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Are you looking to keep your garden vibrant during the cold weather? You’re in the right place! While many plants go dormant in winter, some hardy options stay green and lively all year round. This guide shows you the best evergreen plants that stay green in winter and look great throughout the colder months!
YayImagesPlants That Stay Green in Winter
Let’s dive right into the best plants that stay green in winter, so you can have a stunning garden all year round!
1. Boxwood
YayImagesBoxwood is a classic evergreen shrub known for its dense foliage and versatility in garden design.
It thrives in well-drained soil and adapts to full sun or partial shade, making it perfect for formal hedges or foundation plantings.
The plants glossy evergreen leaves stay a deep green color throughout cold weather, providing a touch of elegance during the winter months.
2. Holly
YayImagesHolly is a standout winter plant, with its shiny, needle-like leaves and bright red berries that add visual interest during cold seasons.
This large shrub can tolerate cold temperatures and offers year-round structure to your garden.
It’s a great choice for adding height, color, and texture to landscapes as the cold weather sets in.
3. Yew
YayImagesYew (Taxus) is an evergreen shrub or small tree that offers striking dark green foliage even in cold winter months.
Its adaptable nature allows it to thrive in full sun or partial shade, and it works well in a variety of landscape designs, from hedging to foundation planting.
Yews are low maintenance, with needle-like leaves that provide a rich, evergreen backdrop year-round.
4. Juniper
YayImagesJuniper offers incredible diversity, from ground-covering species to tall shrubs, all of which stay green during the cold months.
Its needle-like leaves range from blue-green to gray-green, making it a versatile addition to any winter garden.
Junipers thrive in well-drained soil and can withstand colder climates, ensuring they remain vibrant through early winter.
5. Spruce
YayImagesSpruce (Picea) trees are classic evergreen trees that add height and winter interest to your garden.
Their dense branches are covered in stiff, green needles that hold their color throughout cold winter months.
Perfect for larger gardens, Spruces also provide shelter for wildlife during the cold season, adding both beauty and functionality.
6. Cedar
YayImagesCedar is a majestic evergreen tree known for its fragrant, needle-like leaves that retain their green hue through cold winter months.
Its large size makes it perfect for creating privacy screens or windbreaks, especially in cooler climates.
Cedars thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, offering both beauty and practical uses in the landscape.
7. Pine
YayImagesPine trees are among the best evergreen trees for year-round interest.
Their long, soft needles provide a unique texture, and their size ranges from small tree varieties to towering species, making them versatile for different garden designs.
Pines are highly resilient in cold weather and offer a splash of green that lasts through the winter and into next spring.
8. Rhododendron
YayImagesRhododendrons are evergreen perennials that provide lush greenery even in the coldest months.
Known for their large, leathery leaves, they are also celebrated for their colorful flowers that bloom in late spring.
Rhododendrons prefer a sheltered spot with well-drained soil and bring structure and color to your winter garden.
9. Mountain Laurel
YayImagesMountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a native plant with glossy, evergreen leaves that remain beautiful through the cold season.
In late spring, this shrub produces clusters of pink or white flowers, but during the winter, its foliage offers structure and color.
It thrives in cooler climates, making it an excellent choice for year-round interest in a winter garden.
10. Camellia
YayImagesCamellia (Camellia japonica) is prized for its winter-blooming flowers, which add a burst of color when most plants are dormant.
Its glossy evergreen leaves provide structure and greenery throughout the year, making it a standout in colder climates.
With proper care, Camellias thrive in large containers or garden beds, bringing vibrancy to the garden during cold winter months.
11. English Ivy
Carolina Betancur / UnsplashEnglish Ivy (Hedera helix) is a hardy evergreen climber that holds its deep green leaves through the cold winter months.
It’s a great choice for walls, fences, or as ground cover in shaded areas where other plants may struggle.
English Ivy thrives in cooler climates and requires little maintenance, making it an excellent winter plant for adding greenery to vertical spaces.
12. Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)
YayImagesVinca Minor, or Periwinkle, is a low-growing herbaceous perennial known for its glossy green foliage and cold hardiness.
It thrives as a ground cover, retaining its vibrant leaves during cold winter months.
Come early spring, Vinca also produces colorful flowers, adding both greenery and floral beauty to the changing seasons.
13. Wintercreeper
YayImagesWintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) is a versatile evergreen shrub that provides vibrant color in the garden year-round.
Its gray-green foliage often develops a golden or pinkish hue during cold weather, adding interest even in winter.
This low-maintenance plant can be used as ground cover or as a climber, making it a good choice for any garden design.
14. Hellebore
YayImagesHellebore, also known as the “Christmas Rose,” is a beloved winter-blooming flower.
This hardy perennial retains its glossy green leaves throughout the winter, and its beautiful blooms often appear during the coldest months.
Hellebores thrive in well-drained soil, adding both greenery and winter flowers to your garden.
15. Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Hans / PixabayHeuchera is an evergreen perennial known for its stunning foliage, which comes in a wide range of colors.
Its large, textured leaves provide year-round interest, especially during the cold season when many other plants have gone dormant.
Heuchera is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in partial shade, making it an excellent choice for adding winter greenery and texture to your garden.
16. Bergenia
YayImagesBergenia is a hardy perennial known for its large, leathery leaves, which turn a reddish-bronze as winter approaches.
This plant offers year-round interest, with its foliage remaining strong through late fall and early winter.
Bergenia is ideal for well-drained soil and provides structure in garden beds, standing out even during the coldest months.
17. Liriope (Lilyturf)
YayImagesLiriope is an ornamental grass-like plant with vibrant, evergreen foliage that holds its color through the cold season.
Its grassy leaves add texture and structure to the garden, making it a great addition to winter landscapes.
Liriope is low-maintenance and can thrive in both full sun and shaded areas, making it versatile for different garden designs.
18. Oregon Grape
Larysa / PexelsOregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is a native plant with holly-like, glossy leaves that stay green even in cold temperatures.
It produces bright yellow flowers in late winter, followed by blue berries that attract birds.
Oregon Grape adds both structure and seasonal color, making it one of the best plants for year-round interest.
19. Holly Fern
YayImagesHolly Fern is a cold-hardy evergreen that brings bold, shiny green foliage to your winter garden.
Its large fronds remain vibrant through the cold months, providing texture and color in shady areas.
This fern thrives in a sheltered spot, making it an excellent addition to woodland gardens.
20. Japanese Pieris
YayImagesJapanese Pieris (Pieris japonica) is an elegant evergreen shrub that offers year-round interest with its glossy leaves and striking white flowers.
These blooms often appear in late winter or early spring, adding a splash of color to the garden.
Japanese Pieris thrives in well-drained soil and partial shade, making it a perfect choice for adding sophistication to your winter garden.
21. Arborvitae (Thuja)
YayImagesArborvitae (Thuja) is a popular evergreen tree known for its dense, green foliage that stays vibrant through the coldest months.
It’s a great option for hedging, windbreaks, or as a privacy screen, offering year-round interest in various garden designs.
Thriving in full sun and cooler climates, Arborvitae provides excellent structure and remains a reliable choice for cold-weather landscaping.
YayImagesConclusion
By incorporating these beautiful plants that stay green in winter into your garden, you can ensure your garden remains vibrant and green, even during the cold winter months.
From ornamental grasses to winter flowers, each plant offers unique textures and colors, creating year-round interest in your landscape.
With proper care and well-chosen plants, your garden can remain an oasis of beauty, regardless of the season.
You may also like:
- 21 Best Winter Flowering Perennials For A Vibrant Landscape
- 20 Best Flowering Annuals For A Colorful Winter Garden
- 25 Best Winter Plants for Beautiful Pots & Containers
- 37 Beautiful Shade Perennials To Plant In Your Shaded Garden
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