Plan for a winter garden of faded perennials that look beautiful covered in snow or frost
Here in the Mid - Atlantic , institute for wintertime interest in a recurrent garden or motley edge is a chip of a gamble . perennial with persistent foliage such as heucheras ( Heucheraspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) and hellebores ( Helleborusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) can provide an abundance of color and grain through a balmy wintertime with minimum quantity of the lily-white poppycock . However , a individual snow can cover them up for hebdomad or month . For a more dependable presence , we need to think above earth point too , with recurrent stems and seed headland . Developing an grasp for perennial “ skeletons”—their winter stem , linger leaves , and dried seed heads — gives you many ways to enjoy your garden long after the last flowers fade .
It ’s easy to find lists and photo of perennial that have a reputation for wintertime interest group , but keep in mind that they ’re not all tough enough to resist up to our Mid - Atlantic conditions . If we have a modest , wet November , for example , or gusty winds , less stems can break or crumble by the clock time December arrives . And December itself can be unpredictable , with flip warm and stale solar day and downpours that turn into a coating of ice or snow overnight .
For body structure that will make an impact into the Modern year — if not all the way through winter — we want perennial prove to be tops - hardy whatever the weather brings . Fortunately , we have many tough plants to opt from . Because our wintertime gloss pallet is rather limited — many shades of brown , copper , blond , and black , to be sure , but not the rainbow of summer colors — unassailable forms are what collar the heart now . Bee balms ( Monardaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–8 ) , coneflowers ( Echinaceaspp . and cvs . andRudbeckiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , and rattlesnake lord ( Eryngium yuccifolium , Zones 4–9 ) , for representative , are priceless for lots of dit above the landscape . Set against or among the o.k. forms of hibernating grasses along the length of a border , or in front of a pale wall or fence , they serve as spectacular punctuation .
umbel and other forms of branching seed heads offer up another band of interesting shape . Some , like those of golden lace ( Patrinia scabiosifolia , zone 5–8 ) and Joe Pye weed ( Eutrochiumspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–8 ) , leave fine - textured but surprisingly live silhouettes . Others , like the broad , dense header of upright sedums ( Hylotelephiumspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) and yarrows ( Achilleaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) , are sure to catch the eye for month . Both rounded and domed seed heads provide welcome contrast to the strong verticality of persistent stem , as do spiky seed heads , such as those of Culver ’s root ( Veronicastrumvirginicum , Zones 3–8 ) and Carolina lupine ( genus Thermopsis villosa , Zones 4–9 ) .
You ca n’t think about planting for off - time of year interestingness in Mid - Atlantic perennial garden and dismiss the time value of warm - season grasses , because most offer a variety of unrelenting features through the coldest month . If you have space for only one grass for winter pastime , you ca n’t turn a loss with any course of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum , Zones 3–9 ) . ‘ Karl Foerster ’ feather reed grass ( Calamagrostis×acutiflora‘Karl Foerster ’ , Zones 5–9 ) , with slender stems that rock gracefully in winter air current but still provide a strong vertical accent , is also an splendid alternative . The dried leaves , staunch , and seed fountainhead of warm - time of year grasses , along with their overall upright , arching , or vase - shaped form , are invaluable for interest above all but our deepest snows .
There are many more durable perennial for our December - through - February garden , from the lasting pods of fictitious Indigofera tinctoria ( Baptisiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) to the slender , branching skeleton in the cupboard of great deal stack ( Pycnanthemumspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–8 ) to the short , slow spikes of turtleheads ( Chelonespp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) .
One thing so many wintertime - marvelous perennials have in common is that they are aboriginal to our region — build to last through whatever our climate can fuddle at them . Take a winter walk through a Mid - Atlantic meadow and see what ’s still standing , and you ’re sure to find an teemingness of ideas and inspiration for plants and combinations to integrate in your own garden .
— Nancy J. Ondra is the author of over fifteen book , includingGrasses , The Perennial Care Manual , andThe Perennial Matchmaker .
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The combination above features purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3–9) in front of ‘Dewey Blue’ switchgrass (Panicum amarum‘Dewey Blue, Zones 3–9).Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
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The small but abundant seed heads of orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida, Zones 3–9) stick around long after the golden petals disappear. Their dramatically dark globes are even more striking when touched by frost, encased in ice, or capped with snow.Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
Spotted Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum, Zones 4–8) loses most of its seeds by January, but that’s not the end of the show. The delicate details of its remaining skeleton become particularly apparent with a layer of ice or snow.Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
The skeletons of Autumn Joy sedum (Hylotelephium‘Herbstfreude’, Zones 3–9) is tough enough to last through pretty much anything a Mid-Atlantic winter can throw at it.Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
Featured above, from left to right, are ‘Northwind’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum‘Northwind’, Zones 3–9), ‘Dallas Blues’ switchgrass (P. virgatum‘Dallas Blues’, Zones 4–9), and Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium, Zones 5–8).Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
The purple summer blooms of ironweeds (Vernoniaspp. and cvs., Zones 5–9) turn into a wealth of fluffy seeds in fall, which then drop or blow off to reveal an abundance of starry faux flowers for winter.Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
