Evergreens are those trees and shrubs of which the leaves do not fall off in autumn, but retain their freshness and verdure throughout the winter, and which may perform their functions during more than one year. Evergreen leaves are generally of thicker and firmer texture than the leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs. The habit most common among the larger-leaved forms is indicated in the figure—these three distinct and unrelated evergreens, Ardisia (Primulaceæ), Holly (Aquifoliaceæ), and Skimmia (Rutaceæ), having not only the same type of leaf, but very similar small white flowers with red berries. Evergreen leaves are sometimes very small, as in firs and heaths; sometimes pretty large, as in rhododendrons, laurels, magnolias, &c. Evergreens, both trees and shrubs, have always been much sought after by the landscape gardener, and for purposes of ornament and shelter. Some genera of plants consist exclusively, or nearly so, of evergreens, whilst in others they exist only as exceptional species. Most of the Coniferae are evergreens; and the sombre green of pines, firs, cypresses, &c. is a prevalent characteristic of northern scenery both in summer and winter; whilst the undiminished thickness of the foliage affords winter shelter to animals which could not so well exist in forests composed merely of deciduous trees. Holly and ivy are amongst the finest British evergreens; the box, privet, and different kinds of bay and laurel, rhododendron, phillyrea, myrtle, &c. are also familiar to every one. As instances of genera in which some species are evergreen and others deciduous may be mentioned Barberry and Cytisus. Great numbers have been added to the lists of evergreen trees and shrubs available for ornamenting British gardens and pleasure-grounds by the opening up of China and Japan within the last thirty years. No European country has a greater wealth of evergreen trees and shrubs at its command than Britain, the climate of which, chiefly owing to absence of extremes of cold and drought, meets the requirements of plants from the countries already named, and also in many cases those from New Zealand and the Cape of Good Hope. Evergreens in the United States include, besides many species of the smaller conifers, the Redwood and Sequoia gigantea of California.