Leaves are changing color, summer blooms are fading, and rains bring a fresh burst of greenery. Fall and winter are gorgeous seasons that spring and summer struggle to compete with. Spring and summer do have plenty of wildflower blooms, but there are frost-hardy perennials that provide winter interest despite the cold!
Winter blooming perennials differ depending on the plant hardiness zone, although there are options here for all U.S. gardeners. These selections add color, flowers, and fresh growth to bare spaces. They’ll help animals by providing cover for them to hide, creating valuable habitats in your landscape.
Some of these plants die after frequent hard frosts, but their foliage or seed pods remain. Leave the dead growth on the plants to continue having winter interest no matter how cold it gets. Other species keep their leaves throughout winter and bloom with warm temperatures in spring.
We’ll cover how to tend each of these perennials and learn where they thrive best. Grab your shovel, and get ready to plant a few of the 15 perennials that’ll look good all winter!
Swiss Giants Blend Pansy Seeds
Early spring blossoms make a wonderful accent to your spring bulbs. Low, bushy plants are quick to grow and bloom, producing showy, large, velvety flowers. Use the edible petals to garnish soft cheese or baked goods. Reliable perennial in USDA zones 6-10, often grown as an annual.
Buy at Epic Gardening
Pansy
They come in all sorts of sizes and colors.
Yes, we’re including the iconic pansy on this list! Pansies are violet relatives of the Viola genus, and you’ll see them in grocery stores and nurseries each autumn. They’re blooming perennials that come in all sorts of sizes and colors. You’ll find yellow, purple, blue, white, pink, and maroon hues on their petals, depending on the variety.
Pansies reseed readily, providing continual blooms if they die back in summer. They hate high heat and dry soils, and most of your plants will tucker out by midsummer. Keep them in cool soils with continual moisture to keep them living, or let them reseed annually for new plants.
Transplant pansies from potted plants at nurseries, or find seeds of your favorite variety online. Pansies grow best in fertile, moist soil with lots of organic matter. Add compost or organic mulch around their roots to protect them from hard frosts.
Sweet Violet
They sprout green, slightly fuzzy heart-shaped leaves.
Sweet violets are close relatives of pansies, and they behave similarly. They sprout green, slightly fuzzy heart-shaped leaves. In fall, late winter, and early spring purple blossoms emerge with a fragrant aroma. This is the famous scent of history that adds fragrance to perfumes, syrups, and liqueurs.
Sweet violets spread more than pansies—they use runners and self-pollination to reproduce asexually, creating clones of themselves. They also use cross-pollination to grow seeds that sprout readily. Use them in a moist, shady area of the garden, and they’ll form a low growing ground cover.
If you’re growing this plant from seeds, sow them at least two months before your first frost. Sweet violets need some time to establish themselves before extreme freezes arrive. Mulch mature seedlings near their root zone with thick layers of compost to bolster their cold resistance.
Hellebore
They grow deep roots into the soil and bloom profuse clusters of nodding flowers.
Hellebores are one of the first flowers to bloom in winter! They also go by the names Christmas rose, Lenten rose, and winter rose. Over a dozen species grow wild in Europe and Asia on shady hillsides. They grow deep roots into the soil and bloom profuse clusters of nodding flowers.
There are many varieties with different colors to choose from. One of the best selections is the Winter Jewels® Hellebores by Ernie and Marietta O’Byrne from the Pacific Northwest. They bred hybrid hellebores for decades, creating gorgeous new cultivars like ‘Onyx Odyssey’ and ‘Picotee Pearl.’ Another favorite is Helleborus x sternii ‘Variegata.’ It sports creamy white and green leaves with yellow-green flowers on tall stems.
Transplant potted hellebores during autumn while the weather is cool and mild. They like shady sites with fertile, well-drained soil. Give them an annual dose of compost, mulch, or organic fertilizer to boost their flower production. They make excellent cut flowers, meaning you can make bouquets while not much else is blooming outdoors.
Coral Bells
Although they sprout flowers on slender stems, their ornamental foliage is the spotlight.
Coral bells, or heucheras, grace North American gardens with their cheery, colorful leaves. Although they sprout flowers on slender stems, their ornamental foliage is the spotlight. Find varieties with purple, red, yellow, green, and orange hues. Some have a mix of two or three colors, making delightful presentations in borders, containers, and raised beds.
Coral bells are exceptionally strong perennials and will stay evergreen or semi-evergreen where they’re hardy. Thick layers of mulch help keep them warm and moist despite winter temperatures. If you notice them declining, place some leaf mold on their roots and water well. They prefer slightly acidic soil, so pine needles or decaying leaves are perfect to use as mulches.
My favorite variety is ‘Timeless Night.’ It sprouts black-maroon leaves with dark veins. They contrast with red coral bell blooms that sprout in summer, offering multi-season interest. For a brighter yellow-green heuchera try ‘Citronelle.’
Hardy Cyclamen
They sprout pink-purple flowers with delicate petals in fall before the leaves sprout.
Hardy cyclamen grace shady gardens during cool seasons. They sprout pink-purple flowers with delicate petals in fall before the leaves sprout. The flowers fade, but the foliage persists for the winter season before dying back in spring. Many cultivars exist with curly stems, variegated leaves, and big or small sizes.
Hardy cyclamen spread through underground roots and seeds. They’ll fill empty spaces in shady gardens, creeping around existing shrubs and perennials. Plant them underneath trees, with annuals, or in moist rock gardens.
Find hardy cyclamen cultivars available from late summer through fall when they’re blooming. You can also start heirloom varieties from seeds. Sow them during fall or winter for spring germination. With some patience and care, you’ll have pink-purple flowers the following summer.
Canadian Wild Ginger
You’ll notice green, shiny heart-shaped leaves and hidden red and white flowers that have a unique shape.
Canadian wild ginger is a hardy perennial with ginger aromas to boot. It fills shady woodland soil, using creeping rhizomes and seeds to spread into new areas. You’ll notice green, shiny heart-shaped leaves and hidden red and white flowers that have a unique shape different from most plants.
Canadian wild ginger is a deciduous herb, but it’s extremely cold-tolerant. You’ll notice its leaves persisting well into the winter season, and new sprouts spring up early during the growing season. If you live near the West Coast try wild ginger Asarum caudatum. It’s evergreen in winters throughout hardiness zones 7 to 10.
Canadian wild ginger is difficult to start from seeds, but it’s possible with the right care. Plant seeds a few weeks before your first frost date in autumn, letting them receive a three-week or longer cold stratification period. They’ll germinate shortly after, sprouting into baby seedlings. For winter interest, plant potted specimens in the fall. They’ll also go dormant but their foliage will last longer during the winter season than seedlings.
Sweetbox
The flowers appear from late winter through early spring. They’re tiny and hard to see, but easy to smell!
Sweetbox is a low-growing evergreen or semi-evergreen ground cover with incredibly sweet-smelling flowers. They’re reminiscent of jasmine or Osmanthus flowers, and they attract hungry pollinators when not much else is blooming. Plant sweetbox around hellebores and camellias to add a nice aroma to your winter garden.
Sweetbox is incredibly common in nurseries in the U.S., but it’s native to China and the Himalayas. It’ll creep through underground rhizomes and form stands of little stems with shiny leaves. The flowers appear from late winter through early spring. They’re tiny and hard to see, but easy to smell! All you have to do is walk by this plant to inhale its lovely aroma.
Start sweetbox from potted plants at a local nursery or online. They’re frost tolerant and take to transplanting well in autumn. Keep them moist, and plant them in fertile, well-draining soil under partial shade for best results.
Lance Selfheal
Lance selfheal sprouts purple blossoms on flower spikes that grow above the foliage.
Lance selfheal is the native cousin of the weedy selfheal growing in abandoned lots and roadsides. It’s a wonderful replacement, as it provides habitat space, pollen, and nectar to hungry and homeless animals. It also spreads on its own, meaning you can plant one in an empty area and it’ll blanket the soil.
Lance selfheal sprouts purple blossoms on flower spikes that grow above the foliage. The purple flowers resemble sage flowers, and they are slightly fragrant. Bees, pollinating flies, and insects flock to them for their delicious resources.
Start lance selfheal from seeds or plant starts. Ensure you’re buying the native plant Prunella vulgaris subsp. lanceolata, and not the European weed Prunella vulgaris. Grow this native wildflower in pollinator gardens, rock gardens, or borders and beds with bare soil.
Western Sword Fern
Western sword fern graces western U.S. landscapes with long fronds that uncurl during the coldest months.
Western sword fern graces western U.S. landscapes with long fronds that uncurl during the coldest months. You’ll notice them start growing while most other species are dormant, and trees still have buds to open. In colder zones 5 through 7 sword ferns will lose most of their leaves by late winter, but they’ll grow new ones in spring.
This fern is one of the toughest. I have many in my Pacific Northwest garden growing in full shade without additional irrigation. They receive lots of rainfall in the fall and winter but live in dry soil for all of summer. Give your ferns some extra water and compost this year, and they’ll survive on their own for years thereafter.
Find western sword ferns available in most western U.S. nurseries. You can also order them online or try starting them from spores. If you live in their native range they might sprout on their own in your shady landscape. Transplant them where you’d like during cool autumn weather, and they’ll thrive the rest of the year.
Tasajillo
The fruit persists on cacti stems throughout the winter, providing food for birds and pretty decorations for your garden.
Plant tasajillo cactus for winter interest! It blooms creamy yellow flowers that morph into red prickly pear fruit. The fruit persists on cacti stems throughout the winter, providing food for birds and pretty decorations for your garden. This cactus is marginally hardy below zone 7 but thrives in moderate winters from zones 7 to 11.
Tasajillo thrives with well-draining soil, as its roots are especially absorbent. They’ll rot if too much water is present. Plant tasajillo in full sun to help bolster wet soil resistance and amend dense, clay soils with sand, gravel, or perlite. After establishing itself, this perennial cactus is exceptionally drought and heat-tolerant.
Tasajillo seeds are better for spring, but you can easily transplant potted cacti pads in the fall. They’ll root and grow hardy before winter frost arrives. Use caution when handling the cacti, as they have thorns that stick to soft skin. Try to plant them in late summer or early fall to have a higher chance of blooms and fruit for the cold season!
Hardy Ice Plant
Try the ‘Jewel of the Desert’ series for small blooms and leaves on compact plants.
This plant’s name says it all—hardy ice plant is a tough, frost-resistant perennial with succulent leaves. It’ll keep some of its foliage throughout the cold season, giving you winter interest for borders, beds, and hillsides. Hardy ice plant spreads through rooting stems and seeds, making it excellent for erosion control.
Nowadays some cool hybrid cultivars exist with different attributes. Try the ‘Jewel of the Desert’ series for small blooms and leaves on compact plants. If you’d prefer giant blooms instead of small ones, go for the ‘Wheels of Wonder’ series. They sport four-inch blooms on spreading plants with red, yellow, pink, and orange flowers.
Hardy ice plant transplants function better in fall than seeds, since the seeds need warm temperatures to germinate. Transplant mature specimens into your garden from late summer through early fall. They’ll appreciate a site with six to eight hours of direct sunlight and free-draining soil. Once they survive the winter they’re drought-tolerant in spring and summer.
Stonecrop
It’s a native stonecrop with blue-green foliage that feeds pollinators with summer blooms.
Another succulent spreader, stonecrop represents a big genus of freely rooting perennials. There are dozens of varieties with different colors, habits, and leaf types, giving us gardeners a wide range of design choices. Use stonecrop to fill cracks and crevices in rock gardens or to cover dry, bare dirt. It thrives where most other plants struggle, and some species are native to North America!
Try Sedum spathufolium on the West Coast. It’s a native stonecrop with blue-green foliage that feeds pollinators with summer blooms. Woodland stonecrop is another native perennial that thrives throughout North America. It’s a good choice for gardeners with shady gardens, as it naturally grows beneath open tree canopies on rocks and hillsides.
Whatever stonecrop you choose, you’ll be selecting an amazing plant with frost hardiness. They’ll change colors as temperatures lower, offering fall color wherever they spread. Transplant mature specimens in the fall, giving them free draining soil and regular water. Once they establish themselves they’re drought resistant and need less water during the cool seasons.
Hens and Chicks
They grow where most other plants refuse to, like in rock crevices, dry sites, and clay soil.
Like stonecrop, hens and chicks are succulent spreaders that are tough as nails. They grow where most other plants refuse to, like in rock crevices, dry sites, and clay soil. They conserve energy and moisture in succulent leaves that form rosettes. Each rosette separates easily from the rest, allowing for easy propagation.
Hundreds of hens and chicks exist, offering a wide selection for the choosy gardener. Use ‘Green Wheel’ for large, plain green rosettes, or ‘Ohio Burgundy’ for red-purple winter color. Collectors appreciate ‘Arctic White’ for its cobweb-like appearance with hairs that sprout out the rosettes.
Grow hens and chicks from offsets or potted plants. If your neighbor or friend has a cluster growing that you like, ask them for a hen, or a chick! This plant gets its name from how easily you can tear off a piece and grow it in a new location. All varieties appreciate six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily and well-drained soil.
Blue Oat Grass
It sprouts thin blue blades in clumps that grow larger each year.
This must-have grass is the ideal perennial for color and structure during cool seasons. It sprouts thin blue blades in clumps that grow larger each year. In summer, three-foot-tall flower heads emerge and morph into seed heads. They persist through the winter, offering structure and ornamental interest when all other species are sleeping.
Blue oat grass appreciates semi-fertile soil that drains quickly. Amend the clumps around their bases in the fall with compost or organic mulch. This will help them preserve heat in their root zone and prevent waterlogged soil. Blue oat grass suffers in the shade and performs better with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Blue oat grass clumps grow larger each year, so be sure to plant them where they’ll have room to spread out. In the coldest zones, the foliage will turn from blue to brown and black in late winter—you can shear them to the ground before they sprout new blades. Plant multiple plants together in a line to pave walkways, or scattered in clusters for a more natural look.
Pennsylvania Sedge
Its small stature makes it a perfect filler for empty gardens.
Pennsylvania sedge is a hardy grass-like perennial native to eastern North America. It’s an excellent lawn substitute, and it excels during cool seasons. Reaching no higher than eight inches tall with flowering stems that reach a foot high. Its small stature makes it a perfect filler for empty gardens. Instead of nonnative grasses, try Pennsylvania sedge—it’ll survive where most perennials fail.
Pennsylvania sedge is strong, tolerating either wet or dry soils. Unlike other sedges, it prefers dry conditions instead of wet ones. Give it water after long droughts. Otherwise, let it survive on natural rainfall. Clumps will enter dormancy in late winter as temperatures freeze, but they’ll remain on top of the soil. Use this species for erosion control in place of lawns or bare borders.
This sedge spreads through underground rhizomes and by seeds. Plant either in early fall, letting them establish before hard frosts arrive. Mature clumps will creep out readily and invade empty sites. Let them creep, or pull them up and transplant them into more accommodable areas.
