Evergreen perennials are a beautiful option that will bring a splash of bright color to your garden throughout the year. They do not need to be cut back when the weather gets cold to continue growing, and they require very little care during the winter months.
I have found that my garden has been lacking in color, especially during the colder months, so I came up with a list of evergreen perennials that will make a difference in how my garden looks.
Let’s take a look at some of the options to help you find some plants for your winter garden.
1. Bush Lily
This plant will do well all year in zones nine to 11. It will do best with partial sun and well-drained soil. Full sun can burn the leaves. Be careful not to overwater this plant so that it produces its bright orange blooms. It prefers a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen, but right before it blooms, a feeding of high-potassium fertilizer will help the plant create fuller blooms.
2. Lenten Rose
This plant is not actually a rose, it is part of the buttercup family, and it creates beautiful bloom that vary in color from red to yellow and all the shades in-between. This plant will grow in zones four to nine and do best in well-drained soil and partial shade. It will grow well under a porch or on a patio that will not get direct sunlight.
3. Heucherella “Sweet Tea”
This is a hybrid plant that has leaves that change with the season and the blooms are white. This plant grows in full sun or partial shade. It will do best in well-drained soil like sand, but it will also grow in most normal types of soil as well. The plant will grow to be about two feet in height, so it will make a lovely border in your garden space.
4. Rhoeo Spathacea “Stripe”
This plant is one that looks great as a border in any garden. It will thrive in full sun or partial shade, and it is not picky about the type of soil that it grows in. This plant is not tolerant of the frost, so when it gets cold, make sure to take it inside if you live above zones nine through 11.
5. Agapanthus Africanus “MonKageyama”
This plant is a tropical plant that will also tolerate a bit of cool air, so it will grow with ease in zones 8 through 11. The foliage is multi-colored, and the plant grows to have a spread that is up to 24 inches wide, which can make it a great option for ground cover. It does best in partial shade and well-drained soil, but it will do best with the morning sun.
6. Abyssinian Banana (Ensete Ventricosum)
This is a huge plant that has banana-like leaves. It grows in zones 10 and 11, and it can easily grow more than 10 feet tall. It grows best in full-sun conditions and it will need a medium amount of water to thrive. Make sure to protect this plant from the wind because the leaves are fragile and can easily break.
7. Jewel Alocasia Elephant Ear (Alocasia infernalis “Kapit”)
This plant will grow in zones nine to 11. It can grow in partial to full shade, and it prefers slightly acidic soil to really thrive. This is a lovely addition in any garden, but be aware that caring for the plant can cause your skin to be irritated, and it is toxic to cats and dogs, so if you have pets, you may want to avoid it.
8. Andropogon Gerardii (Big Bluestem)
This plant can grow to be seven feet tall in zones three through eight. It looks like a waxy bunch of grass until the red flowers appear in the summer. It prefers full sun, but it will also grow with light shade. It can tolerate dry soil because it is a drought-tolerant plant.
9. Artemisia Schmidtiana
This unique plant that can make a perfect edging for a garden. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, and it will do best in soil that is well-draining such as sand or clay. In midsummer, the plant will bloom white flowers that will attract butterflies to the space.
10. Agave Americana Mediopicta Alba
This plant is part of the Agave family. It can grow up to about four feet tall, and it is easy to care for. It does best in slightly acidic soil that is well-drained. It prefers full sun, but it will tolerate some shade. This plant attracts hummingbirds, but the spines on the leaves can be hazardous to pets.
11. Acorus Gramineus Ogon
This plant will grow in zones five through nine, and it will bloom during the summer months of June and July. The plant prefers full sun, but it is capable of tolerating heavy shade as well. It will grow in wet soil, so make sure that you never allow the soil to dry out with this plant.
