Plant in containers now and out in the garden come spring.
Fill your containers now with native perennials and shrubs for winter and, come spring, you can add those plants to your garden. Plants in containers placed where you can enjoy them as you come and go really can make your spirits bright!
To achieve success with your winter garden, opt for the largest containers possible and water sparingly. I usually water every three weeks or as needed when the soil feels dry a couple of inches down. It is beneficial to water around midday on a sunny day to ensure the soil absorbs the water before temperatures drop at night. If the soil in the containers freezes, there is no need to water.
Christmas Fern & Coral Bells
While many coral bells (Heuchera) aren't evergreen in my garden, they never seem to die back completely. Christmas ferns (Polystichum acrostichoides) are considered evergreen though they definitely tend to lay down during the coldest months. This combination though usually looks good until the coolest weather arrives and they readily reemerge in April. The straight species are heuchera americana and heuchera villosa and then, there are the myriad of colorful cultivars. If you are going for maximum wildlife value, choose the straight species. The container above is a mix of heuchera americana and cultivars. All of these plants grow well in shade and part shade.
If your favorite native nursery or garden center doesn't have these plants now, they are available by mail:
Plant More Natives Heuchera Cultivars
Plant More Natives Christmas Fern
Dogwoods & Pennsylvania Sedge
Dogwoods (Cornus sericea) with red stems are one of the very best for winter interest and, in a container, they pop! Surrounding the shrub with whispy Pennyslvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) creates color and texture contrast. Pennsylvania sedge is evergreen too. Both of these grow well in part shade to full sun. Simple but effective!
To order by mail:
Direct Natives Redosier dogwood
Plant More Natives Pennsylvania Sedge
Stonecrop
Our native sedum (Sedum ternatum) is an incredible ground cover. The unique texture alone makes it a standout. Stonecrop grows in part shade to full sun. Placing it in just the right container makes this very short plant much easier to see and enjoy!
To order by mail:
Plant More Natives Sedum ternatum
Eastern Red Cedar & Coral Bells
If you have mature eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) you may well have the occasional volunteer. Here one of those volunteers is being trained into a topiary. It is early yet! Combining the blue hues of cedar with a coral bell cultivar creates a container with structure and fluffiness. Both plants can grow in part shade.
To order by mail:
Direct Natives Eastern red cedar
Plant More Natives Heuchera cultivars
Blueberry & Blue Wood Sedge
Blueberry shrubs are really at their best in fall when the foliage is bursting with brilliant red color. The blue wood sedge (Carex flaccosperma), an evergreen carex, will carry this combo through the winter.
The shrub in this container is Bushel and Berry® Vaccinium x perpetua, a hybrid of low and high bush blueberries bred to provide two blueberry crops a year. The straight species blueberry for our area that provides tremendous insect and wildlife value is highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum).
Please note blue wood sedge grows best in shade or part shade and the blueberry needs full sun to grow successfully so this a planter for winter only. Come spring, one or the other plant needs to be moved to its preferred location.
To order by mail:
Direct Natives Highbush blueberry
Plant More Natives Blue Wood Sedge
Winter container gardening is frosty and fun. There are so many possibilities for creating winter gardens in a pot. If you have a favorite combo, please do share!
Happy Gardening.
Great ideas as usual!
If you have red-twig dogwood already growing in your garden, now is a good time to prune out older stems. Use those in a container arrangement instead of buying another. You may find that some of the stems will form roots in the pot - more shrubs!
Love these! Thanks for the inspo.