Plants That Peak in Winter in the Southeast

Richie Steffen , executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Garden in Seattle and a leading expert on plants , discusses the often - undervalued appeal of winter gardens :

“ What many see as a dark and inhospitable time of year of dull quiescence , however , I see as a chillier continuance of my horticulture time of year . There are many dependable plants that will tolerate , even looktheir good , during the frosty days of wintertime . While winter gardens may run short of blooms , particularly in cold climates , there is a terrific choice of evergreen plant foliation , interesting bark , and richly colour in twigs that can make anyone ’s winter bright . ”

To give winter even more of the dearest it deserve , we asked some regional experts to beak their favorite plants that peak in winter . Find fantastic plants for winter interest in the Southeast below , and discover even more plants that elevation in winter in Richie ’s article , Winter Interest From the Ground Up .

1. ‘Flame’ willow

Name:Salix‘Flame’

Zones:4–8

Size:15 to 20 foot tall and 15 feet wide

weather : Full sunshine ; average to plastered soil

aboriginal range : Garden origin

‘ Flame ’ is a shrubby willow tree with fleeceable summertime foliage that rick yellow before lessen off , fully exposing its burn orange - ruby-red wintertime stem people of colour . Cut branches are beautiful additions to indoor displays or outdoor winter evergreen plant arrangement . The pliable stems are also good for meander into fences and baskets . The bark people of colour is best on younger stems grown in full sun . plant can be cut back near the ground in later wintertime or early natural spring to pressure impudent new ontogenesis . This is also a way to manage its size if space is limited . ‘ Flame ’ is adaptable , tolerating dry shape and even short - term standing water , and it can be useful in pelting gardens . For the most use , plant where it can be seen from a windowpane .

2. ‘Florida Sunshine’ small anise Tree

Name:Illicium parviflorum‘Florida Sunshine’

Zones:6–9

Size:5 to 6 feet tall and full

Conditions : Full sun to fond shade ; ordinary to moist , well - drain ground

Native range : Southeastern United States

This evergreen plant , cervid - resistant shrub ’s Paris green foliage will brighten any garden . In wintertime its upper stem take on a red cast that contrast brightly with the luminescent leaves . Even though it will grow in full Sunday or spook , its best performance is in morning sunlight and afternoon shade . I spring up mine near my drive in eminent shade . It makes me smile when I arrive home after a long , hard day . Cut stems are right in arrangement , and the leaves smell of unfermented licorice when crush . For smaller blank , the succinct survival of the fittest BananAppeal ® (I. parviflorum‘PIIIP - I ’ , Zones 7–9 ) has more of a mounding form .

3. Fox Valley®River Birch

Name:Betula nigra‘Little King’

Zones:3–9

Size:10 feet tall and full

aboriginal range : Central and eastern United States

Award - winning and easygoing to develop , Fox Valley ® is grown for its compact size and handsome peeling bark . More like a large bush than a tree diagram , it has a dull , spacious , rounded habit . Its growth rate bet on filth and available moisture , averaging between 6 to 12 inch per year in its youth . Adaptable to heavy stiff soil , it grows in a wide range of situations , from semi - aquatic to dry , but it perform best in moist , more or less acid soil . plant life can be multistemmed or have a individual trunk , and they can be limbed up to show off the bark . Avoid pruning in spring when the sap is flowing .

4. Early stachyurus

Name:Stachyurus praecox

Zones:6–8

Size:5 foundation tall and full

Conditions : Full sun to fond shade ; moist , acidic , well - drain filth

aboriginal reach : Japan

This deciduous shrub has an good arching habit with ovate , often sparsely spaced leave . Foliage may turn rosy-cheeked red and lily-livered in fall , but this plant is most renowned for its unparalleled flowers . The first time I saw it in full bud on a cold January daytime , I jazz forthwith that we would become friends . Flower bud forge in the dusk and hang graciously from the leaf axil in catkin - comparable raceme . The small bell - shaped yellowish - green flowers open in previous wintertime before the foliage emerges . Although early stachyurus will grow in full Dominicus , it prefers some wraith in the South .

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Flame Willow

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Flame Willow

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

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