Much like the United States Postal Service, these plants will not let rain, nor sleet, nor driving snow stop them from pulling through the worst winter weather imaginable. It can be hard to find plants that will look two months of drying winds in the eyes and laugh—or sit in a frozen puddle for 4 months and not rot. We decided to sing the praises of those perennials and woodies that will take whatever January, February and March have to doll out and come out on the other side, unscathed. Tune in to this episode to learn about plants that truly are up to the challenge of taking winter’s worst on the chin.
Expert guest: May Ann Newcomer is a native Idahoan who gardens, scouts gardens, and writes about gardening in the Intermountain West.
Danielle’s Plants
‘Ninja Stars’ epimedium (Epimedium ‘Ninja Stars’, Zones 4-9)
Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum, Zones 5-8)
‘Blue Chip’ juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Chip’, Zones 3-9)
‘Biokovo’ hardy geranium (Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’, Zones 5-8)
Carol’s Plants
Rosemary willow (Salix elaeagnos, Zones 4-8)
Link to Bill Carter’s article on starting perennials from seed from issue 168.
Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum leave, Zones 3-8)
Golden Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris ‘Aurea’, Zones 3-7)
Siberian iris (Iris sibirica, Zones 3-9)Expert’s PlantsGerman bearded iris (Iris x germanica cvs., Zones 3-10)
Expert’s Plants
European snowball viburnum (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’, Zones 3-8)‘
Autumn Brilliance’ serviceberry (Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’, Zones 4-9)
‘Blue Shag’ Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’, Zones 3-8)
German bearded iris (Iris x germanica cvs., Zones 3-10)