscape.
Tall Skinny Evergreen Eastern Red Cedar ‘Taylor’ (Juniperus virginiana ‘Taylor’)
The Eastern red cedar cultivar ‘Taylor’ is a columnar evergreen tree that boasts silvery blue-green dense foliage. The slender tree can grow up to 15 to 20 feet (4.5 meters) tall and has a narrow spread of 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters). In winter, it can have a beautiful bronze color.
The thin and tall shape of the ‘Taylor’ juniper makes it ideal for formal screening or hedgerows. This evergreen tree can thrive in USDA zones 4 through 9.
Slender Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’)
The slender Hinoki false cypress is a narrow pyramid-shaped tree that can be grown as a privacy hedge. It is characterized by small, deep green needles. The Hinoki cypress grows slowly and reaches a height of 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 meters) and a width of 5 feet (1.5 meters) when fully mature.
When the new growth is soft, it appears reddish-bronze before turning dark green. This narrow evergreen tree is an excellent choice for screening, hedges, and background plantings. It thrives in USDA zones 4 through 8.
Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’)
The spartan juniper is a popular, fastigiate columnar evergreen tree commonly used in landscaping. Its symmetrical pyramidal shape is both stately and elegant, making it a great choice for adding privacy and visual appeal to any garden. The spartan juniper is a low-maintenance tree that can reach a height and width of 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) and 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters), respectively.
This drought-tolerant conifer is an excellent option for formal accent trees, screens, or privacy barriers that require minimal attention. It can also be used as a windbreak. USDA zones 5 to 10 provide ideal growing conditions for spartan junipers.
Brodie Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana ‘Brodie’)
The ‘Brodie’ Eastern red cedar is an elegant and tall narrow evergreen tree that is drought-resistant and can be used as a privacy screen. It’s perfect for hedges, screens, and tall specimen trees due to its pyramid shape and fastigiate growth habit. The slender conifer can grow up to 30 to 45 feet (9 to 13 meters) tall and up to 12 feet (3.5 meters) wide. The ‘Brodie’ cedar prefers full sun and is suitable for USDA zones 6 through 9.
Thin Evergreen Italian Cypress Tree (Cupressus sempervirens)
The Italian cypress is an evergreen conifer with a distinctive slender, columnar growth habit that makes it a stunning focal point in any landscape. This tall and narrow tree stands out in any setting with its flat green to blue sprays of aromatic foliage.
It can be used to create an imposing hedge or as a striking specimen tree, with a height range of 40 to 70 feet (12 to 21 meters) and a narrow, slender profile. The Italian cypress thrives in USDA zones 7 through 9.
Hicks Yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’)
The Hicks yew is an evergreen tree that has a narrow growth habit when fully grown. This slender, columnar tree has glossy, dark green needle leaves and is typically juvenile in size. With a spread of 4 ft (1.2 m), it can grow up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) tall.
The Hicks yew is ideal for tall hedges, privacy screens, containers at doorways, and as an accent tree in the corner of a home due to its slender growth. To ensure optimal growth, plant the Hicks yew in full sun in USDA zones 4 through 7.
Tall Evergreen Colorado Blue Spruce ‘Fastigiata’ (Picea pungens ‘Fastigiata’)
The ‘Fastigiata’ cultivar of Colorado blue spruce is a great option for those who want to plant a tall, slender evergreen tree. It has a unique pyramidal growth pattern with a columnar shape. In comparison to the species tree, this cultivar has a narrower growth. The conical evergreen is perfect for small gardens, as it only reaches 10 to 15 feet (3.5 to 4.5 meters) in height and spreads 4 feet (1.2 meters) after ten years of growth.
Colorado Spruce ‘Koster’ (Picea pungens ‘Koster’)
The ‘Koster’ cultivar of the Colorado Spruce is a stunning evergreen conifer that boasts an elegant, neat, and conical shape with open branching. The slender tree stands out with its silvery-blue needles that turn silver in the summer. This slow-growing spruce can grow up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall and 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide.
The bright, silvery-blue needle leaves of the Colorado Spruce last all year long in full sun. It is suitable for planting in USDA zones 2 through 8.
Japanese False Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Soft Serve’)
If you are looking for a compact coniferous tree for your small garden, the Japanese cypress, also known as false cypress, might be a good choice. This attractive evergreen plant has silvery specks on the underside and a slender pyramidal shape that makes it suitable as a specimen tree, hedge, or foundation planting. The tree grows up to 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) tall and spreads 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters). The Sawara cypress, as it is also known, is suitable for USDA zones 4 through 8.
Dragon Lady Holly (Ilex × aquipernyi ‘Meschick’)
The dragon lady holly is a narrow evergreen tree that resembles a shrub and features a densely branched, pyramidal growth habit, making it ideal for privacy. The sharp, spiky leaves of the holly tree and its dense form are its distinguishing characteristics. Due to its foliage, this evergreen tree is well-suited for use as a privacy screen, security screen, foundation planting, or specimen tree.
Plant the dragon lady holly in full sun or partial shade in USDA zones 5 through 7. This columnar evergreen tree can grow up to 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 m) tall, with a width of 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m), making it an excellent option for a tall and narrow hedge or barrier plant.
Sky Pencil Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’)
The sky pencil holly is a tall, slim, and evergreen shrub with a compact growth habit that is not very tall. The shrub’s narrow, upright growth makes it an ideal choice for use as a columnar specimen tree or focal point, with a fastigiate branching pattern. Additionally, the sky pencil holly’s foliage is glossy and dark green.
It is well suited for use as a narrow hedge or screen, as the small tree-like shrub grows to a height of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) and a width of less than 3 feet (1 meter). The sky pencil holly is best grown in USDA zones 6 through 8.
Arborvitae ‘Emerald Green’ (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’)
The Thuja ‘Emerald Green’ (also known as Smaragd) is a highly recommended tree for creating privacy in your garden. It is a beautiful columnar tree that adds aesthetic appeal to any landscape. The foliage of this semi-dwarf tree is light green and has a feathery appearance. The Danish cultivar name, ‘Smaragd,’ means “slow-growing and easy to grow.”
This slender evergreen tree typically grows to a height of 6 feet (2 meters) and a width of 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) after ten years. However, it can grow up to 14 feet (4.2 meters) tall under ideal conditions. You can grow Smaragd evergreen conifers in containers at your entryway or plant them together to make a thick privacy hedge in full sun in USDA zones 2-7. They are also known as ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae and are great for creating a dense windbreak.
Dwarf Narrow Evergreen Trees (With Pictures)
Narrow Dwarf Alberta Spruce Tree (Picea glauca ‘Conica’)
Consider planting the dwarf evergreen Alberta spruce, a short and compact columnar tree, as it makes a great option for a privacy hedge, pot plant or foundation planting. Due to its slow growth rate, it is an ideal choice for these purposes.
The little evergreen spruce tree has a natural pyramidal form with dense needle-like leaves. Its evergreen foliage has a blue-green tint, creating a cone shape that stands out. The Alberta spruce thrives in USDA zones 2 to 6. After ten years, the little evergreen grows to be 3 to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and 1 foot (0.5 meter) wide.
Common Juniper ‘Gold Cone’ (Juniperus communis ‘Gold Cone’)
The ‘Gold Cone’ cultivar of the Juniperus communis is a short, upright, columnar evergreen tree that grows well in small spaces. The tree has bright golden-yellow leaves in the spring that turn into blue-green color in the winter months. With a spread of 2 feet (0.6 meters), this dense, upright, and columnar juniper can grow up to 3 to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall.
For those who live in USDA zones 5 through 7, this semi-dwarf columnar juniper is an excellent choice for a foundation planting, specimen tree, or border plant. The cone-shaped evergreen tree, with its thick and bright green leaves, will add a touch of beauty to any landscape.
Semi-Dwarf Evergreen Arborvitae ‘Filips Magic Moment’ (Thuja occidentalis ‘Filips Magic Moment’)
The arborvitae cultivar ‘Filips Magic Moment’ has an upright pyramidal growth that gives it a dense, cone-shaped appearance. This low-growing arborvitae adds visual appeal to any garden with its year-round attractive pyramidal shape. The yellow columnar conifer can grow up to 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) tall and 3 feet (1 meter) wide.
‘Filips Magic Moment’ is perfect for planting in containers near entryways or as a brightly-colored, dense hedgerow without needing much pruning to maintain its shape. The semi-dwarf arborvitae thrives in USDA zones 3 through 7 and requires full or partial sun.
Japanese Plum Yew ‘Fastigiata’ (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’)
The Japanese plum yew is a tall, slender, and narrow evergreen conifer with upward branching. It has an attractive and distinct appearance, characterized by long, dark green arching needles. The plum yew makes an excellent addition to a mixed border or serves as a windbreak or focal point in the garden due to its year-round green foliage.
This columnar tree grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and 3 feet (1 meter) wide after a decade. It is suitable for planting in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9.
Pencil Point Juniper (Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’)
The pencil-point juniper is a slender, dwarf evergreen conifer that has a columnar growth habit and is perfect for small garden spaces. The dense multi-stemmed tree is characterized by silver-blue foliage that is sharp to the touch. This hardy evergreen tree is suitable as a low hedge, foundation plant, or accent plant, adding visual interest to garden landscapes.
The compact evergreen tree has a height and width of 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 1 m), making it an ideal choice for small gardens. The pencil-point juniper is a cold-hardy plant that can thrive in USDA zones 2 through 9.
Mugo Pine ‘Fastigiata’ (Pinus mungo ‘Fastigiata’)
The ‘Fastigiata’ cultivar of Mugo Pine is an upright evergreen tree with dense green foliage. It is a popular choice due to its narrow form and slow-growing nature, adding visual appeal to any landscape. The columnar conifer grows at a rate of only 6 inches (15 centimeters) per year. At full maturity, it reaches a height of 6 ft. (1.8 m) with a spread of 2 ft. (0.6 m). The Mugo Pine ‘Fastigiata’ thrives in full or partial sun and is suitable for planting in USDA zones 2 through 7.