Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 127: Plants for Winter’s Worst

Much like the United States Postal Service, these plants will not let rain, nor sleet, nor driving snow stop them from pulling through the worst winter weather imaginable. It can be hard to find plants that will look two months of drying winds in the eyes and laugh—or sit in a frozen puddle for four months and not rot. We decided to sing the praises of those perennials and woodies that will take whatever January, February, and March have to dole out and come out on the other side unscathed. Tune in to this episode to learn about plants that truly are up to the challenge of taking winter’s worst on the chin.

Expert guest: Mary Ann Newcomer is a native Idahoan who gardens, scouts gardens, and writes about gardening in the Intermountain West.

 

Danielle’s Plants

'Ninja Stars' epimedium
‘Ninja Stars’ epimedium

‘Ninja Stars’ epimedium (Epimedium ‘Ninja Stars’, Zones 4–9)

Leatherleaf viburnum
Leatherleaf viburnum

Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum, Zones 5–8)

'Blue Chip' juniper
‘Blue Chip’ juniper

‘Blue Chip’ juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Chip’, Zones 3–9)

‘Biokovo’ hardy geranium
‘Biokovo’ hardy geranium

‘Biokovo’ hardy geranium (Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’, Zones 5–8)

 

Carol’s Plants

Rosemary willow, summer foliage. Photo: courtesy of Franz Xaver via Wikimedia Commons
Rosemary willow, summer foliage. Photo: courtesy of Franz Xaver via Wikimedia Commons

Rosemary willow, winter branches
Rosemary willow, winter branches

Rosemary willow (Salix elaeagnos, Zones 4–8)

How to Add Color to the Winter Garden

Smooth blue aster winter seed heads
Smooth blue aster summer flowers

Native Perennials to Start from Seed

Smooth blue aster winter seed heads
Smooth blue aster winter seed heads

Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum leave, Zones 3–8)

Golden Scots pine at Toronto Botanical Garden
Golden Scots pine at Toronto Botanical Garden

Golden Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris ‘Aurea’, Zones 3–7)

‘Caesar’s Brother’ Siberian iris
‘Caesar’s Brother’ Siberian iris

Siberian iris (Iris sibirica, Zones 3–9)

Expert’s Plants

European snowball viburnum (photo: Courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer)
European snowball viburnum. Photo: courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer

European snowball viburnum (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’, Zones 3–8)

‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry, autumn color (photo: Courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer)
‘Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry, autumn color. Photo: courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer

Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry (Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’, Zones 4–9)

‘Blue Shag’ Eastern white pine and German iris cultivar (photo: Courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer)
‘Blue Shag’ eastern white pine and German iris cultivar. Photo: courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer

‘Blue Shag’ eastern white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’, Zones 3–8)

‘Aardvark’ German iris (photo: Courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer)
‘Aardvark’ German iris. Photo: courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer
German iris cultivar (photo: Courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer)
German iris cultivar. Photo: courtesy of Mary Ann Newcomer

German bearded iris (Iris × germanica cvs., Zones 3–10)

View Comments

Comments

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest