At one time I was always on the lookout for broadleaf evergreen shrubs. Winters can get pretty dreary here and the Rhodos, Azalea, Holly, Pieris, ... add greatly to the landscape along with the needled evergreens. At present we don't differentiate these two types of evergreens and therefor no search function exists. When used with a hardiness zone selection I think this would be a powerful tool.

I agree. This would be useful.

So we currently have "Leaves: Evergreen". Are you proposing removing that and adding these two options? Or add them alongside it?

They'd almost have to be added alongside it because so many entries already say "evergreen" and fall into only one of the two categories. How would you know which one should replace the general "evergreen" category?

I suppose the process could start with a script to add "broad-leaf evergreen" to all of the plants in the Rhododendron, Pieris, and Ilex genera. Maybe Evan can think of some others.

I'm not sure whether the term should be "broad-leaf evergreen" or "broad-leaved evergreen." I think both are acceptable. Does anyone have a preference?

Thinking "out loud":
If we leave evergreen add these 2 as drop down check boxes the current info. won't be lost and the add'l. info. can be added.

Hmmm, I just remembered some needle leaved plants are deciduous, Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), Larch (Larix decidua).

So maybe the following:
Under Leaves:
Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled evergreen
Broadleaf evergreen

Is this too cumbersome?

Zuzu, please choose the terms

My preference is "needled evergreen" and "broad-leaved evergreen" (or "Needled Evergreen" and "Broad-Leaved Evergreen" if they're going to be initial capped).

Actually, if we already have evergreen, why not add two new options:

1) Leaves: Needled
and
2) Leaves: Broadleaf

And maybe a third option for whatever the name is for thin leaves like grass?

Can't think of anything but "grassy" or "grassy-leaved."

That looks like a good solution to me. Grassy-leaved or grass-like?

Yes, Evan. Grasslike!

It might take some time but I think we can pull together a list of some Broadleaf evergreens. For needled, I've been updating the conifers in the database, I'm done up to Picea, and have some reference sources. We can edit the ones we know aren't evergreen and deal with any others as we go along.

Watching to see how we will do this. Like the idea.

What evergreens have grass like leaves? Do you mean like palms? Those are called Fronds. Some evergreens have
awl-like and scale-like leaves.

Some types of Sisyrinchium are evergreen in my zone, and their foliage certainly is grasslike.

I know I have other evergreens with grasslike foliage in my garden, but I'm having trouble remembering their names.

Phormium is one of them. Dietes is another.

Edited to add: This was killing me, so I went outside with a flashlight and also found Cordyline, Dianella, and Liriope in my garden. All evergreen, all grasslike.

Those are all herbaceous plants. I have never heard of anyone making a distinction of leaf types for those types of plants.
A herbaceous plant may be evergreen, but when someone is talking about "Evergreens" as Evan was they are talking about trees and shrubs.

So maybe we should just add Needled and Broadleaf.

dave said:So maybe we should just add Needled and Broadleaf.

If we agree that these data-points are only relevant as it pertains to shrubs and trees, then perhaps a scroll-over for both; stating "shrubs and trees" will provide an adequate explanation.

Understanding that these are common phrases I would hope contributors would use needled for all the conifers such as Chamaecyparis, which may not be needled.