By Debby Looney, gardening expert 

Something I have been asked quite a bit is "are there any nice evergreen trees?" – by which I think people mean - not conifers!

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At this time of year, when trees are losing their leaves, it is nice to have a bit of height in the garden which has foliage. Also in terms of shelter, it is good to have a leafy screen. This does not necessarily mean a high conifer hedge.

Here are a few suggestions:

A great favourite of mine is Eucryphia. It can grow to about five metres, is evergreen with dark green leathery leaves. I might have mentioned it before, as it is also ideal in a small garden, it retains a narrow shape and flowers almost continuously, but mainly in the autumn. There is also a pink Eucryphia, called ‘Ballerina’, and a completely white one called ‘Rostrevor’.

Arbutus trees are iconic in Killarney, but also a beautiful tree for a larger garden. Well-known, they have white pendant flowers and are graced by crimson, strawberry shaped fruits in the autumn. The bark is a beautiful reddish brown, and it has a wide, spreading habit. It can also be clipped to grow as a large shrub. Similarly, Myrtle is a fragrant small tree/large shrub with small, pointy evergreen leaves, white flowers and a striking chestnut coloured bark. It flowers in late summer/early autumn, its fragrance is spicy and makes you think of Christmas! There is a variegated form also, Myrtus communis variegate.

Holm oak, Quecus ilex, if you have the space, is a majestic, large, evergreen tree. It can grow to 20 metres, and is ideal for seaside gardens. It has an unusually cracked black bark. It copes with pollution and salt, and when it is established, is very hardy. Quercus suber, the cork bark oak, is another evergreen oak tree. Its bark is a pale brown, also cracked, from which cork is made. It is not quite as hardy as the holm oak, but it is an unusual tree to have!

Podocarpus macrophyllus is technically a conifer, but so pretty I feel it needs a mention! It has longish bright green leaves and a graceful growing habit. Easy to trim and happy to be grown in any shape whatsoever, it has been used as bonsai, espalier or lollipop – as well as hedging! It is delicate looking, and not at all conifer like!

Eucalyptus trees are definitely my go to plant, they seem to grow anywhere. They tolerate extremely wet soil, dry soil, clay, sand, wind, shelter – an all rounder! They respond well to repeated cutting. I have some which I keep as large shrubs – they give great shelter. If cut often, their leaves also remain fresh and blue. Ideal for flower arranging, shelter and colour, I cannot recommend them enough. Of course, if you have the space and time, a mature eucalyptus is something special. Most of them have a peeling bark which comes off in long spirals, leaving a tiger striped surface beneath. An underused plant!