Winter Bloomers To Light Up Your Garden

Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

   Year-round landscape color is a goal of many gardeners, but some seasons, such as winter, are more challenging than others. Here in Eastern NC we have gorgeous camellia varieties that start blooming in red, white, and pink in the fall and continue into spring. But what other plants can brighten the winter scene?
   Luckily for us our planting zone between 8a and 8b is mild enough to support a number of colorful plants from late fall into early spring. The following are some shrubs that shine this time of year.

   From late winter through early spring, Spring Bouquet Viburnum, Viburnum tinus, produces fragrant clusters of white to pinkish-white flowers that turn into metallic blue berries in the fall. As a compact evergreen shrub it works well for hedges and screens in the landscape.
   This native of the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa thrives in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Fruiting requires another nearby viburnum.
   The evergreen leaves provide year-round screening. It has some resistance to drought and deer damage.

Spring Bouquet Viburnum, Viburnum tinus - Joanne K.

Mahonia 'Soft Caress', Berberis eurybracteata - Jim Robbins, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

'Soft Caress' Mahonia, Mahonia eurybracteata, is another compact evergreen shrub with fragrant yellow flowers in winter with blue berries in spring. Unlike other mahonias, its delicate leaves are spine-free making it easier to handle.
   This low-maintenance plant grows best in shade to partial shade with protection from the afternoon sun. Its mature size of 3 to 3 1/2 feet in height and width works well for container gardening.
   Its fine-textured foliage adds visual interest to the garden. While it's deer resistant, the rabbits may lunch on it.

Paperbush, Edgeworthia, is a wonderful addition to the winter garden with its clusters of lovely yellow flowers and a gardenia-like fragrance that envelops the garden. This deciduous shrub has visual interest throughout the year from the formation of its buds in late summer, its yellow leaves in the fall, and its flowers that open in winter and continue through the spring.
   Edgeworthia does best in partial shade in rich, moist soil. This low- maintenance plant only needs pruning for shaping or to remove diseased or damaged limbs.
   Note that the buds form on old wood. It's relatively free of diseases and insect issues.
   The inner bark of edgeworthia is used to make paper for Japanese banknotes, high-quality calligraphy paper, and other items.

Paperbush, Edgworthia chrysantha - Joanne K.

Hybrid Red Quince, Chaenomeles speciosa - Joanne K.

   Flowering Quince, Chaenomeles, is a deciduous shrub that's among the first to flower in late winter. The red, white, and pink blooms open before the leaves.
   Best flowering occurs in full sun, and the shrubs are drought tolerant once established.
   The common quince is thorny making it a great barrier plant in the garden. However, there are thorn-free hybrid varieties that are much kinder to the gardener's hands.
   Once the buds start to show some color, they can be cut and forced inside for some winter color.
   To produce fruit, both male and female plants are needed. The bitter fruits are used for preserves and jellies.

   Spirea, Bridal Wreath, is considered to be an heirloom plant found in many mature gardens, as well as in cemeteries and historic gardens. Its long-arching stems are covered with tiny white blooms in winter and is a showstopper during its short blooming period. The flowers open before the foliage.
   The best blooms are in full sun in average, well-drained soils. It adapts to light shade and a variety of soils. Somewhat drought tolerant, deer don't bother it too much as they dislike the texture and taste.
   While it's generally a low-maintenance plant, it can be invasive and the stems become leggy so light pruning may be needed. Every couple years the oldest stems can be removed to keep it vigorous. Suckers can be removed anytime.

Spirea, Spirea prunifolia, Bridal Wreath - Joanne K.

Winter Jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum - Jim Robbins, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

   Winter Jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum, can be a sprawling shrub or a trellis climber. Its yellow tubular flowers bloom in January before the leaves appear. It does best in full sun to partial shade and grows well in a variety of well-drained soils.
   Winter jasmine can be quite wild looking if left unpruned. Its branches will root wherever they touch the ground. After flowering, rejuvenation pruning will keep it in check. Remember that the flowers bloom on last year's growth.
   It has few serious insect or disease issues. Also, it is deer and drought resistant.

   During the winter, the flowers and/or berries of all of these plants provide critical sustenance for a variety of pollinators, including birds, bees, and butterflies, when other food sources are scarce. Additionally, the evergreen shrubs provide shelter and protection for birds and wildlife from the cold and predators.
   Adding one or more of these plants to your landscape will not only enliven it with cheerful winter color but also provide essential nutrients and/or cover for our pollinators.
   For more information about these plants, go to the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox at
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants.
   Also, take a trip to the Pitt County Arboretum to see its winter blooms.