Perennial Plants for Winter Interest

Herbaceous Perennials

• Most varieties of herbaceous perennials die down to their roots in winter, rendering their top growth dead and limp. A few types, however, retain their basic structure when the foliage dies for winter. Plant sedum Autumn Joy, for ground-level winter interest. Any variety of hydrangea suitable for your climate will hold its papery flowers on it for the winter months. Although bereft of leaves, the vines of cultivated or wild grapevines are still visible on their support structures.

Ornamental Grasses

• Well-known for providing winter interest, ornamental grasses come in a wide variety of sizes with various growth requirements. Plant a variety of bluestem or switchgrass in dry sites. For wet sites plant a variety of miscanthus grass or feather reed grass. Northern sea oats and tufted hair grass are ideal for shady sites.

Shrubs

• Winterberry holly is a deciduous holly growing 6 to 10 feet tall. Its red to orange-red berries keep their color through the winter. Redtwig dogwood, sometimes called redosier dogwood, has red branches that persist through the winter. A yellow version is also available. Fragrant sumac grows less than 6 feet high but spreads up to 10 feet wide. The fizzy, red-orange fruit ripens in autumn but stays on the shrub through winter.

Evergreens

• Plant broad-leaf evergreens, such as evergreen holly, with its bright red winter berries, boxwood or rhododendron for winter interest in the garden. All of the needled evergreens, such as pine, spruce, yew, hemlock, arborvitae, fir or juniper, are more commonly used for winter interest in the landscape than any other type of plant, but they should not be overlooked. The wide variety of shapes, sizes and cultural requirements of needled evergreens encompasses a large group of choices.