5 Plants That Will Perk Up Your Winter Garden

As the winter holidays approach, color is everywhere except in your garden!  Here in the Seattle - Bellevue area, most gardens have already had their last hoorah for the season.  But, it doesn’t have to be that way.  There are plenty of plants that can add pizzazz to your garden in the dead of winter.  Here are a few of my favorites that do great in the Puget Sound area.  

Camellia (above)
My personal favorite!  Camellia (Camellia japonica) is an evergreen shrub with rose-like flowers.  It comes in many color variations of red, pink and white.  This stunning shrub blooms from fall to early spring and grows 5’ to 10’ high depending on the variety. 

Lenten rose (above)
Another eye-catching plant is the Lenten rose (Helleborus hybrids), a herbaceous perennial that grows 12 to 18 inches high.  It comes in color variations of white, pink, purple, and yellow.  Bloom time is from late December to March and grows best in partial shade. 

​Winterberry (above)
This deciduous shrub looks somewhat like holly, however, loses its dark green leaves in the fall.  Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) has a spectacular array of bright red berries.  And the good news is, birds love to snack on these berries!  Make sure you have plenty of room, Winterberry grows 6 to 15 feet tall and just as wide.  

Sweet box (above)
If you are looking for a handsome groundcover that smells great and does well in the shade, Sweet box (Sarcococca hookerana humilis) is your answer.  This low growing evergreen plant grows 12 to 14 inches high and has very fragrant white blossoms.  The tiny flowers bloom in late winter or early spring followed by small berrylike fruit.  You don’t need to plant many as they spread by underground runners to 8 feet or more.  

Beautyberry (above)
Yes, purple in the winter!  This deciduous shrub is covered with small violet purple berries that hang on well into winter.  Beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma) has slender arching branches that grows 4 feet tall and slightly wider.  

I hope these 5 plants give you a good starting point to work from, and you'll enjoy more color in your winter garden. I'm curious to know, what is your favorite winter plant?  Just click on the comment button at the end of this blog.  Looking forward to your comment!

About BauerCombs & Associates, Inc.
An award-winning landscape architecture and project management firm, BauerCombs & Associates, Inc. creates fun and entertaining landscapes throughout the Northwest and western states.  With an emphasis on sensory design and eco-friendly practices, we provide creative problem-solving and innovative designs that embrace outdoor spaces and enjoyment.  Based out of North Bend, Washington, our work has been published in several magazines and continues to grow in reputation for creating healthy outdoor environments for people and communities. 

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Author: Susan Combs Bauer, Landscape Architect, Copyright © 2017 BauerCombs & Associates, Inc. www.bauercombs.com