These unusual plants add color and texture to arrangements past the holidays and all season long
There are some terrific option for container horticulture all year long , especially during wintertime . The follow plants are not your distinctive evergreen plant . These selection have interesting colors and textures during the colder months . They will make your container pop in wintertime , even long past the holiday season . Just remember that when selecting a flora for a winter container , look for ones that are hardy to at least one zone lower than your current zone .
Dwarf Japanese Cedar
Cryptomeria japonica‘Globosa Nana ’ , Zones 6–9
The compact mounding habit of this coniferous tree gives a nice courtly aspect to entryways . If planted in a pot that ’s protect under a porch , it will do even proficient , as it can become arid in wintertime malarkey . This variety of Japanese cedar is hardy to Zone 6 , which may be a little iffy in pots for the northmost expanse of the Mid - Atlantic , but I still suggest produce it for its great flossy grain . As a bonus , it can be educate into topiaries that will look stunning flanking an entrance .
Passion Party™ Passion Frost Japanese Andromeda
Pieris japonica‘Ralto ’ , zone 5–8
There are many dimension to this plant that make it marvellous for container video display . Passion Party ™ andromeda ’s frost - tip foliage has a silverish smell from afar , and its bright , fuchsia - colored flowers disappearance to curb pink - burgundy seed capsules that last throughout the wintertime . Like all Andromeda , this plant life is slow grow , but this fussy choice make about 4 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 invertebrate foot wide , making it a skilful pick for turn in pots . Whether you ’re growing it in a container or in the garden , be certain to give it partial shade ; the leaves may scorch a picayune in full sunshine .
Russian Arborvitae
Microbiota decussata , Zones 3–7
Russian arborvitae , or Siberian cypress , is a knotty conifer that will look great in any winter container . What is alone about this plant is that it has bronze foliage in the winter , yield it a muted color that looks beautiful spilling over the edge of a Burgundy wine or rust - colour container . As a plus , it ’s very cold hardy .
Coral Bark Willow
Salix albassp.vitellina‘Britzensis ’ , Zones 4–8
This plant does not rely on its leafage to have a stunning effect in containers . The beautiful , bright , scarlet - orange barque only gets brighter throughout the season . An extremely degraded raiser , this willow tree may only be full for one season in a pot , but you could plant it in the ground after that . Thereafter it will need to be cut heavily each yr , so you will get cut stem for containers in subsequent years .
Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macracvs . , Zones 5–9
This may not be the first flora one intend of adding to a winter container , but Nipponese forest sess turns a arresting gold - bronze during its dormant months . This beautiful grass also defy on to its softly textured seed heads well into wintertime , and these will softly train over the edge of container . If you are imbed a container for twelvemonth - round interest , two nifty selections are the cultivar ‘ Aureola ’ and ‘ Sunflare ’ .
— Michele Christiano has work in public garden for most of her calling . She presently works as an estate of the realm nurseryman maintaining a Piet Oudolf garden .
o.k. Gardening Recommended product
Gardener ’s Log Book from NYBG
o.k. Gardening receive a commission for items purchased through links on this site , admit Amazon Associates and other affiliate publicizing programs .
Black and Decker 22 - inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer
DeWalt Variable - Speed Cordless Reciprocating see
Get our latest tip , how - to articles , and instructional telecasting sent to your inbox .
sign you up …
Related Articles
Create Winter Tussie-Mussies With Cuttings From Your Garden
Structural Plants for Enduring Winter Interest in the Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic December Garden To-Do List
Mid-Atlantic July Garden To-Do List
Join o.k. horticulture for a free engaging live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …
When I spotted a particular Baroness Dudevant dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in hassle . With a delicious vividness radiation pattern …
When we only prioritise plants we require over plants our landscape needs , each time of year is satisfy with a never - end inclination of chore : pruning , nobble , watering , treating , amend , and fertilizing , with …
Subscribe today and save up to 47%
Video
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat
You must be deliberate when you infix the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …
4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden
Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage
4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
All Access members get more
sign on up for afree trialand get access code to ALL our regional content , plus the rest of the extremity - only content program library .
Start Free Trial
Get complete site entree to expert advice , regional content , and more , plus the print magazine .
begin your FREE trial
Already a member?enter
Passion Party™ andromeda, Russian arborvitae, or coral bark willow might be just the thing to add a little something extra to a late-season container.Photos: Michele Christiano
Dwarf Japanese cedar shines in direct light with chartreuse foliage that’s tipped with shades of orange.Photo: Michele Christiano
With its berry-colored flowers long gone, Passion Party™ andromeda still sports attractive foliage and dangling pink seed capsules.Photo: Michele Christiano
Russian arborvitae has a compact, rounded habit, making it perfect for containers. Its bright green summer color gives way to a bronze coloration in winter.Photos: Michelle Gervais (left), Michele Christiano (right)
Even a few small cuttings of coral bark willow will add tremendous color to winter containers.Photo: Michele Christiano
Japanese forest grass is known for its chartreuse summer foliage, but in winter its leaves catch the light with shades of brown, orange, tan, and lingering green.Photos: Michelle Gervais (left), Michele Christaino (right)
