Winter Blooming Shrubs And Perennials

While homeowners all across the country drop thousands of dollars on landscaping each year, few take into account just what their yard will look like in the cold winter months. Plants tend to die back and trees go dormant, creating a dismal landscape that one must contend with all winter long. This can be avoided however, if during your initial landscaping plans you choose to include and put emphasis on shrubs and perennials that will provide visual interest in the wintertime.

One of the most effective ways to go about this is to plant shrubs and hedges and perennials that bloom during the winter months. Unlike standard evergreens that few people pay attention to, these unique winter blooming specimens will delight your visitors and bring color and warmth to an otherwise cold and barren landscape.

Quite famous for its winter blossoms is the Lenten Rose, or Helleborus. This gorgeous perennial boasts large, almost tropical looking flowers that bloom in late winter. You can find Lenten Rose in a few different colors, making it easy to coordinate with your current landscape. Those in search of a beautiful winter bloomer typically find what they are looking for with Helleborus.

However, your winter interest selections go far beyond the Lenten Rose. According to Justin French, Project Manager of Bright Blooms Nursery, Camellia are just as good a selection, with plenty of colors from which to choose! "Camellias come in an immense array of colors. There is little to no chance that you will not find at least one Camellia you can't go without." French explains what make the Camellias such a good choice for homeowners seeking to add blooms to there landscape in the winter months. Camellia sasanqua is the fall-winter blooming variety of Camellia and will provide large richly colored blossoms to really draw attention to your landscape. However, if you happen to fall in love with a Camellia japonica variety, which is the spring variety of Camellia, these will work for you also. They have been known to bloom in late winter." French also recommends Loropetalum and Aster for their cold hardy blooms.