Garden Container Garden Ideas 17 Winter Container Plants That Will Brighten Up a Bleak Garden Add color to your winter garden with these plants. By Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano is an editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home. Editorial Guidelines Published on November 15, 2024 Close Photo: NRuedisueli / Getty Images There's no denying that the garden can look bleak in winter. Summer and fall-blooming varieties have lost their flowers and many trees drop their leaves once temperatures begin to dip. But you can still add charm to your landscape with winter container plants. Many frost-tolerant varieties flourish in containers during winter, providing color and texture when everything else in your yard is past its prime. Ahead, we're sharing expert-recommended winter container plants that will survive the chilly season. 10 Hardy Winter Vegetables to Plant in Your Garden 01 of 17 Red Twig Dogwood jatrax / Getty Images Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) can survive in areas that experience freezing winter temperatures. "Its red leaves (or gold if you go with the yellow variety) provide a striking contrast against a snowy background," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms. "No pruning is required over the winter, but you may want to water it if the soil in the container dries out." It's a wonderful addition to large containers. Zones: 3 to 8Size: 6 to 9 feet tall x 8 to 12 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; acidic, well-draining soil 02 of 17 Green-and-Gold Jennifer Yakey-Ault / GETTY IMAGES Green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) provides a beautiful and enduring display even in the middle of winter, with its striking evergreen foliage that forms a spreading mat, says Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy and certifications at the National Wildlife Federation. In early spring it will yield beautiful yellow daisy-like blooms. Zones: 5 to 9Size: 6 to 12 inches tall 36 to 48 inches wideCare requirements: Partial to full shade; average, moist soil 03 of 17 Moss Phlox seven75 / GETTY IMAGES Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) is a deer-resistant ground cover that produces lush, evergreen foliage that remains vibrant throughout winter, says Phillips. In early spring, a profusion of delicate blooms forms. "Phlox’s cold-hardy nature and compact growth habit make it an ideal choice for winter containers in zones 3 to 9," she says. Zone: 3 to 9Size: 6 inches tall x 24 to 36 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-drained soil 04 of 17 Hellebore Katrin Ray Shumakov / Getty Images Hellebores (Helleborus spp.) add elegance to winter containers with their bell-shaped blooms that stay healthy even in snowy conditions. "This versatile perennial is available in various foliage textures, bloom colors, and blooming periods," says Phillips. Zones: 3 to 9Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil 05 of 17 Dusty Miller Nancy Nehring / Getty Images Dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima) has silver, velvety leaves that offer texture and contrast in winter containers. Laura Walsh, director of marketing for Oasis Forage Products especially loves how this plant looks alongside winter pansies (Viola hiemalis). "These plants grow well in cool temperatures, and their resilient nature and unique colors make them ideal for growing in cutting garden containers and arranging indoors, creating a cozy winter display," she says. Zones: 7 to 11Size: 12 inches tall or more x 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; slightly moist, well-drained soil 06 of 17 Viola Andrea Robinson Another beautiful pairing for pansies is viola (Viola spp.). "In areas that only get heavy frosts, pansy and viola are charming, colorful choices that can flower throughout the winter months," says Hancock. "They’re one of the best plants for customizing your look because they come in just about every color you could ask for, from white to dark, purple-black. Keep them well watered and fertilize periodically over the winter for the biggest bloom show." Zones: 3 to 8Size: 4 to 10 inches tall x 4 to 10 inches wideCare requirements: Full to partial sun; moist, well-draining soil 07 of 17 Flowering Kale promicrostockraw / Getty Images Frost-tolerant flowering kale (Brassica oleracea) will add color to winter containers throughout the entire season. "Flowering kale is pretty low-maintenance, too," says Hancock "They typically don’t require pruning and really just need some water if they don’t get regular rainfall or snowfall." Zones: 2 to 11Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining, rich loamy soil 08 of 17 Hens-and-Chicks LuckyBusiness/Getty Images Although considered a succulent, hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum) can last through the winter. "Hens-and-chicks are great additions to sunny containers. They require little attention and surprise many people that they can survive the winter," says Roger Davis, outdoor landscape manager in the east section at Longwood Gardens. Zones: 3 to 8Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 18 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun, part shade, light fertilizing 16 Types of Succulents That Are a Beautiful Addition to Your Garden 09 of 17 Wild Thyme hsvrs / Getty Images Add fragrance to winter containers with wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum alba). "Wild thyme is a great evergreen trailing thyme that is beautiful and smells wonderful," says Davis, adding that wild thyme is a great companion plant with hens-and-chicks. Zones: 4 to 9Size: 2 to 3 inches tall x 3 to 10 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 10 of 17 Japanese Sweet Flag Joshua McCullough / Getty Images Japanese sweet flag (Acorus gramineus 'Ogon') has beautiful golden foliage that adds soft texture to the edge of containers, says Davis. "It looks amazing all winter and will bring a splash of color to the winter season," he adds. Zones: 6 to 9Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to part shade; damp soil 11 of 17 Winter Jasmine Charlotte Björnström / EyeEm / Getty Images Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) has beautiful arching green stems that add texture and height to containers all winter. "This flowering shrub will bring a bright yellow splash of color to let you know the grip of winter is over," says Davis. Zones: 6 to 10Size: 10 to 15 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil 12 of 17 Mahonia Mahonia (Mahonia spp.) has intricate leaves that offer year-round interest. "Mahonia are wonderful architectural plants that produce yellow flowers during the winter," says David. "They do best in shade with some protection from the winter wind." Zones: 7 to 10Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wideCare requirements: Part shade; well-drained soil 13 of 17 Singleseed Juniper Julia Senkevych / Getty Images For winter containers in sunny locations, singleseed juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star') is a beautiful choice. "Singleseed juniper provides an evergreen cushion of blue foliage for a sunny spot," says Davis, adding that deer seem to leave this plant alone. Zones: 4 to 8Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 4 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-drained soil 14 of 17 Myrtle Spurge Leola Durant / Getty Images Fill in containers with myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites), which prefers sunny and dry conditions. "Its prostrate stems can trail down the side of a container and will burst into amazing bloom in late winter and early spring," says Davis. Zones: 4 to 8 Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; dry, well-drained soil 15 of 17 European Wild Ginger Orest Lyzhechka / Getty Images A beautiful evergreen groundcover, European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum) is a perfect choice for shady containers. "The glossy circular leaves provide a bold texture that will contrast with feathery textured companion plants," says Davis. Zones: 4 to 8Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 18 inches wideCare requirements: Partial sun; moist, rich soil 16 of 17 All Gold Forest Grass Photos by R A Kearton / Getty Images Forest grass (Hakonechloa spp.) adds texture to winter containers. "Hakonechloa 'All Gold' is a unicorn in the container gardening world," says Chuck Pavlich, director of new product development at Terra Nova Nurseries. This variety softens harsh designs with its graceful foliage and habit. "At the first frost, 'All Gold' changes to a mellow wheaten color. The foliage is gorgeous with either frost or snow on it and never becomes weedy," Pavlich adds. Many other varieties of forest grass are equally lovely, like Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' shown above. Zones: 6 to 9Size: 10 inches tall x 20 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil 17 of 17 Heuchera Sally Jane Photographic Art/Getty Images Heuchera (Heuchera spp.), shown above, is a beautiful foliage plant for containers and gardens. For a specific variety, consider heuchera 'Changeling,' which is a chameleon in containers. "The variable yet muted color palette inspires other colored foliage in a container," says Pavlich. "Pink, salmon, burnished gold, taupe, tan, and moss green are in constant flux over the foliage." Zones: 4 to 9Size: 9 inches tall x 14 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moderately, well-drained, organic soil Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit