Winter color in the garden isn’t limited to coniferous evergreens (though in our opinion, evergreens, both conifer and not, are needed in the garden). Many perennials—hellebores, heuchera, autumn fern, Angelina sedum, acorus, and bergenia (to name a few)—are evergreen and add color to our containers and landscapes throughout the winter months. Shrubs such as red and yellow twig dogwood are a striking contrast to a bleak landscape, and certain deciduous trees, such as witch hazel, are the first to bloom, generally in January. Their bright, sulfur yellow or red-orange blooms are a happy pop of color on these grey, overcast days. If your eyes are dying for a spot of color, take heart, there’s plenty of winter color for your garden.
More Plants for Winter Color
The brilliant stems on red twig dogwoods are the shrubs’ youngest stems, so pruning these in early spring is essential. Older branches lose the vibrancy of color and must be removed.
Hellebores are the perfect perennial! They prefer dry shade, are evergreen, and bloom in January, holding their flower through March and even into April. They make an excellent groundcover. See more about hellebores and how easy they are to grow.
Witch hazel trees begin blooming in January, and their bright, sulfur yellow (or red-orange for some cultivars) are a welcome sight for sore eyes itching for color. Their small size—20′ x 15’—means you don’t need a lot of room to tuck one of these in. Just make sure it’s in full sun.
Mahonia aquafolium blooms in February/March, with brilliant clusters of yellow blooms. It has red fall color with dark blue “grape-like” berries in fall, giving it its common name: grape leaf holly.
Winterberry shrubs (deciduous hollies) hold their bright red berries until late winter.
Four-Season Plants or For-Your-Yard Plants?
Some plants are what we call four-season plants because they offer us something of interest in every season. Dogwoods fit this bill with early spring bloom, red berries and dark red fall color, and a striking winter architecture. However, not every plant offers four-season interest, and picking what works for your yard is a thoughtful process. Red twig dogwoods are an example of this. Winter is the only season they stand out, but cultivars like ‘Elegantissima’ often have variegated leaves to give interest throughout the summer. Determining what your landscape needs is vital, but who couldn’t use a bit of color in winter? Then some plants give paint all year. It’s like they’re on steroids. Yucca’ Bright Edge’ and ‘Color Guard’ are examples of this.
Yuccas are evergreen, colorful, and drought-tolerant, maintaining their bright colors year-round. Color hues get deeper with cooler weather, but these plants stand out year-round. They work well with succulents and in gravel gardens.
Where Else Can You Find Winter Color?
Annuals are another great solution if you crave color in the winter, and—like a good bottle of wine—they’re enjoyable, even if temporary. Take pansies…They may look a little sad on the coldest of days, but come early spring, they pop back up, giving us color in the garden until it heats up in May or June. For many, that joy is certainly worth the cost of a flat of pansies. And don’t forget cabbages and kales; they’re just as lovely.
Remember your houseplants for winter color!
- The indoor blooms of African violets are showstoppers and come in lots of different colors. African violets are easy to grow, but if you find you’re having trouble, here are six steps to keep your African violets blooming.
- ‘Neon’ pothos gives you bright, chartreuse leaves and is simply hard to kill. It prefers filtered light and infrequent watering, and adds brilliant color to your home or office.
- Other colorful companions include dracaenas and rex begonias, two more plants that will make you smile while the garden sleeps.
So even when the temperature has drops, we can still enjoy color in our gardens on the coldest days of winter. Come see us at the garden center if you want to ramp up your winter color!
