• Tennessee evergreen shrubs can decorate and protect any landscape.Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
  
  The best evergreen shrubs for Tennessee can withstand both the state's hot summers and winter freezes. Temperatures can dip as low as -5 F because Tennessee encompasses United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6a through 7a. Rugged Tennessee evergreens can fulfill their usual landscaping role, providing year-round color and privacy when used as a hedge.
  
  

Blue Arrow Juniper

• Blue Arrow juniper (Juniperus virginiana Blue Arrow) is a column of upward-pointing blue-green leaves. When mature, Blue Arrow juniper can reach from 12 to 15 feet tall with a spread of just 2 feet. Planted in a row, they can function as a privacy screen or create a backdrop for smaller plants. Blue Arrow also is deer-resistant. Silvery-blue juniper berries start appearing on this evergreen in late spring and can persist through late winter. During the first growing season, Blue Arrow needs consistent watering to develop the roots. Once established, it can get by with occasional watering.
  
  

Inkberry Holly

• The inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) grows densely with a rounded head of dark green leaves and small black berries that first appear in September and last through winter. The inkberry holly typically reaches 8 feet high and wide when mature. Varieties like the compacta, Nordic, and shamrock are more compact, reaching 5 feet, 4 feet and 2 feet, respectively. As the inkberry holly ages, it develops more foliage on its upper half, giving it a "leggy" appearance. Leaves range from 1 to 2 inches long and can take on a purple-plum tint during the winter. Unlike most evergreens, the Inkberry holly thrives in moist soil. It needs weekly watering during its first growing season and during particularly warm summers. Like the Blue Arrow juniper, the inkberry holly is deer resistant.
  
  

Gomer Waterer Rhododendron

• Each spring, the Gomer Waterer rhododendron (Rhododendron x Gomer Waterer) boasts bouquets of white funnel-shaped blooms with pale orchid markings that stand out against the plant's glossy dark green leaves. The showy blooms of Gomer Waterer rhododendron attract butterflies. The plant can grow as high as 6 feet but is dense and spreading. Like all rhododendrons, Gomer Waterer thrives in acidic soil and needs regular watering, especially during its first growing season and during the peak heat of summer. A 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch will help retain the soil moisture around the Gomer Waterer rhododendron's shallow roots. Mulch will also help deter weeds from interfering with its roots.