Creating Winter Interest in Your Garden

Once the brilliant colors of fall have faded, winter in the garden can feel dull and drab.  Many of us get spring fever as the first signs of life emerge.  When the temperatures rise and that fresh crisp smell of spring wafts into your nose, your first instinct may be to head out into the garden and then drive to see us at Central Valley Garden Center.  Here you will purchase all the blooming plants you can possibly squeeze into the trunk of your car.  You will repeat this a few times throughout spring and summer.  Inevitably, you will end up with a gorgeous garden full of spring, summer and likely fall interest.  Enter winter and you look out into your garden from your house or drive up your driveway and think to yourself, where did all that color and life go? 

Winter dormancy opens center stage to plants with eye catching forms, glossy berries, colorful foliage and bark as well as winter bloomers.  These plants can be added into the garden at any time of year.  Areas to consider adding winter interest are in portions of your garden that will be appreciated from inside your home or from outdoor areas you frequent.  You don’t have to relandscape your entire garden, a small amount of careful consideration and planning will go a long way.  A pop of color here and there is likely all you need.  Many of these plant suggestions can be used in containers as well.  Stop by for a visit and we will help you select a few key plants to add winter texture, color and form to your garden.  

Plants with colorful or interesting bark:

Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ – Coral Bark Japanese Maple

Acer griseum—Paperbark Maple

Cornus stolonifera ‘Baileyi’ ---Red Twig Dogwood

Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ ---Yellow Twig Dogwood

Lagerstroemia indica---Crape Myrtle

Ulmus parvifolia ---Chinese Elm

Cercidium ‘Desert Museum’---Palo Verde

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus 

Plants with colorful foliage:

Nandina varieties

Phormium varieties

Cordyline varieties

Aucuba japonica

Euonymous varieties

Coleonema pulchellum ‘Sunset Gold’

Elaeagnus pungens ‘Maculata’

Lomandra Platinum Beauty

Coprosma varieties

Dodonea viscosa purpurea

Heuchera varieties

Loropetalum varieties

Teucrium fruticans

Euphorbia varieties

Swiss chard Bright Lights

Euphorbia 

Plants with winter fruit/berries:

Persimmons

Arbutus unedo

Callicarpa—Beauty Berry

Pomegranates

Pyracantha

Heteromeles artbutifolia

Cotoneaster varieties

Ilex varieties

Citrus varieties

Skimmia japonica

Rugosa roses

Pomegranates

Winter blooming shrubs and perennials:

Daphne odora

Camellia varieties

Azalea

Abutilon varieties

Edgeworthia

Aloe Blue Elf

Erigeron karvinskianus

Erysimum Bowles Mauve

Garrya elliftica---Silk Tassel

Grevillea rosmarinifolia

Grevillea langinera ‘Coastal Gem’

Tagetes lemmoniii---Copper Canyon Daisy

Pieris japonica varieties

Rhaphiolepis varieties

Sarcococca ruscifolia

Viburnum tinus ‘Spring Bouquet’

Hamamelis ---Witch Hazel

Gelsemium sempervirens—Carolina Jessamine

Hardenbergia violacea

Jasminum polyanthum

Solanum jasminoides

Hellebore

Hellebore

Eye catching forms/textures:    

Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’—Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick

Corokia cotoneaster

Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’

Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’

Quince

Agaves and other succulents/cacti

Leucadendron varieties

Ornamental grasses

Agonis flexuosa ‘After Dark’

Leucadendron

Winter blooming annuals:

Pansies

Violas

Iceland poppies

Cyclamen

Primrose

Sweet Peas

Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

Paludosum Daisies

Calendula

Stock

Snapdragons.

Ornamental Cabbage 

See you soon. 

By ALI WHITE 

Garden Center Manager