Evergreen

The term "evergreen", as in the context of "an evergreen keyword", refers to keywords or keyword actions that can be used in any set.

Primary/Secondary/Tertiary

When talking about which colors get which evergeen creature keywords, R&D tends to talk about a system called Primary/Secondary/Tertiary. In their quest to differentiate the colors in the color wheel, each should have strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, not every color gets every keyword.

• "Primary" color means that it is the main color for a specific keyword, where it is centered (e.g. white is the primary color for lifelink or, in other words, lifelink is primary in white). When a keyword is primary in that color, it shows up more often and also may show up multiple times in common. The ability is also more likely to be granted in that color. A keyword may be primary in multiple colors (e.g. flying is primary in white and blue).
• When the color is "secondary", the keyword shows up in almost every set, but not as often. It may show up only once in common, or only in uncommon and rare. The ability may be granted in this color, but not as regularly.
• "Tertiary" means that the keyword shows up once in a while; not necessarily in every set. It doesn't appear at common and is seldom granted. It only appears under certain circumstances, maybe once a block
• "Quaternary" means that the keyword shows up once in a long while; it is only allowed in very rare circumstances. It is not impossible.
• "Quinary" means it happens only once or twice in the history of Magic. Like Akroma, Angel of Wrath having haste.

Reminder text

As the core set has always been the place for new players to start, as of Eighth Edition it was decided to include reminder text with the evergreen creature keywords.

Current evergreen keywords

Keyword	Type	Found in	First used in	First keyworded in	First core set	First core set as a keyword	Cards in core sets with this	Cards in all sets with this
Activate	Action
Attach	Action
Cast	Action
Counter	Action
Create	Action
Deathtouch	Static Ability	Black (1), Green (2)	Future Sight	Future Sight	Magic 2010	Magic 2010	15	75
Defender	Static Ability	Walls in all colors	Alpha	Betrayers of Kamigawa	Alpha	Tenth Edition	38	207
Destroy	Action
Discard	Action
Double strike	Static Ability	Red (1), White (1)	Legions	Legions	Tenth Edition	Tenth Edition	5	62
Enchant	Static Ability	Auras of all colors	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	139	732
Equip	Activated Ability	Equipment	Mirrodin	Mirrodin	Ninth Edition	Ninth Edition	21	174
Exchange	Action
Exile	Action
Fight	Action	Red, Green	Onslaught	Innistrad	Magic 2013	Magic 2013	2	17
First strike	Static Ability	White (1), Red (1), Black (3)	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	60	374
Flash	Static Ability	Blue (1), Green (2), White (3)	Visions	Time Spiral	Ninth Edition	Tenth Edition	12	158
Flying	Static Ability	White (1), Blue (1), Black (2), Red (3), Green (4)	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	268	1813
Haste	Static Ability	Red (1), Black (2), Green (3)	Alpha	Sixth Edition	Alpha	Sixth Edition	45	433
Hexproof	Static Ability	Blue (1), Green (2), White (3), Black (3)	Portal Three Kingdoms	Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012	Tenth Edition	Magic 2012	13	54
Indestructible	Static Ability	Artifacts, White (1), Green (2), Black (3)	Alpha	Darksteel	Alpha	Magic 2010	9	68
Lifelink	Static Ability	White (1), Black (2)	Mirrodin	Future Sight	Ninth Edition	Tenth Edition	17	91
Menace	Static Ability	Black (1), Red (2), Green (3)	Alliances‎	Magic Origins‎	Fifth Edition	Magic Origins‎	10	32
Play	Action
Prowess	Triggered Ability	Blue (1), Red (2), White (3)	Khans of Tarkir	Khans of Tarkir‎	Magic Origins	Magic Origins‎	4	22
Reach	Static Ability	Green (1), Red (2)	Alpha	Future Sight	Alpha	Tenth Edition	14	159
Reveal	Action
Sacrifice	Action
Scry	Action	Blue (1), White (2), Black (2), Red (2), Green (2)	Fifth Dawn	Fifth Dawn	Magic 2011	Magic 2011	5	78
Search	Action
Shuffle	Action
Tap/Untap	Action
Trample	Static Ability	Green (1), Red (2), Blue (3), Black (3), White (4)	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	56	478
Vigilance	Static Ability	White (1), Green (2)	Alpha	Champions of Kamigawa	Alpha	Ninth Edition	32	198

Former evergreen keywords

Keyword	Type	Found in	First used in	First keyworded in	First core set	First core set as a keyword	Last used in	Supplanted by	Cards in core sets with this	Cards in all sets with this
Ante	Action	Artifacts, black, red, green	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Homelands		6	9
Banding	Static Ability	White	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Weatherlight		12	41
Bury	Action
Fear	Static Ability	Black (1)	Alpha	Onslaught	Alpha	Eighth Edition	Alara Reborn	Intimidate	4	77
Shroud	Static Ability	Green (1), Blue (2)	Legends	Future Sight	Fifth Edition	Tenth Edition	Mirrodin Besieged	Hexproof	8	116
Intimidate	Static Ability	Black, Red	Zendikar	Zendikar	Magic 2010	Magic 2010	Commander 2014	Menace	6	31
Landwalk	Static Ability	Blue (Islandwalk) Black (Swampwalk) Red (Mountainwalk) Green (Forestwalk)	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Khans of Tarkir		44	186
Protection	Static Ability	White (1), Blue (2), other colors (3)	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Eldritch Moon		25	273
Regenerate	Action	Green (1), Black (2)	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Alpha	Oath of the Gatewatch	Indestructible (until end of turn)	38	251

Most these have been obsoleted, but Protection is now considered to be deciduous. It is a tool in R&D's toolbox that they're allowed to use, but it's not something they expect to use in every set.

Evergreen keywords by color

Color	Primary	Secondary	Tertiary	Obsolete
White	Double Strike, First Strike, Flying, Lifelink, Vigilance	Scry	Flash, Hexproof, Prowess	Banding, Protection
Blue	Flash, Flying, Hexproof, Prowess, Scry		Trample	Landwalk, Protection, Shroud
Black	Deathtouch, Menace	Flying, Lifelink, Scry	First strike, Hexproof, Indestructible, Trample	Fear, Intimidate, Regenerate
Red	Double Strike, First Strike, Fight, Haste, Menace	Prowess, Trample, Scry	Flying	Intimidate
Green	Fight, Reach, Trample	Deathtouch, Flash, Hexproof, Scry, Vigilance	Haste, Indestructible, Menace	Regenerate, Shroud
Colorless	Indestructible, Equip