Plants With Winter Color

Berries

• Berries may be the most desirable source of winter color, not only because they come in an array of hues, but because they provide food for birds and other wildlife. There are many berried shrubs hardy to at least U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone 5. Evergreen hollies, such as the American holly (Ilex opaca) with bright-red berries are an obvious choice because of their association with the holidays. Deciduous holly species provide equally stunning color, however. Winterberries (Ilex verticillata) are a deciduous species with red berries. Possumhaw (Ilex deciduas) has berry clusters ranging from yellow to orange, as well as red. One of the most dramatic colors in the winter landscape comes from the bright-purple beautyberries (Callicarpa dichotoma). North Carolina State University's Erv Evans notes that there is an unusual white-berried cultivar, too.

Branches

• Some shrubs and trees display brilliant colors once they shed their leaves. Many shrubby Cornus species have young shoots in shades of red, orange or yellow. Tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba) is hardy to zone 3, and redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea) to zone 2. Some trees, such as the coralbark Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku') also have colorful new growth. It is hardy to zone 5.

Flowers

• Not many flowers brighten the winter landscape, but pansies and other cool-season annuals or tender perennials are a favorite in milder climates. October-planted pansies will still be blooming in the spring. Many flower forms, sizes and colors are available to choose from, with new varieties introduced almost every year. Bulbs will provide some colorful flowers if you choose the earliest blooming types or varieties. Both winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) and early daffodils (Narcissus spp.) show yellow blooms before spring, even as far north as Lincoln, Nebraska, in zone 5b.

Foliage

• Dried foliage, especially of ornamental grasses, adds subtle winter color, usually of muted reds, oranges and purples. In milder winter areas, over seeding with annual grasses provides fresh green winter color, especially where the warm season turf grasses turn brown in cooler weather. University of Florida IFAS Extension specialists recommend over-seeding with ryegrasses in fall to provide color until spring.