While many people think of gardening as a springtime or summer hobby, some prefer a garden that performs in the wintertime. Winter gardening consists of those plants and flowers that have blooms or interesting effects in the coldest part of the year. Winter plants are great companions to a regular garden to keep it fresh and inviting not just in warmer months, but all year long.
Common Winterberry, or Ilex verticillata, is from the Aquifoliaeceae (holly) family. It is a shrub that will attract birds to the landscape. It will get up to 25 feet tall but is usually 6 to 12 feet tall. The spread is 8 to 12 feet wide. Leaves are 1 to 4 inches long and toothed. Flowers are tiny and white, while berries are red. Plant a winterberry shrub in moist, acidic soil in full sun or partial shade with regular watering. Propagate via summer softwood cuttings.
Silverthorn, or Elaeagnus pungens, is from the Elaeagnaceae, or oleaster, family. It is a fragrant evergreen shrub that is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and attracts birds. It gets 15 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Flowers come fall and winter and are bell-shaped cream blooms on clusters. Plant a silverthorn shrub in partial to full sun with regular watering. Propagate via seed, hardwood cuttings, or by softwood cuttings.
Witch hazel, or Hamamelis virginiana, is from the Hamamelidaceae, or witch-hazel, family. It is a fragrant shrub. Witch hazel gets 20 to 30 feet tall with a 20- to 25-0foot width. Leaves are 2 to 6 inches long and irregular. Flowers come in fall and winter, in fragrant clusters. Plant a witchhazel shrub in rich, slightly acidic soil in sun (it also tolerates partial shade). Propagate via seed or softwood cuttings.
Lenten Rose, or Helleborus orientalis, is from the Ranunculaceae, or buttercup, family. It is an evergreen perennial. Lenten rose gets 16 to 20 inches tall. Leaves are dark green and up to 18 inches long. Flowers are whitish in color with pink, green or purple tint, and 2 to 3 inches wide. Plant a Lenten rose in rich, loose, well-drained soil in heavy to light shade. Propagate via seed or by summer or fall division.
Sasanqua Camellia, or Camellia sasanqua, is from the Theaceae, or tea, family. It is a fragrant evergreen shrub that is drought-tolerant. Sasanqua camellias get 4 to 15 feet tall with fall or winter flowers 1 1/2 to 4 inches wide. Leaves are rich green and 1 inch long. Plant this plant in rich organic soil with broken shade or full sun if well watered. Propagate via rooting compound-dusted cuttings.