7 Plants for Winter Interest
Gardening Know How recommends 7 plants that provide flowers and structural elements for winter interest
Gardening Know How suggests 7 plants that add shape, texture, and movement to gardens for months after flowering season ends. These plants earn their space in beds and borders twice, first with a showy display of flowers and later with structural elements like seedheads, tall stems, and interesting foliage.
According to Gardening Know How, when choosing plants, consider what they will look like after the flowers are done, and look for plants that both bloom and have interesting structure after flowering. For best results, make sure the choices are suited to the USDA zone, soil type, and sun exposure.
Plant Options
The 7 plants recommended by Gardening Know How are sedum, coneflower, sea holly, ornamental alliums, Jerusalem sage, astilbe, and ornamental grasses. Each of these plants has unique characteristics that make them suitable for winter interest.
Plant Characteristics
Here are the characteristics of each plant:
| Plant | Botanical Name | USDA Zones | Light | Soil | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedum | Hylotelephium, Sedum | 3-9 | Full sun | Well-drained, dry | Rust-red and bronze dried flower heads |
| Coneflower | Echinacea | 3-9 | Full sun | Well-drained | Sculptural seedheads that feed birds |
| Sea Holly | Eryngium | 5-9 | Full sun | Dry, well-drained, sandy | Spiky, sculptural dried flower heads |
| Ornamental Alliums | Allium | 4-9 | Full sun | Well-drained | Striking spherical seedheads |
| Jerusalem Sage | Phlomis | 5-10 | Full sun | Dry, well-drained | Architectural, pom-pom-like seedheads |
| Astilbe | Astilbe | 3-9 | Partial shade | Rich, moist, well-drained | Feathery dried plumes in tan and bronze |
| Ornamental Grasses | Varies | Usually full sun | Varies, most well-drained | Airy seedheads, texture, and winter movement |
Winter Interest
These plants provide winter interest in various ways, including seedheads, tall stems, and interesting foliage. For example, sedum's flower clusters change color and dry in place, while coneflower's seedheads remain atop tall stems, feeding birds and providing structural interest. Sea holly's flowers dry prettily in place, leaving behind sculptural flower heads, and ornamental alliums' spherical seedheads remain in place, providing an interesting sculptural element.
Ornamental grasses grow in clumps, with some strictly upright and others with an arching shape, and provide airy seedheads, texture, and winter movement. Jerusalem sage offers a dramatic architectural and visual effect in fall and winter, with interesting pom-pom-like structures, and astilbe's feathery plumes retain their shape and texture as they dry to muted tan and bronze colors, bringing visual interest and lightness to shady beds and borders.
Gardening Know How recommends trying specific varieties, such as Autumn Joy sedum, purple coneflower, Big Blue sea holly, Gladiator allium, and Younique Silvery Pink astilbe, for their unique characteristics and winter interest. By incorporating these plants into the garden, gardeners can add shape, texture, and movement to their outdoor spaces, even in the winter months.
