Winter Hardy Plants for Beautiful Yard

If you are like me, you desire color in your yard year around. Depending on where you live this can be a challenge. If you have a cold period, try these plants.

Hellebore

Many hellebores (Helleborus spp.) have thick green foliage that tends to last all year. The plant’s bright flower colors, such as pink, yellow, or white, will add a much-needed pop of color to the darkest months of the year. In warmer climates, Hellebores can bloom as early as December, But you can expect Hellebores in late winter or early spring for those not gifted with a tropical climate.

Botanical Name Helleborus spp.

Common Name Hellebore, Lenten rose, Christmas rose

Family Ranunculaceae

Plant Type Herbaceous, perennial

Mature Size1–2 ft. tall with a similar spread

Sun Exposure Shade in summer and sun in winter

Soil Type Moist but well-drained

Soil pH Neutral, alkaline

Bloom Time Spring

Flower Color White, pink, purple, yellow

Hardiness Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Native Area Middle East

Toxicity Toxic to dogs and cats

Dwarf Snowball

Dwarf snowball (Viburnum tinus) is a low maintenance flowering shrub with white blooms. “[The plant] prefers a layer of mulch to keep its roots snug in the winter but requires little to no care otherwise, the similarity of its leaves to hose of the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) give laurustinus viburnum its common name. This beautiful evergreen shrub (Viburnum tinus) has glossy dark-green foliage, a light fragrance, and pink-white flowers. It makes a good hedge plant, and, in warmer areas, it will bloom during the winter.

Name: Laurustinus viburnum (Viburnum tinus)

Native Area: Mediterranean, northern Africa

USDA Growing Zones: 7-9

Mature Size: 6–12 ft. tall, 6-10 ft. wide

Sun Exposure: Full, partial

Golden Barberry

Golden barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘Aurea’) is a great addition to a winter garden. “This cold-hardy tree can handle temperatures down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit and needs little to no winter protection,”

It produces far fewer fruits and seeds than other Japanese barberry cultivars, some of which are seriously invasive. But it might not be a good choice in gardens with young children or inquisitive pets, as the stems are thorny.

Common Name

Golden barberry, golden Japanese barberry, aurea barberrry

Botanical Name Berberis thunbergii ‘Aurea’

Family Berberidaceae

Plant Type Deciduous shrub

Mature Size 3–4 ft. tall, 3–5 ft. wide

Sun Exposure Full, partial

Soil Type Dry to medium moisture, well-drained

Soil pH Acidic to slightly alkaline

Bloom Time Late April to early May

Flower Color Yellow

Hardiness Zones 4–7 (USDA)

Native Area Eastern Asia (China and Japan)

Toxicity Mildly toxic to humans, pets

Ornamental Kale

Ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea) has showy foliage that can be even prettier than some flowers, adding a unique dose of color to winter gardens. These plants can be sown around mid- to late August. And since they’re able to withstand cold down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, they can be left in the ground until you’re ready to harvest or replace them.

Common Name Ornamental cabbage, ornamental kale

Botanical NameBrassica oleracea

Family Brassicaceae

Plant Type Annual or biennial

Mature Size 12–18 inches tall and wide

Sun Exposure Full sun

Soil Type Rich loam, medium moisture, well-draining

Soil pHSlightly acidic (5.5 to 6.5)

Bloom Time Rarely flowers

Flower Color Insignificant

Hardiness Zones 2–11 (USDA)

Native Area Southern and Western Europe

Daphne

Daphne (Daphne spp.) are deciduous shrubs that produce white to light pink blooms in spring or late winter. They are slow growers and can take ten years to reach their full size, but their petite size makes them perfect for smaller gardens.

Common Name Daphne

Botanical Name Daphne spp

Family Thymelaeaceae

Plant Type Shrub

Mature Size 1–5 ft. tall, 2–6 ft. wide

Sun Exposure Full, partial

Soil Type Moist but well-drained

Soil pH Acidic, neutral

Bloom Time Spring

Flower Color White, pink

Hardiness Zones 4–9 (USDA)

Native Area Europe, Asia, Africa

Toxicity Toxic to humans and pets

Barrenwort

Barrenwort (Epimedium) is a perennial ground cover that offers bushy, colorful foliage in winter. It can make an especially pretty addition to wildland gardens, according to Berendsen, plus, it looks good year-round: In the fall, red-colored leaves bring autumn joy. In the spring, dainty yellow blooms welcome the sun.

Genus Name Epimedium

Common Name Barrenwort

Plant Type Perennial

Light Part Sun, Shade

Height 6 to 12 inches Width1 to 3 feet

Flower Color Orange, Pink, Red, White, Yellow

Foliage Color Blue/Green, Purple/Burgundy

Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Common Milkweed

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a hardy perennial that can flourish in winter temperatures. It withstands cooler temperatures and returns more fruitful than ever the following year.

Common Name Milkweed, common milkweed

Botanical Name Asclepias syriaca

Family Apocynaceae/Asclepiadaceae

Plant Type Herbaceous, perennial

Mature Size 2-4 ft. tall, 24-30 in. wide

Sun Exposure Full

Soil Type Well-drained

Soil pH Acidic, neutral

Bloom Time Summer

Flower Color Pink, white

Hardiness Zones 3-9 (USDA)

Native Area North America

Toxicity Toxic to humans and pets

Purple Coneflower

Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) do well in humid regions in summer, but they can also handle cold winters once established. Coneflowers are a resilient and cold-thriving herbaceous perennial plant that provides bird seed heads until December,

Common Name Purple coneflower

Botanical Name Echinacea purpurea

Family Asteraceae

Plant Type Herbaceous, perennial

Mature Size 2–5 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide

Sun Exposure Full, partial

Soil Type Well-drained

Soil pH Neutral, acidic

Bloom Time Summer

Flower Color Purple, pink

Hardiness Zones 3-8 (USDA)

Native Area North America

Snowdrops

Also among plants that survive winter outside are snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis). These early bloomers appear in early spring and sometimes even late winter, adding color to your winter garden. Plus, as a bulb plant, it requires little to no maintenance and isn’t bothered by pests or diseases.

Common Names Snowdrops, common snowdrop

Botanical Name Galanthus nivalis

Family Amaryllidaceae

Plant Type Perennial, bulb

Mature Size 4-10 in. tall; 3-6 in. wide

Sun Exposure Full, partial

Soil Type Loamy, sandy, well-drained

Soil pH Acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom Time Spring

Flower Color White

Hardiness Zones 3-7 (USDA)

Native Areas Asia, Europe

Toxicity Toxic to people, pets

Camellia

Camellia (Camellia spp.) are evergreen shrubs that bloom in late winter, heralding in some unparalleled color. Some varieties do bloom in fall, so be sure to get a variety that blooms in the colder months.

Common Name Camellia

Botanical Name Camellia spp.

Family Theaceae

Plant Type Broadleaf evergreen shrub

Mature Size 2–12 ft. tall, 2–10 ft. wide (depends on variety

Sun Exposure Partial shade

Soil Type Rich, moist but well-drained

Soil pH Acidic

Bloom Time Late fall, winter, early spring

Flower Color White, pink, red, yellow, or lavender

Hardiness Zones 7–9 (USDA); some varieties hardy in zone 6

Native Area Asia (north India to China and Japan south to northern Indonesia, Java and Sumatra)

Here is to a colorful yard in your winter months. Let me know how it works.