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Country Living’s gardening report highlights 12 plants that can bring color, texture, wildlife food or fragrance to gardens through winter, including plants that give you flowers and structure. The list includes shrubs, grasses and perennials; local climate, site conditions and plant selection affect how well each performs.
Country Living has published a list of 12 plants that can add color, structure, flowers or wildlife value to gardens during winter. Its selections range from red-stemmed dogwood and berry-producing winterberry holly to ornamental grasses and dried coneflower heads, offering options for gardeners planning for colder months.
The plants on the list provide different kinds of seasonal interest. Red twig dogwood is grown for stems that become more vivid as temperatures fall, while panicle hydrangea can retain its large flower clusters through winter. The report says the dried clusters can be removed in spring or left to fall naturally.
Winterberry holly produces red berries that remain after its leaves drop, and the report notes that both male and female cultivars are needed for pollination and berry production. Leaving coneflower stems upright can preserve dried seed heads that provide food for birds; the report makes a similar suggestion for black-eyed Susan, though it is not counted among the 12 named selections.
Other choices include paperbark maple, valued for peeling bark; daphne, which flowers and adds fragrance in late winter or early spring; and ornamental grasses, whose stems can move in the wind, alongside plants to add to your yard now. The list also names Russian sage, pussy willow, heather, lily of the valley shrub and seven son flower shrub. The source provides limited care detail for some entries, including Russian sage.
How the Plants Add Winter Interest
The guide focuses on a common seasonal challenge: many gardens lose flowers and foliage during winter, but plants can still contribute color, form and movement. Red dogwood stems and winterberry fruit stand out visually, while grasses and dried flower heads maintain structure when other plants have died back or gone dormant.
Several selections also offer benefits beyond appearance. The report describes winterberry berries and retained coneflower seed heads as food for birds, and daphne’s flowers as a source of fragrance in late winter or early spring. These traits give gardeners ways to plan for wildlife and sensory interest as well as a more varied winter landscape. The guide is a planting reference, not evidence that every plant will thrive in every region or site.
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Choosing Plants for Cold-Season Gardens
The report groups together plants with different growth habits and seasonal roles rather than recommending a single garden design. Some are deciduous shrubs whose stems, bark, fruit or dried flowers remain visible after leaf drop. Others, such as heather and ornamental grasses, can provide foliage or shape through winter. A few, including lily of the valley shrub and daphne, are noted for flowers appearing in late winter or early spring.
Site needs vary. The source says pussy willow prefers wet areas but can adapt to many soil types; it also warns that the shrub can spread and may need room or periodic cutting back. Heather is described as a low-growing option, with Erica carnea specified for winter blooms. The guide does not give regional planting dates, hardiness zones or detailed growing instructions for every plant, so gardeners may need locally relevant advice before buying.
“Make sure you plant both a male and a female cultivar in order for pollination to occur and berries to form.”
— Country Living report on winterberry holly
Local Growing Conditions Still Matter
The supplied report does not specify its publication date, geographic scope or hardiness zones for the 12 plants. It also does not provide full care details for every selection; for example, the source offers no descriptive planting guidance for Russian sage. The list should not be read as a guarantee that each plant will perform well in a particular garden.
Winter temperatures, soil, moisture, light and available space can affect plant survival and appearance. The source gives a specific pollination requirement for winterberry and notes the spreading habit of pussy willow, but other plant-specific risks or care needs are not detailed. Readers should check local growing guidance and confirm a plant’s mature size and site requirements before planting.
Check Conditions Before Planting
The next step for gardeners is to match potential selections to their local climate and garden conditions. Before planting, check regional advice on hardiness, sun exposure, soil and watering, and leave adequate space for shrubs that can spread. For winterberry, select compatible male and female cultivars if berries are the goal.
Gardeners can also decide which existing plants to leave standing: retained grasses and flower stems can keep structure in beds and may offer food for birds. The report does not announce a follow-up study or a specific planting deadline; the timing for planting will depend on local conditions and the plants chosen.
Key Questions
Which plants in the list provide visible color in winter?
Red twig dogwood has stems that become more vivid in colder weather, and winterberry holly retains red berries after its leaves drop. Heather foliage can also take on yellow, orange or bronze tones, depending on the variety.
Does winterberry holly need more than one plant to produce berries?
Yes. The report says gardeners should plant both a male and a female cultivar so pollination can occur and berries can form.
Should dried coneflower heads be cut back before winter?
Country Living recommends leaving coneflower stems upright through winter, saying the dried heads can provide food for birds and add visual interest.
Which plant in the guide may need extra space?
Pussy willow can become bushy and take over an area, according to the report. It recommends giving the shrub plenty of room or cutting it back every few years to control its size.
Will all 12 plants grow well in any garden?
No. The guide does not provide hardiness zones or complete care instructions for every plant. Gardeners should check local growing conditions, including climate, soil, light and space, before choosing what to plant.
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