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10 Beautiful Native Plants to Enliven Winter Gardens
Bring your yard to life in winter with these colorful, structural and wildlife-friendly plants from around the country
While many plants sleep this time of year, winter-blooming perennials, berry-laden shrubs and colorful branches can bring the garden to life. With the following 10 native plants, winter beauty is only part of the equation. Many also provide food, shelter and other benefits to pollinators and other local wildlife. What’s not to love?
Keep reading to see 10 beautiful plants from around the U.S. that offer winter interest, support local wildlife and bring a feeling of place to the landscape. While many gardeners in cold-winter regions may need to wait until spring to plant, now is the time to admire these 10 beautiful and hardworking native plants in all their glory.
Keep reading to see 10 beautiful plants from around the U.S. that offer winter interest, support local wildlife and bring a feeling of place to the landscape. While many gardeners in cold-winter regions may need to wait until spring to plant, now is the time to admire these 10 beautiful and hardworking native plants in all their glory.
2. Coast Silktassel
(Garrya elliptica)
Native to the Coast Ranges of California and southern Oregon
Coast silktassel comes to life in West Coast winter gardens with a cascade of showy flower clusters (called catkins), which draw bees. It’s a showy winter bloomer but an inconspicuous evergreen plant throughout the rest of the year. Its dense foliage makes it a great windbreak, or it can even be grown to mask an unattractive wall.
Silktassel is dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on different plants. If you want the showy, pendulous flowers, be sure to choose a male plant. Popular cultivars include ‘James Roof’, with longer catkins, and the more compact ‘Evie’.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (Zone 8)
Water requirement: Moderate to light
Light requirement: Full sun, or light shade in hotter climates
Mature size: 10 to 20 feet tall and wide
Read more about growing coast silktassel
(Garrya elliptica)
Native to the Coast Ranges of California and southern Oregon
Coast silktassel comes to life in West Coast winter gardens with a cascade of showy flower clusters (called catkins), which draw bees. It’s a showy winter bloomer but an inconspicuous evergreen plant throughout the rest of the year. Its dense foliage makes it a great windbreak, or it can even be grown to mask an unattractive wall.
Silktassel is dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on different plants. If you want the showy, pendulous flowers, be sure to choose a male plant. Popular cultivars include ‘James Roof’, with longer catkins, and the more compact ‘Evie’.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (Zone 8)
Water requirement: Moderate to light
Light requirement: Full sun, or light shade in hotter climates
Mature size: 10 to 20 feet tall and wide
Read more about growing coast silktassel
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3. Firecracker Penstemon
(Penstemon eatonii)
Native to arid regions of the Southwest
In Southwest gardens, plant firecracker penstemon for its clusters of orange-red flowers that draw in hummingbirds from winter into late spring. (In cooler climates, flowers might appear in summer.) This beautiful, low-maintenance flower can be used in a variety of ways, such as to line pathways, to plant en masse or to add to a wildflower seed mix.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet wide and 2 feet tall when in flower
Read more about growing firecracker penstemon
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(Penstemon eatonii)
Native to arid regions of the Southwest
In Southwest gardens, plant firecracker penstemon for its clusters of orange-red flowers that draw in hummingbirds from winter into late spring. (In cooler climates, flowers might appear in summer.) This beautiful, low-maintenance flower can be used in a variety of ways, such as to line pathways, to plant en masse or to add to a wildflower seed mix.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet wide and 2 feet tall when in flower
Read more about growing firecracker penstemon
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4. Pink Chaparral Currant
(Ribes malvaceum)
Native to the Inner North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Channel Islands and northern Baja California, Mexico
When much of the California garden is asleep, pink chaparral currant emerges with delicate pink flowers that bloom from fall into early spring. These pendulous white-to-pink flowers serve as important winter nectar sources for hummingbirds and other pollinators, which will flock to the blooms as the weather warms.
This fast-growing, upright shrub can be used as a landscape screen or background plant, or even can be grown under oak trees. As its most dramatic seasonal interest comes in winter, consider planting it near spring- and summer-blooming plants.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 15 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 10)
Water requirement: Little (drought-tolerant) to moderate water
Light requirement: Full sun on the coast and in cool climates; partial shade inland
Mature size: 5 to 6 feet tall and wide; some cultivars can grow larger
Read more about growing pink chaparral currant
(Ribes malvaceum)
Native to the Inner North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Channel Islands and northern Baja California, Mexico
When much of the California garden is asleep, pink chaparral currant emerges with delicate pink flowers that bloom from fall into early spring. These pendulous white-to-pink flowers serve as important winter nectar sources for hummingbirds and other pollinators, which will flock to the blooms as the weather warms.
This fast-growing, upright shrub can be used as a landscape screen or background plant, or even can be grown under oak trees. As its most dramatic seasonal interest comes in winter, consider planting it near spring- and summer-blooming plants.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 15 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 10)
Water requirement: Little (drought-tolerant) to moderate water
Light requirement: Full sun on the coast and in cool climates; partial shade inland
Mature size: 5 to 6 feet tall and wide; some cultivars can grow larger
Read more about growing pink chaparral currant
5. Redtwig Dogwood
(Cornus sericea syn. Cornus stolonifera)
Native to much of North America
Cold-hardy and water-tolerant, redtwig dogwood is an elegant and hardworking year-round garden addition. In winter, however, the stems of this native shrub become a fiery shade of red before losing their leaves for the season. In northern regions, its winter color is especially vivid — creating a beautiful contrast against a blanket of white snow.
Found naturally in damp areas, redtwig dogwood is well suited to wet conditions. Consider using it in a rain garden to help curb stormwater runoff. The ‘Baileyi’ cultivar, shown here, is similar in color but lacks the spreading appearance of the straight species.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.7 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 7 to 9 feet tall and spreading up to 12 feet wide
Read more about growing redtwig dogwood
(Cornus sericea syn. Cornus stolonifera)
Native to much of North America
Cold-hardy and water-tolerant, redtwig dogwood is an elegant and hardworking year-round garden addition. In winter, however, the stems of this native shrub become a fiery shade of red before losing their leaves for the season. In northern regions, its winter color is especially vivid — creating a beautiful contrast against a blanket of white snow.
Found naturally in damp areas, redtwig dogwood is well suited to wet conditions. Consider using it in a rain garden to help curb stormwater runoff. The ‘Baileyi’ cultivar, shown here, is similar in color but lacks the spreading appearance of the straight species.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.7 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 7 to 9 feet tall and spreading up to 12 feet wide
Read more about growing redtwig dogwood
6. Snowberry
(Symphoricarpos albus)
Native to western and eastern North America, including Canada
Choose snowberry for its beautiful white winter color. The white berry-like drupes hang from bare branches that have a loose, mounding habit. Snowberry attracts wildlife for food and shelter year-round, with its fruit providing essential winter treats for native birds and some mammals.
Plant snowberry where it can be admired in the winter garden, perhaps as part of a mixed hedge or against winter evergreens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.6 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 10)
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Light shade to sun
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Pink flowers in summer; white berries in winter
Read more about growing snowberry
(Symphoricarpos albus)
Native to western and eastern North America, including Canada
Choose snowberry for its beautiful white winter color. The white berry-like drupes hang from bare branches that have a loose, mounding habit. Snowberry attracts wildlife for food and shelter year-round, with its fruit providing essential winter treats for native birds and some mammals.
Plant snowberry where it can be admired in the winter garden, perhaps as part of a mixed hedge or against winter evergreens.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.6 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 10)
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Light shade to sun
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide
Seasonal interest: Pink flowers in summer; white berries in winter
Read more about growing snowberry
7. Soapweed Yucca
(Yucca glauca)
Native to the Great Plains and foothills of the Rocky Mountains from Alberta, Canada, to northern New Mexico and east as far as Arkansas
Plants with year-round color and structure are winter garden winners. Such is the case with soapweed yucca, a long-lived shrub from the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain foothills. Offering food and shelter to a variety of wildlife throughout the year, it stands out with its upright stem and tight ball-shape cluster of long, narrow leaves.
Soapweed yucca can serve as a focal plant in desert-style gardens or anywhere it can provide evergreen color. Be sure to keep it away from walkways, driveways or wherever people or pets might come into contact with its spike-tipped leaves.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.7 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 6)
Water requirement: Little once established (drought-tolerant)
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 3 feet tall and wide, with a flower stalk as tall as 6 feet
Read more about growing soapweed yucca
(Yucca glauca)
Native to the Great Plains and foothills of the Rocky Mountains from Alberta, Canada, to northern New Mexico and east as far as Arkansas
Plants with year-round color and structure are winter garden winners. Such is the case with soapweed yucca, a long-lived shrub from the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain foothills. Offering food and shelter to a variety of wildlife throughout the year, it stands out with its upright stem and tight ball-shape cluster of long, narrow leaves.
Soapweed yucca can serve as a focal plant in desert-style gardens or anywhere it can provide evergreen color. Be sure to keep it away from walkways, driveways or wherever people or pets might come into contact with its spike-tipped leaves.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 42.7 degrees Celsius (zones 2 to 6)
Water requirement: Little once established (drought-tolerant)
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 3 feet tall and wide, with a flower stalk as tall as 6 feet
Read more about growing soapweed yucca
8. Switchgrass
(Panicum virgatum)
Native to a wide swath of North America, from Saskatchewan to Quebec in Canada and south to Florida, Mexico and Central America; most abundant on the Great Plains
Switchgrass brings a taste of the prairie to home gardens, with a bold form and beautiful color that changes from season to season. In winter, the leaves fade to a pale straw color and remain upright and intact — even in most snowy climates. The grass provides nesting spots and food for wildlife year-round, and in winter the leaves’ hollow stems can serve as nesting sites for native bees.
At up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide, switchgrass could be used en masse as a windscreen or living fence, or planted as an accent grass or a foundation plant. Line the back of a prairie garden with it for a dramatic backdrop.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9)
Water requirement: Needs supplemental water for best growth, especially in climates with hot summers
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Up to 6 feet tall; bunches may spread to 3 feet wide
Read more about growing switchgrass
(Panicum virgatum)
Native to a wide swath of North America, from Saskatchewan to Quebec in Canada and south to Florida, Mexico and Central America; most abundant on the Great Plains
Switchgrass brings a taste of the prairie to home gardens, with a bold form and beautiful color that changes from season to season. In winter, the leaves fade to a pale straw color and remain upright and intact — even in most snowy climates. The grass provides nesting spots and food for wildlife year-round, and in winter the leaves’ hollow stems can serve as nesting sites for native bees.
At up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide, switchgrass could be used en masse as a windscreen or living fence, or planted as an accent grass or a foundation plant. Line the back of a prairie garden with it for a dramatic backdrop.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9)
Water requirement: Needs supplemental water for best growth, especially in climates with hot summers
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: Up to 6 feet tall; bunches may spread to 3 feet wide
Read more about growing switchgrass
9. Toyon
(Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Native to California
Fall welcomes the beautifully festive berries Toyon is known for, lasting well through autumn and winter. These berries make great holiday decorations; they also feed birds and other wildlife when there’s less food to choose from. Toyon can be trained to be more of an upright open tree or allowed to grow naturally to form a dense evergreen screen or hedge. It’s considered to be fire-retardant.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 15 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 10)
Water requirement: Moderate to low; drought-tolerant once established
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: As a dense shrub, 6 to 10 feet tall; as a broad or multitrunk tree, 15 to 25 feet tall
Read more about growing toyon
(Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Native to California
Fall welcomes the beautifully festive berries Toyon is known for, lasting well through autumn and winter. These berries make great holiday decorations; they also feed birds and other wildlife when there’s less food to choose from. Toyon can be trained to be more of an upright open tree or allowed to grow naturally to form a dense evergreen screen or hedge. It’s considered to be fire-retardant.
Where it will grow: Hardy to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 15 degrees Celsius (zones 7 to 10)
Water requirement: Moderate to low; drought-tolerant once established
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: As a dense shrub, 6 to 10 feet tall; as a broad or multitrunk tree, 15 to 25 feet tall
Read more about growing toyon
10. Winterberry
(Ilex verticillata)
Native to the eastern United States
You might recognize winterberry for its berry-laden branches used in floral arrangements and decorations around the holidays, but it can also make for great winter color in cold-climate gardens. Popular cultivars include ‘Red Sprite’, a more compact form, and ‘Sparkleberry’, which can be used as a small tree.
This deciduous native holly is widely adaptable and grows well in swales and rain gardens, attracting birds and other wildlife with its red winter fruit. Plant winterberry along woodland edges or as a focal point to be admired during winter. It makes a good alternative to spirea or Japanese barberry, which can be invasive.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate to regular; tolerates damp soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall and wide
Caution: The berries are toxic if ingested.
Read more about growing winterberry
Tell us: What are your favorite plants for winter gardens? Share in the Comments.
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(Ilex verticillata)
Native to the eastern United States
You might recognize winterberry for its berry-laden branches used in floral arrangements and decorations around the holidays, but it can also make for great winter color in cold-climate gardens. Popular cultivars include ‘Red Sprite’, a more compact form, and ‘Sparkleberry’, which can be used as a small tree.
This deciduous native holly is widely adaptable and grows well in swales and rain gardens, attracting birds and other wildlife with its red winter fruit. Plant winterberry along woodland edges or as a focal point to be admired during winter. It makes a good alternative to spirea or Japanese barberry, which can be invasive.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 40 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate to regular; tolerates damp soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall and wide
Caution: The berries are toxic if ingested.
Read more about growing winterberry
Tell us: What are your favorite plants for winter gardens? Share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
10 Tips for Beginning Gardeners
Read more gardening guides
Find a design or remodeling pro near you
Shop for gardening tools
(Callicarpa americana)
Native to the Southeast and Gulf states
American beautyberry gives Southeast U.S. gardens a winter boost with its bright purple berries. The berries, which appear in fall and persist into winter, also provide food for native birds, which seek shelter in the shrub’s open, arching branches. Plant American beautyberry in a naturalistic woodland garden or close to native wildflowers to attract a crowd of pollinators.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 20.6 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 6 to 10; find your zone)
Wate requirement: Medium — water when it’s newly transplanted to help establish it; otherwise, average rainfall in the Southeast U.S. provides plenty of water for this native plant
Light requirement: Full sun to dappled or partial shade
Mature size: 5 to 8 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide
Read more about growing American beautyberry