Garden Design

the Winter Interest Garden

Love your yard all year long with this beautiful winter interest garden. Requiring approximately a 16 x 14 foot space, it features an impressive golden evergreen tree as a focal point,surrounded by lovely flowers all summer. Color combination, plant selection, shape and placement are all top notch in this garden, AND after the summer beauty fades, the winter interest kicks in. The evergreen, hydrangea flowers, tall grass, echinacea seeds and sedum stick around to spice up the cold weather months.

Winter Garden Layout

Included in this garden are (back to front)
1 – Chameocyparis ‘Kings Gold’ Evergreen Tree
2 – Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ Shrubs
2 – Miscanthis ‘Northwind’ Ornamental Grasses
1 – Hibisus ‘Lady Baltimore’ Shrub
4 – Echinacea ‘Ruby Swan’ Perennials
5 – Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ Perennials

Plant Descriptions

Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘King’s Gold’
King’s Gold is a more compact Gold Thread Cypress that keeps its brilliant golden yellow color even through hot summers. Its an evergreen, so it looks great all winter too. Nice thread like foliage provides a beautiful color contrast against darker plants. Grows 5-6′ tall with a 3-6′ wide spread.

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’
Annabelle is simply breathtaking, often producing blooms 10″ in diameter. Unlike the common blue or pink hydrangeas, Annabelle blooms dependably and profusely every summer, even after hard pruning or extreme winters. Hard to believe a plant can look just as stunning in the winter, but Annabelle wins the prize. The flowers dry a tissue-like beige, much like a country painting. Use them in dried arrangements, or leave them be. Fast growing shrub reaches 5 feet tall & wide.

Miscanthus ‘Northwind’
One of the hardiest new ornamental grass varieties, Northwind has a striking blue tone. Thick bladed leafs topped with beautiful plumes in September, when it fades to a greener color in the fall. A top choice ornamental grass. Grows quickly to 4-5′ tall with a 2-3′ spread.

Hibiscus ‘Lady Baltimore’
When Lady blooms it is truly a show stopping event. Elegant 8″ pink ‘dinnerplate’ blossoms are enhanced by a deep red eye. Though they die back to the ground in winter, this pop of color in late summer will add excitement to the garden. 3-4′ tall with a 1-2′ spread.

Echinacea ‘Ruby Swan’
Among the best perennials for attracting butterflies in the summer, purple coneflower wont disappoint in the winter. The attractive seed heads remain and provide a food source for small birds. It bears large lavendar daisy-like flowers that bloom from mid summer all the way through fall. Another top choice at our nursery. Grows 30″-36″. Deer resistant and drought tolerant.

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Autumn Joy is as dependable as they come, needing little care. Looking great all summer, light pink blooms begin in August and fade to deep copper in November. Flowers are a must for winter containers. 2 feet tall and wide, with succulent stems and leaves.