Spring, summer and even fall bring fruit, greenery and an abundance of life to our gardens and landscapes. However, as winter sets in, so does the brown stain of dead and hibernating plants. You don’t have to endure an “ugly” yard and garden, hoping for spring to come early. You can keep your garden colorful, snow or shine, by planting a few choice plants that will endure, and even thrive, in the cold.
When people think of winter greenery, they typically picture evergreen trees, such as junipers, pines and tamaracks. But let’s think beyond the evergreen and explore shrubs and flowering plants.
Going Green
The eternally green boxwood is a natural starting point when planning a winter green garden. It is a hardy evergreen shrub that can be easily shaped for esthetics or grown tall for privacy. Rhododendron, the Washington state flower, and its sister plant Azalea, bloom brightly throughout the summer, but their leaves remain green and full throughout the year. Oregon Grape, a low-growing, spreading shrub, also blooms in the spring but stays green year-round. Its leaves are similar to holly in that they tend to be prickly.
A Splash of Color
If you want winter color in addition to green, consider adding an evergreen holly to your hedge. These shrubs bloom in the spring but, in the fall, produce berries that stay a bright red into winter. They work well in hedges and along fences, however, their leaves can be prickly and holly berries are not edible. In fact, they can cause severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and drowsiness.
Heather plants and winter heaths, produce small, pink bell-shaped flowers that bloom in late fall and usually persist throughout mild to moderate winters. These unique evergreen shrubs are a common landscape plant in Scotland and Ireland and grow well in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-6, depending on the variety.
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In addition, Red Osier Dogwood is a loose-spreading deciduous shrub that grows green throughout the warmer months, blossoms white, then turns bright red to purple in the fall. The intense foliage retains its color through most of winter. Common witch-hazel, also called winterbloom or Queen of Winter, is also a deciduous shrub that blooms a rich yellow, orange or red September through November. It can be grown in zones 3-8, a testimony to its hardiness.
A Mote of Texture
While color is most desirable, shape and texture can also enhance a winter garden. Contorted filbert trees can provide both. Highly resistant to pests and disease, and very tolerant to heat, humidity and sun, these interesting trees are known for their gray gnarled branches and hanging golden catkins that bloom late in the winter. You might know them as hazelnuts. They are also adaptable to a variety of soils and thrive best in zones 4-8. N
By S. Michal Bennett
Photography By Joel Riner