Add Drama To Your Winter Garden With These Hardy Plants

When you think of winter you often think of gray, dirty snow and bare trees. However, to combat the drab-ness of the show of landscape during this time of the year it is possible to plant more colorful vegetation and trees.

Quite a variety of winter garden and yard plants grow this time of the year. Take a look at the list, which includes examples of winter-grown plants:

l Select Garden Vegetables: Certain varieties of carrots and broccoli plants can be grown in the winter. Certain types of beets, alliums, and oregano also grow this time of the year.

l Evergreens: This is one of the most obvious winter plant varieties that maintains its color during winters. Pines (White, Scots, Red and Jack), spruces, balsams, yews, and evergreen holly.

l Cacti: A variety of this type of plant that grows during the colder months of the year is the The Prickly Bear Cactus (Opuntia), which produces a very noticeable yellow flower. Other winter cacti include the following:

The Coryphantha Cacti species like this one are noticeable by their small roundish-forming cluster or singular plant formations. They produce purple-tipped orange-yellow flower blossoms, and are considered to be one of the more attractive winter cacti.

Echinocereus This type of cactus is a ribbed cylindrical-shaped cactus. It the colors of the flower blossoms range from pinkish-purple to bright red-orange. They withstand temperatures as low as -23°C / -10°F.

Escobaria missouriensis This Missouri-Native species of Escobaria is a low-growing cactus that products flower blossoms with long-narrow petals similar to a daisy. This type of flower cactus also grows in areas such as New Mexico.



l Trees and Shrubs: The Longstock Holly is one that often grows into a tree. Sometimes it grows into a large bush. Other types of trees besides evergreens that grow in winter include the following:

Bayberry This shrub provides a berry that is very appealing to birds. This same plant helps keep the deer away. This one does well in the winter, but also can be grown year-round.

Cranberry Bush This little shrub adds color to any winter garden. It products quite a few crops of berries in the winter, and also does quite well in warmer weather. During early summer, this plant produces little white flowers. The foliage of this plant turns purple in season.

Acacia This is a green plant that does well in the winter months as well as any other time of the year. It does not require much water. This plant helps brighten up any landscape.

Which Hazels These shrubs grow to between 12 and 20 inches tall, depending upon the variety. They usually bloom in late autumn or early winter. The rounded and open growth of these species of shrub makes it a wonderful garden addition not only in the winter months, but any time of the year.

l Flowers: One of the most remarkable and well-known winter flowers is the Helleborus varieties. They make a great addition to any winter garden. They are recognized by their dark green leaves and stems and their maroon, pink, white, reddish, or cream-colored cupped-like blossoms.

Other popular winter flowers include the following:

H. Orientalis This is one of the species of the Helloborus genus. It is more commonly referred to as the Lenton Rose. The foliage of this flower stays green, even in the snow.

H. Niger Another one of the most amazing varieties of the Hellebores is the H. Niger, which is also known as the Christmas Rose. Its foliage is darker than the Orientalis. Usually the flowers are white, and this flower is both naturally-grown as well as hybrid produced.

Chionodoxa lucillae This flower is often called “glory of the snow. “ This bright star-shaped flower spreads naturally in the lawn and grows every single year.

Winter Jasmin although this is really a shrub, it is often referred to as a flower. It is considered one of the most valuable of all times.