Cold hardy plants? Say what? Is your garden looking a little worse for the wear come January? Well, whose isn’t? It seems like it’s nearly impossible to make your garden look good in the middle of winter. At least, without killing all of your plants anyway….instead of risking your winter garden for beautiful colors, why not try working specifically with cold-hardy garden stunners? These are a few of my favorite winter plants!
Kale
Did you know that Ornamental Kale is one of the perfect plants to grow mid-winter? It’s actually known for it’s ability to withstand cold temperatures! The deep purple shades will add some much needed coloring to an otherwise bland landscaping! Kale is one of the perfect winter plants.
Winter Jasmine
You read that right: Winter Jasmine does best in well, WINTER! Winter Jasmine is pretty painless to grow and it does best in an area of full sun. Your winter garden will be blessed with tiny yellow flowers. Aren’t they the prettiest cold hardy plants?
Holly Bush
Does anything scream “winter wonderland” quite like the berries of a Holly Bush? The dark red berries and the lush green leaves create a much-desired Christmas contrast against a snowy landscape. These plants actually do well in swampy soil, so place them in an area where the snow piling is common!
Winterberry Holly
Winterberry provides beautiful red berries like Holly Bush does, but Winterberry Holly lacks the lush green leaves! It is just as easy to grow, if it’s planted in the correct area. Winterberry Holly should be planted in moist, acidic soil with plenty of sunlight. This winter plant does great in a hard frost, too!
Cotoneaster
It’s best if you try to avoid transplanting a Cotoneaster, as it does better when left to grow in one spot. Plant it in an area of full sun, well-drained, alkaline soil. Shrubs should be spaced at least 5 feet apart.
Japanese Maple
Japanese Maples are known for their colorful, bright foliage that lasts throughout the winter months. Add a layer of mulch before the cold season to prevent water loss! Make sure they get plenty of afternoon shade if they are young trees, they’ll need it!
Nandina
Your Nandina plant will grow best in a super sunny spot, and you’ll notice that it’s red colors are even richer. You’ll probably want to apply a sulfate-rich evergreen fertilizer (I purchase mine from Hardware World) in late February to keep it healthy throughout the remainder of the year. The Nandina plant is known to be invasive, so prune as you see necessary.
Native Serviceberry
Native Serviceberry only gets to be about 15 feet tall, and this shrub is not one to be skipped! Known for its orange and gold flowers, Native Serviceberry can be kind of difficult to grow, but this guide will help you out!
Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel is the perfect thing to grow for a little late fall, early winter color! Yellow blossoms will appear in October through December. But, these shrubs can grow to be as tall as 30 feet, so pick your grow spot accordingly! These pretty plants do best in grow zones 3-9.
Snowdrop
Snowdrop flowers are often grown in colder regions of the country. They actually hate areas of the country where the summer is warm! In fact, choose an area of the garden where your Snowdrop bulbs will be protected from sun during the warmer months of the year. Expect these cold hardy plants to go dormant by the late Spring!
What time of year is best to plant peony ? I have had mine in a pot, grows good ,but hardly no flowers.
it all depends on your grow zone, but many gardeners find that spring planted Peonies don’t do as well. Depending on your grow zone, you should plant them in the fall!