It can be a little tricky to find plants that won’t wilt, fade, or die off in a cold snap. Consider these tips to help you pick the perfect frost-resistant plants to add to your winter garden this year, then check out some popular winter plants you still have time to enjoy before spring.
Make sure you check in with your local garden experts
While some frost-resistant plants will do well in most regions of the country, others may not work for you. “Choosing plants for winter interest depends on where in the country you live,” Fornari says. “Like the weather, all gardening is regional. You might read online that this plant flowers all winter or that plant is especially cold hardy, but unless you’re sure that this advice pertains to your area, you might be disappointed.”
Understand what you’re seeking for your frost-resistant garden
Maybe you want to pop in some root veggies to harvest, maybe you’re looking for evergreen foliage to avoid a lot of bare branches and empty spaces, or maybe you’re even looking for something that blooms to brighten up your winter landscape. Knowing what kind of garden or landscape you’re going for will help you select the right plants.
Be prepared to protect your plants
While these plants may be frost-resistant, a long spell of super-frigid temperatures may damage them anyway. To protect tender blooms and plants, you can wrap shrubs in burlap or create a shelter with plastic tarp to keep frigid winds off of your plants. Using plenty of mulch can help protect a new plant’s delicate roots.
Don’t put away your hose and watering can
You may think your garden doesn’t need much tending in the winter, but if you go through a spell without any rain or snow, you may need to give your plants a drink. “No matter what you’re planting, be sure to water it well once a week if it doesn’t rain,” Fornari says. “One of the reasons people lose fall- or winter-placed plants is that they forget to water once the temperatures go down. Remember that all newly purchased plants have a root system the size of the pot, and these dry up quickly.”
Ornamental Kale and Cabbage
Ornamental kales and cabbages have become a winter garden staple—with the bold, colorful heads looking almost like flowers. “Ornamental kales and cabbages are great because, as it gets colder, their color becomes more striking,” Fornari says.
Zones: 2-11
Hellebores
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Hellebores (aka Christmas rose) generally adore shady spots and cooler climates—and they’re a favorite of Fornari for her own winter garden in Cape Cod. It features dark green leaves year round, and pretty blooms in the late winter.
Zones: 6-9
Snapdragons
Snapdragons may seem like a summer plant, but these frost-hardy blooms can handle the chill and thrive throughout the winter, especially in garden zones 7 to 11.
Zones: 7-11
Lobularia
Also known as alyssum, lobularia plants—in particular, the Snow Princess varietal— have tiny white blooms that will survive frosty climates, Fornari says. “The lobularia will persist through many frosts, only dying when the temperatures regularly go down below 25 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Zones: 5-8
Euphorbia
Fornari recommends the euphorbia (aka spurge) plant for winter interest—in particular, the Ascot Rainbow variety. “The Euphorbia has narrow leaves that are a soft yellow and green. It is almost evergreen for those in a zone 6 or warmer, and even when a bit winter-worn come spring, it bursts into the most beautiful, variegated green and white flowers.”
Zones: 10-11
Pansies
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For a touch of blooming color in your winter landscape, pansies may be a great choice—they’re frost-resistant and will bloom in the spring or fall for those in the northern parts of the U.S., but throughout the winter in parts of the South, Fornari says.
Zones: 6-10
Holly
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There’s a reason that holly plants have been traditionally associated with the winter holidays—these bushes keep their shiny green leaves all year long and produce the traditional red (nonedible!) berries in the wintertime.
Zones: 5-9
Boxwood
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If you’re looking for an evergreen plant, a boxwood shrub, with its shiny green leaves, may be just what you’d like for your frost-resistant garden. As a bonus, it’s a low-maintenance shrub that thrives in even drier climates.
Zones: 5-9
Calendula
Also known as pot marigold, this bright-colored bloom will tolerate some cold temperatures, Fornari says. Generally, it’s more likely to thrive in the warmer gardening zones, but can be planted in fall or in spring to give you gorgeous blooms for much of the year.
Zones: 9-11
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