Winter can always feel drab and dreary, but with proper landscaping, any backyard can stay colorful throughout the winter. There are plenty of cold-hardy plants to choose from. Here are 15 top picks from our garden center and plant nursery for a joyous winter landscape in Hudson Valley, NY.
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Blue Spruce
Although a tree, a blue spruce can be pruned like a shrub. Its needles contrast a steely blue with other darker shrubs and perennials and hold snow in place long after a snowfall, ensuring that it gathers as much moisture for itself as it can. Decorate it with popcorn for a winter feast for birds!
Boxwood
Many living walls contain the boxwood. This shrub can take a lot of abuse and isn’t averse to heavy pruning. The brilliant green leaves of this shrub don’t lose their vibrance in winter.
Camellia
As temperatures start to drop, camellias like to bloom in October and, if snows aren’t too severe, might bloom again in December. Camellia is actually one of species of the tea plant and typically flowers in bright pink.
Cotoneaster
The ornamental cotoneaster produces bunches of brilliant red to burgundy berries that, when pruned, can be kept to create gorgeous decorations both inside and outside of your home.
Crocus
Crocuses are some of the first plants to start emerging as the snow melts. Flowers will often bloom even as snow sticks to their leaves. In many cultures, the crocus is a symbol of hope and renewal.
Cypress
Commonly used throughout the Mediterranean, cypress trees do not lose their color in winter and can be placed and trimmed to create a fantastic natural, living wall.
Dogwood
Showing off brilliant reddish bark and bright green leaves, the dogwood remains vibrant as many other plants go dormant into the cold seasons.
Higan Cherry
Although a deciduous tree, the higan cherry blooms frequently during the colder seasons. It can act as a gorgeous feature plant highlighted by others in your garden. It flowers in pale pink which can inspire beauty in the harshest of snowscapes.
Holly
Most gardeners are familiar with the holly! Bright red berries grow on evergreen leaves and can offer easy planting before the ground freezes. Grow them along a retaining wall for some charming color throughout winter.
Hosta
A form of lily, the hostas can grow even without daily sunshine. This makes them perfect for a cloudy winter. Their intricate white flowers contrast against their bright green leaves.
Kale & Chard
Kale and chard grow even as the temperature falls down to 20F. Not only do they grow gorgeous leaves in multiple colors, the first frost actually helps the leaves develop flavor even more. They are sturdy plants that will grow in all seasons.
Nigrescens
Although they have the appearance of ornamental grasses, the nigrescens has a beautiful, striking quality of contrast against pristine winter snows.
Pansies
Pansies are a sturdy perennial, blooming often. They are bred to come in a huge variety of colors and variances and can easily grow in soil that holds moisture.
Sedum
Some varieties of sedum are extremely durable in both hot and cold weather and can always add color to any landscape. They have water-storing leaves and flowers that bloom yellow and are also known as stonecrops.
Yellow Daffodil
Blooming late in the winter and early spring as snow melts, the gorgeous perennial offers fantastic color variance from all other perennials with its beautiful yellow petals.
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