Plants That Peak in Winter in the Southern Plains

Richie Steffen , executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Garden in Seattle and a lead expert on plants , discuss the often - undervalued appeal of wintertime gardens :

“ What many see as a coloured and inhospitable time of year of dull dormancy , however , I view as a chillier lengthiness of my gardening time of year . There are many true plants that will tolerate , even looktheir best , during the rimed Clarence Day of wintertime . While winter gardens may run short of blooms , peculiarly in frigid climate , there is a wonderful natural selection of evergreen foliation , interesting bark , and lavishly colour twigs that can make anyone ’s wintertime brighter . ”

To give winter even more of the love it deserves , we asked some regional experts to pick their favorite works that peak in wintertime . discover fantastic works for winter interest in the Southern Plains below , and let out even more plants that peak in wintertime in Richie ’s article , Winter Interest From the Ground Up .

1. ‘Confetti Cake’ hellebore

Name: Helleborus‘Confetti Cake’

Zones:4–9

Size:18 to 24 inches tall and wide

stipulation : Partial to full shade ; medium to prolific , dry to intermediate soil

Native range : Turkey , Caucasus

The cheerful flowers of ‘ Confetti Cake ’ hellebore are sure to labour away the wintertime blues . Opening in late winter , the cernuous double blossom dangle from root well into natural spring . ‘ Confetti Cake ’ flowers are sportsmanlike snowy , with a intemperate atomiser of raspberry bush pinkish dapple . Dark greenish , deep lobed evergreenfoliage provides a contrasting backcloth to the vivid blooms . Hellebores are robust plants , tolerate big shadiness , the Great Compromiser soil , and drought . They are not bothered by cervid or hare . With their evergreen foliage and winter heyday , hellebores are the quintessential winter perennials .

2. Possumhaw

Name: Ilex decidua

Zones:5–9

Size:7 to 15 foot tall and 5 to 12 feet wide

weather condition : Full sun to partial shade ; medium to damp dirt

Native ambit : Southeastern and cardinal United States

When I make at a botanical garden , people ask about possumhaw every December . Though the berries mature in former declination , they in truth radiate after the last autumn farewell have fall . The bright red yield persist throughout wintertime — or until the birds eat it all . It is truly a delight catch cedarwood waxwings , robins , mockingbirds , and cardinals beak off the berries one by one . Possumhaw is dioecious , mean male and female flowers are acquire on separate shrubs . For plentiful yield , be sure to plant at least one male person ( generally score at the glasshouse ) among the showier female to ensure pollenation .

3. ‘Marvel’ mahonia

Name: Mahonia×media‘Marvel’

Zones:6–9

Size:6 feet tall and 4 feet all-embracing

Conditions : Partial to full shadiness ; rich , medium to moist , well - drained soil

Native range : Asian hybrid

Everything about ‘ wonder ’ mahonia is Junoesque , from the good floral atomizer to the horizontal layers of glistening foliage fix up in whorls along the stems . This shrub blossom in early winter , brightening the garden with delightfully fragrant icteric blooms born in clusters atop the foliage . Though waxy blue Charles Edward Berry follow the bloom , ‘ wonder ’ is purported to be sterile , so there ’s no need to worry about skinny seedlings . Mahonias are highly deer resistant thanks to their spiky leaves , and they tolerate dry soil and drouth once established . This imposing shrub makes a fabulous focal point in the winter garden .

4. Blue Heaven®little bluestem

Name: Schizachyrium scoparium‘MinnblueA’

Zones:3–9

Size:2 to 4 feet grandiloquent and 1½ to 2½ feet wide

Conditions : Full sun ; skimpy , dry to intermediate soil

Native range : Eastern North America

While Blue Heaven ® for sure shine all twelvemonth long with dismal - tinged summertime foliage and spectacular autumn colour , I am most drawn to this native grass during the colder months . In winter , the tip Lord’s Day glitter off the silvern white ejaculate heads and sets the coppery leafage inflamed . The slender blades of grass tolerate marvellous against winter winds , and they shelter songbirds that issue forth to nybble on the seed . put this cosmetic grass where the sun will light it from behind . Do n’t pamper bluestem grasses , or they will founder . thin dirt and mint of sunshine are all they need .

Kimberly Toscanois a garden designer and horticulturist from Stillwater , Oklahoma . She is also a regional newsperson for FineGardening.com .

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‘Marvel' Mahonia

Photo: courtesy of Southern Living Plants

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‘Confetti Cake’ Hellebore

Photo: courtesy of Walters Gardens Inc.

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