First off, let me apologize for using the word “winter” in the title as I sincerely hope that our actual “winter” is still many weeks away. Having said that, as we head towards the holiday season, it is an ideal time for gardeners to look forward just a bit. Frost will be coming soon, and Mother Nature will require a resting period of dormancy from all our plant companions. Here in the “Evergreen State” we still have plenty of foliage options for the winter, but after typical perennials have gone dormant and the leaves that clothed our deciduous plants during the growing season have dropped, ask yourself… what is left? Just because winter is coming does not mean there needs to be a void of interest in the garden. Whether you are adding some winter pizazz to a container or the landscape, showy evergreen perennials provide plenty of options.
Many popular perennials actually keep their foliage during the winter - certainly a welcome attribute for us local gardeners. Lavenders, Euphorbias, Saxifrages, Sedums, and many others still have presence in my own garden. Some specific ones provide even more, like adding bright foliage color and contrast while others even bloom over the grey days of winter. To me, the poster child for winter has been, and always will be, Hellebores (of all kinds) - a plant often called Christmas or Lenten Rose. We will bounce back to these in a future article, but for now keep in mind that these provide evergreen foliage, sometimes even mottled or variegated, as well as reliable flower power from November through March. Maximum selection of flavors can be found now, fall through winter, at your local garden center. For our discussion today, let us delve into some other useful evergreen perennials that shine in the fall, and continue on with attractive specimens for throughout the winter season.
One of my fall favorites is Hardy Cyclamen - a low, little, woodland, bulbous plant that is typically only available this time of year. Although these are not truly “evergreen” (they do go dormant in the summer months), they are simply stunning in the fall and winter with both intricately variegated foliage and bloom. Two basic species are often available; Cyclamen coum and Cyclamen hederifolium, but the fun part is all of the natural variation. View a selection of either species at the garden center now, you can pick from a plethora of both foliage and bloom options. Give them good drainage, mostly shade and watch them slowly spread over time, naturalizing into a most worthy garden plant.
A plant that I truly have become addicted to over the last 20 years is Heuchera, or what is known as Coral Bells. The first step to recovery is sometimes admission, so yes, I have “Heuchera-itis” (as I call it) without a doubt. Coral Bells look good year around if you take a moment to clean them up each fall and spring, and they sport lovely airy flower stalks spring through fall that the hummingbirds and bees enjoy. They prefer well-drained soil and are surprisingly drought tolerant. For the fall and winter, these are about foliage color, period. A gardener could literally pick any color from a true rainbow of foliage options since Heuchera has been bred into a bazillion flavors, from limey green to dark purple-black. Some are more for sun, others for dappled shade, but all are little clumping evergreens useful for winter presence in both containers and the landscape. Some suggestions from this addict would be ‘Black Forest Cake’, ‘Fire Alarm’, ‘Orange Delight’ and ‘Red Lightning’, to name a few.
I honestly rarely use the phrase “bullet proof” when it comes to plants, but Epimedium is another evergreen perennial that truly is easy to grow. These low, spreading plants are sometimes called Bishops Cap or Barrenwort, and numerous species/cultivars can be found for the garden. They may turn shades of red to burgundy for the winter, but come springtime they have lovely mottled green leaves with a touch of color on their new growth. Flowers can be found in yellow, orange, pink, red, purple and white, and look lovely sitting atop their foliage in February and March. These are super drought tolerant, stay under one foot tall, and naturalize into near-zero maintenance patches in partial to full shade, even under established trees. The one thing I do to mine, and it is not every year, is to go out in early February and cut all of the stems to the ground, essentially letting it start over again fresh.
An old-fashioned goodie that deserves addition to this discussion as well is Bergenia, or what some call Pigsqueak. These always remind of my grandmother and helping her each summer tidy up the hundreds of them that lined her shady driveway, many moons ago. These have oval, leathery foliage that is thick and fleshy, turning beautiful shades of red to burgundy in the fall then holding onto that color until spring when they bloom. There are some great classic flavors, but also some newer ones that stay even smaller. I would recommend ones like ‘Vintage Rose’, ‘Vintage Pink’, ‘Baby Doll’, and ‘Winter Glow’. If you are up for spending a bit more for a rare variety, seek out a flavor called ‘Tubby Andrews’, with unbelievably striking variegated foliage. As a bonus, nice little white or pink flowers (depending on variety) will rise on short stalks come springtime.
Every season offers fabulous planting opportunities, and autumn is no exception. A visit to your local garden center this time of year will surprise you as the selection of plants with fall and winter interest is both varied and plentiful. Be sure to speak with a Certified Professional Horticulturist about your needs, and allow them to assist you in getting the best plants for your specific situation. Explore your options and don’t forget about other plants, including evergreen ferns (like Autumn Fern) and grasses (some great variegated sedges) that provide color and texture through the winter. Try to remember this, just because fall has arrived and winter is coming soon, it doesn’t mean the end of the gardening season. Grab some lovely plants that will thrive when planted now, and invest in your landscape with more winter interest in mind.
