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Partner Post: 5 Plants That Can Withstand the Cold

Creating a welcoming outdoor area for your property can be hard during the colder parts of the year. Cooler temperatures may be high for fall color, but many perennials also start to go dormant, making landscaped areas sparse. Perennials will, of course, come back in the spring, but how can you still make areas of the property look pretty year-round? Consider these plants that withstand the cold to keep your landscaped areas both green and exciting during the colder months.

Hostas

These easy-to-grow plants are not only a great way to fill in large fields of your property, but they also don’t mind colder temperatures. Hostas come in a variety of colors and styles, making them a great choice to add beauty and interest to space. Hostas may look small when first planted, but they quickly grow into monster-sized plants that compliment any area. Make sure to plant hostas so that the entire root system is covered with dirt, as allowing the crowns of the roots to freeze may lead to the plant dying in colder climates.

Evergreens

This naturally-colored group of plants is a natural choice for many property owners to choose for winter interest. Evergreens provide a lovely shade of green color all year long, making them great to use as accents within other dormant areas of the garden. Planting evergreen trees is always a good choice for providing both shade and privacy to an outdoor space. Choosing evergreen shrubs is also a good option for keeping the exterior parts of your property green despite the cold temperatures.

Dragon’s Blood Sedum

This creeping sedum variety is excellent for ground cover and is known for its ability to handle cold temperatures. Dragon’s Blood is a particular Sedum that features rounded, waxy green leaves with red tips. It is hardy through Zone 4, making it an excellent option for many parts of the country. Dragon’s Blood Sedum doesn’t require much watering, so it is a low maintenance option that will still provide color and life to your landscaping. Consider leaving the flower stalks of the plant throughout the winter to provide a natural source of food for birds, as well as interest to the area.

Boxwoods

This highly adaptable plant is an excellent option for adding winter interest to your property. Boxwoods not only help to define your outdoor space, but they can also add a lot of character when placed near walkways. They are hardy through Zone 4 and should stay green throughout the winter. Consider watering boxwoods well before a deep freeze to fill in air spaces around the roots to better insulate the foundation of the plant. Consider transplanting potted boxwoods that you can use in a more decorative sense near doors, into the ground, or inside to keep the roots from freezing during cold temperatures.

Ferns

Planting ferns that will stay green during the colder months will all depend on your location and the plant variation. However, most ferns will remain green throughout the year, especially in more southern places. Evergreen ferns are an excellent choice for those areas that see more winter activity and will provide an extra layer of both color and texture to an outdoor space. Keeping ferns well-watered during the winter is key to making sure that their green coloring stays all season long as well.

Choosing plants that can tolerate colder temperatures are essential in providing excellent landscaping all year long. Make sure to scatter these hardy winter plants all over your landscaping to provide seasonal beauty during the holidays. Consider all of these plants that can withstand the cold to give charm to your property during cooler parts of the year.

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About the Author

Julia Benson takes everything she does in the garden as an edible science project. She loves to experiment with different growing techniques to try to cultivate the most delicious and nutritious food she can.