Garden Plants For the Winter Garden

In many parts of the country designing a garden for winter interest requires relying on plants with distinctive stems such as the 'Harry Lauder's Walking Stick' or garden structures. If you live in a more temperate part of the country, you have many garden plants that bloom in the winter months which add color and interest to your winter garden.

Poppies are rapidly gaining popularity in southern climates for adding color in the garden during winter months. Although easily grown from seed, most nurseries and big box stores are beginning to stock poppies in late fall as an alternative to the traditional pansy. Poppies can easily stand nighttime temperatures dropping into the high teens. During the extremely cold months, poppies may get knocked back, but quickly recover when temperatures begin to warm.

The Lenten Rose, although not actually a rose, is a must for any winter garden, but a necessity for a southern garden. The Lenten Rose sits almost dormant during the summer months, but when temperatures begin to cool in mid fall, they begin to add new growth. The chartreuse colored new growth is the perfect complement for the dark green mature foliage. This beautiful color combination lasts throughout the winter and in early February dainty japanese lantern like flowers are added to the show. The flowers can last into early summer. Lenten Roses like part to full shade and if placed in too much sun will experience leaf scorching. Once established, Lenten Roses are easy to divide and are prolific self seeders

Camellia Japonica and Camellia Sasanquas are the aristocrats of the southern garden. Both varieties are often grouped under the name Camellia by novice gardeners, even though the varieties are quite different. Every garden should have a few of each. Camellia Sasanqua is the first to bloom, depending on the variety, in mid to late fall and will bloom until about Thanksgiving. Just as the Sasanquas finish their show, the Camellia Japonicas' first blossoms appear. For the best show, you will need multiple varieties picked specifically for their bloom time which can run from before Christmas into March.

Daphne Odora also known as the Winter Daphne, although hard to grow, is worth the effort. This evergreen shrub, is known and grown for the wonderful scented flowers it produces. The flowers can begin as early as late January and continue for about a month. This is one plant that truly hates to be moved, so make sure to take your time when selecting the right spot in the garden. They grow best in shade to part sun. A spot that has filtered shade in the summer and full sun in the winter would be ideal. Daphnes hate wet feet so well drained soil is a must, consider a berm or hillside to help with drainage. Because they can be hard to grow and are slow growing, Daphnes can be a little pricey. Nurseries will be featuring them in mid-fall, but will usually begin to discount them by early spring.

Daffodils are not often associated with winter, but early blooming daffodils can bring wonderful color to your winter garden. Daffodils along with Crocus and Hyacinths are always the harbingers of spring, but there are several varieties that actually flower as early as January. 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation', a two-toned yellow daffodil, has won the hearts of many gardeners when it pokes its head up, even through a blanket of snow, as early as mid January. Narcissus 'Paperwhites' flower as early as December or January. Due to their early blooming habit, both bulbs are often used for forcing indoors. A great idea is to purchase bulbs and force them to bloom indoors and when finished, plant them in your garden for winter color the next year.

These are just a few plants that can add color to your winter garden, for more ideas, take a walk through your city parks or around large complexes like hospitals which have departments devoted to maintaining effective color and interest regardless of the season.

George Radcliffe is retired now residing in the coastal region of South Carolina. He has been a lifetime gardener and a Master Gardener for three years. He enjoys helping others learn the joys of gardening in the South. Visit http://www.wickedgoodgardens.com for more tips and advice on southern gardening.

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