(248) 252-5248 
Most people believe in leaving their gardens alone during the winter, as the bitter cold tends to freeze most plants. However, many plants are popular for winter landscapes, allowing you to breathe life into your garden even amidst the stark white snow. Adding these plants before winter sets in will help you cultivate year-round foliage that looks lush and abundant even as the seasons change.
Your yard doesn’t need to be a blanket of snow without any plants to enjoy, as these plants thrive in colder temperatures. Here are some plants that will help you transform your garden into a winter wonderland:
1. Red Osier Dogwood
Also known as Cornus sericea ‘Allemans,’ this plant is extremely hardy. Its flowers bloom in May, showcasing white blooms and, eventually, white fruit. What makes red osier dogwood a winter plant is its dark bark, which varies from red to burgundy. It can also reach a height of 6’ to 10’ and spread 5’ to 10’. Seeing a splash of red on a bright white landscape will undoubtedly create a breathtaking winter landscape.
2. Winterberry Holly
Winterberry holly, also known by its scientific name Ilex verticillate, is a holly bush indigenous to the wetlands in the US and the eastern part of Canada. It’s great for attracting wild birds in the winter due to its winterberry fruit. As a deciduous bush, it’s an excellent fit for a winter landscape, but you’ll want to plant it next to several shrubs to raise your chances of finding a male plant and guaranteeing fruit production.
3. Christmas Holly Shrubs
Evergreen holly sports beautiful year-round foliage and bright berries, drawing numerous bird species to your garden. Many people have also used sprigs of cut holly to decorate their homes during the holidays. Most evergreen hollies aren’t hardy enough for far north climates, but China holly and compact inkberry weather more extreme temperatures better.
4. Bayberry
Known as Myrica pensylvanica, this is a shrub that tends to spread. It usually grows in zones 2 to 8 and has shiny, aromatic foliage accompanying its waxy, gray fruit. The unconventional berries are often used to scent candles, but birds usually get to them before humans do. While birds love bayberry, deer don’t, making it an excellent deer-resistant plant.
5. Plume Grass
A perennial grass, its scientific name is Erianthus ravennae, boasting stately, long shafts and soft shape that makes it an incredibly sophisticated plant. It can grow as tall as 11 feet and be 5 feet wide. It’s hardy enough to withstand zone 4 climates.
6. Cranberry Bush Viburnum
Its scientific name is Viburnum trilobum Compactum and produces an abundance of red berries that keep birds full during the winter. It is a rounded shrub that blooms white flowers in May and June, followed by the famous red fruit. Its foliage varies from red to purple in the fall, making it a stunning sight to behold in your garden. This bush is hardy to zone two and grows 4’ to 5’ high with a 3’ to 4’ spread.
Conclusion
If you’ve always wanted to spruce up your garden during the winter season, these plants will surely add pops of color and vibrance that will make it a beautiful sight to behold. Hardy enough to withstand frigid temperatures, these plants will undoubtedly transform your garden into a winter wonderland!
Sir Williams Drainage and Waterproofing Solutions offers residential and commercial property owners high-quality landscaping and drainage services in Belleville. We’ve carefully completed repairs on hundreds of homes for over 30 years, making us one of the most trusted local contractors. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!