As fall comes to a close, many flourishing flowers and plants either die off or go dormant, leaving your lawn looking a bit lackluster. However, there are some delightful things you can plant to turn your yard into a wondrous winter landscape.
“The best way to grow plants in winter is to understand which ones can handle it. Choosing hardy plants will ensure beautiful landscaping all year long,” says Jane Dobbs, expert gardener and gardening team lead at Allan’s Gardeners.
When picking winter plants, you need to consider soil quality, local climate conditions, and daylight availability. It’s also vital to plant native species because it will boost ecological balance and make them last longer. Things like hardy ground covers, evergreens, and shrubs with winter flowers are excellent choices.
That said, let’s dive into the best things to plant for a hardy winter garden.
Holly
Holly is a gorgeous shrub that stays green all year. The flowers and berries attract butterflies, bees, and birds to your yard, which is another reason this is a must-have winter plant. There are many different types of holly to choose from, too. In fact, Britannica reports there are 600 species of trees and shrubs that belong to the Aquifoliaceae family.
Dobbs says to keep it looking lush, you should prune damaged branches, mulch their base, and ensure you provide plenty of water before the first freeze. Pruning should be done during late winter or early spring.
Blue Oat Grass
Blue oat grass features striking silvery-blue and bluish-green colors and has long, narrow leaves that taper off to a point. It is a bushy plant with a ton of character that can grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Plant this type of tall grass along the borders and pathways to create dynamic layers in your winter garden.
Blue oat grass prefers full sun and well-drained soil. In late winter, to keep it looking its best, cut back old growth to 4 to 6 inches.
Winter Jasmine
Planting winter jasmine can bring a bit of sunshine to your yard this winter. This plant’s flowers feature pretty yellow petals in late winter and early spring. A winter jasmine shrub flourishes in full sun to partial shade, but how much light it receives affects its flowering and growth.
“Flowering and growth are stimulated by full sun, while in a warmer climate, partial shade can be tolerated, but flowering may be slightly reduced. It is not ideal for plants to grow in shaded areas, as they may have leggy growth and fewer blooms,” Dobbs explains.
This plant flourishes in sunny areas, so she advises growing it near sunny walls, trellises, or slopes. Because of its cascading habit, it makes a great wall cover or ground cover. Though it tolerates most soil types, it prefers well-draining soils rich in organic matter.
Violas
Violas can brighten up the gloomiest days with their beautiful blooms. Their petals produce festive colors of purple, yellow, blue, white, and more.
Rebecca Sears, CMO and resident Green Thumb at Ferry-Morse, says Violas thrive in various conditions, making them ideal for beginner gardeners and green thumbs alike. In warmer climates, they’ll bloom during winter but go dormant in temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. She recommends planting your seeds in late fall so that they can establish roots before the temperatures drop significantly.
Violas thrive better in bright, cool spots, with well-draining soil. You should deadhead the flowers in the winter months, too, for continuous blooming.
Pansies
Planting pansies will provide a playful feel and pop of color to any garden. Sears says that winter pansies are the most cold-tolerant pansies and a great flower to plant in your yard, as their beautiful hues create a unique color story when the temperatures start to drop.
These flowers are a cousin species to Violas and will usually go dormant. However, they can survive overwintering in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 7 and can bloom during winter in mild climate zones. Still, in the winter, they should get at least 6 hours of full sun per day and be placed in well-draining soil to prevent freezing. Mulch can help insulate the plants when temperatures drop to freezing.
Winterberry
The winterberry shrub is a type of holly that can grow 5 to 15 feet tall and up to 15 feet wide. When it blooms, it bursts to life with a beautiful display of bright red berries. It’s a very cold hardy plant, so I recommend adding it to your yard if you live in an area with chilly winters like we get in Virginia!
Dobbs says this is not only visually appealing but also a fantastic food source for birds. However, you will need both male and female plants for berry production, and it grows best in moist, acidic soil with good drainage.
Creeping Juniper
Creeping juniper is another cold-hardy plant with lush green foliage that can get a purple tint during winter. This plant is a frost-tolerant groundcover that retains its beauty in low temperatures. According to the Spruce, this hardy shrub can tolerate temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero and grow up to 3 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
So, this is an excellent addition to your winter garden if you live in an area with frigid temperatures. For healthy growth, you will need to ensure this plant has proper spacing and good soil drainage. Junipers are also drought tolerant, so make sure you don’t overwater them.
Crabapple Trees
Dobbs suggests planting trees like crabapple that produce persistent fruit to enhance landscapes by attracting birds and adding beauty. There are many types of crabapple trees, and they burst with beautiful blooms of various colors, such as rose-pink, white, orange, and more. The Spruce states that these trees do best in regions with cold winters and warm summers.
They can reach up to 20 feet tall and make a perfect addition for anyone looking for a lovely flowering tree that will attract various feathered friends.
Viburnum
Viburnum shrubs bloom clusters of flowers in colors of white to pink, but where you should plant them will depend on the type. Dobbs says that they grow well in full sun and partial shade, and their performance may differ a little depending on their variety. For example, some species, such as Viburnum davidii, do well in partial to full shade.
You want to ensure you don’t overcrowd them when you plant and give them enough space to grow. “When planting, add compost or organic matter to enrich the soil and ensure that the root ball is level with the ground surface to avoid water pooling,” she instructs.
Cotoneaster
You get the best of both worlds with these unique plants because they produce flowers and berries. I love these plants because they are beneficial for birds and pollinators. Cotoneasters are great for slopes, borders, or as groundcover.
They do well in various light conditions but thrive best in full sun or partial shade. It prefers soil that drains well, though it grows in chalky and sandy soils as well, and only needs the occasional deep watering.
Red Twig Dogwood
The vibrant red twig dogwood against a wintery white landscape is nothing short of majestic. This fast-growing deciduous shrub blooms beautiful flowers and berries in spring, but it maintains its fiery red stems throughout the winter season. Stem color and growth are influenced by light exposure, and it does best in full sun to partial shade.
Full sun encourages the brightest stem color and robust growth, while the stems may have less intense coloring if grown in partial shade, especially in warmer climates. The red twig dogwood thrives along water features and helps control erosion when planted on or near slopes.
Hellebores
Hellebores are perennial plants that have bell-shaped flowers and come in various colors. These flowers love semi-shaded spots, which are perfect for woodland gardens. You should plant them under deciduous trees or shrubs because they thrive in dappled shade. They can also adjust to varying light levels, but you should avoid planting them in direct sunlight to prevent scorching and wilting.
This plant prefers well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. While it needs constant moisture for its first year of life, after Hellebores are drought-tolerant.
Witch Hazel
There are several different types of witch hazel, but many of them bloom during the winter season. The flower colors depend on the type you plant, but they come in shades of yellow, red, purple, and orange.
Dobbs says that proper light exposure is crucial for healthy foliage and vibrant blooms. Providing partial shade in warmer regions prevents leaf scorch and excessive heat. In cooler climates, full sun for at least 4 to 6 hours is ideal for maximum flower production. Insulating the roots in autumn with mulch can help the plant survive the winter months.