Hey there, fellow gardeners! Just because the days are shorter and the temperatures are dropping doesn’t mean your garden has to fade away. Here in the mountains, we know a thing or two about finding beauty in every season. And let me tell you, winter is when your container gardens should really shine!
Think beyond the usual evergreens. We’re talking vibrant colors, interesting textures, and even surprises you might not expect. Whether you’ve got a sprawling patio or a cozy balcony, I will show you how to create winter wonderlands in your pots and containers. Get ready to discover the magic of plants that thrive even when Jack Frost comes nipping at their leaves!
Compact Oregon Grape, Mahonia aquifolium, this evergreen shrub is a true four-season wonder, with spiky, holly-like leaves that shift to a rich burgundy as the weather cools. Come spring, you’ll be greeted with cheerful yellow flowers, followed by clusters of blue berries that the birds will adore. And here’s a fun fact: there’s even an Arizona native variety, so you know it’s tough enough to handle our mountain climate. Give it a spot with good drainage, and this low-maintenance beauty will be the star of your winter garden.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Leaf color/flower color: Yellow
- Light: Partial shade, full shade
- Mature Size: 2 ft. tall X 2 ft. wide
Dwarf Mugo Pine’ Mops’, Pinus mugo, brings the mountain scenery to your doorstep. Perfect for adding a touch of alpine charm to your patio pots. Its dense, rounded form and rich green needles make it a true showstopper in any season. It’s tough as nails, loves the sun, and celebrates winter chill. Whether you’re creating a winter wonderland or a year-round evergreen display, ‘Mops’ is the perfect choice for mountain gardeners.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-7
- Leaf color: Dark green
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Mature Size: 3 ft. tall X 4 ft. wide
Fat Albert Blue Spruce, Picea pungens, this dwarf conifer packs a punch with its vibrant blue needles and perfectly conical shape. It’s like having a mini Christmas tree that looks amazing all year round. Fat Albert is tough as nails, loves the mountain sun, and doesn’t mind winter snow. Just give it well-drained soil in a nice big pot and watch it become the centerpiece of your winter garden.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
- Leaf color: Silvery blue
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Mature Size: Tall X 4 ft. wide in a pot
Firepower Nandina, Nandina domestica, set your containers ablaze with Firepower Nandina! This dwarf shrub is a true standout, with fiery red foliage intensifying as temperatures drop. Unlike some Nandinas that grow tall and leggy, Firepower stays nice and compact, making it perfect for containers. It’s a low-maintenance wonder that thrives in full sun and adds vibrant color to your winter landscape. No matter where you plant it, Firepower Nandina will ignite your winter garden with its dazzling display. #FirepowerNandina #DwarfShrubs #WinterColor
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9
- Leaf color: Lime-green, red in the winter
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Mature Size: 2 ft. tall X 2 ft. wide
Ice Angels Camellia, Camellia japonica, is the royalty your containers deserve! This evergreen shrub isn’t just another pretty face; it blooms when most other plants take a winter nap. Exquisite flowers, perfectly formed against a backdrop of glossy green leaves, even as the frost nips the air. Give this princess a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, keep the soil consistently moist, and she’ll reward you with a floral display that’s nothing short of magical.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10
- Flower color: White, Red, Pink
- Light: Part sun
- Mature Size: 4 tall X 4ft. wide in containers
Gold Euonymus, Euonymus japonicus, Its bright yellow foliage adds a pop of sunshine, even on the dreariest winter days. This tough little plant is happy in sun or shade and thrives in our mountain climate. Use it to brighten up those bare spots in your containers and create a colorful backdrop for winter blooms. No matter how you use it, Gold Euonymus will turn heads and add a touch of gold to your winter garden!
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9
- Flower color: White
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Mature Size: 5 ft. tall X 4ft. wide in containers
Goshiki Holly, Osmanthus heterophyllus, this compact evergreen shrub boasts variegated leaves splashed with creamy white and pink, adding a touch of elegance to your patio pots. Those leaves take on a rosy pink hue that’s simply stunning through winter. Plus, it’s deer and javelina-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about those pesky critters nibbling on your beautiful plants. #GoshikiHolly #VariegatedShrubs #JavelinaResistant #DeerResistant
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9
- Flower color: White
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Mature Size: 3 ft. tall X 3ft. Wide
Hens-and-Chicks, Sempervivum tectorum, are a must-have for your winter containers! These adorable succulents form tight rosettes that resemble a mother hen surrounded by her chicks. They come in a fascinating array of colors, from silvery green to deep burgundy, adding texture and interest to your pots. And here’s the best part: they’re practically indestructible! Hens-and-Chicks thrive in poor soil, laugh at drought, and don’t mind winter cold. Just give them plenty of sunshine and watch them multiply. They’re perfect for tucking into nooks and crannies, adding a touch of whimsy to your winter garden.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
- Flower color: Pale pink, purple
- Light: Full sun
- Mature Size: 3 in. tall X 2 in. wide
Silver Desert Spoon, Dasylirion wheeleri, is unique and brings drama with its twisting, silvery-blue foliage. This evergreen succulent forms a striking rosette of sword-like leaves, adding an instant wow factor to your patio pots. It thrives in Arizona hot, dry climate, laughing off drought and heat like it’s nothing. Give it plenty of sunshine and watch it become the centerpiece of your winter garden. Just be careful of those sharp leaf tips!
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-9
- Flower color: Wite
- Light: Full sun
- Mature Size: 4 ft. tall X 4 ft. wide
Sky Pencil Japanese Holly, lex crenata, this unique evergreen grows like a narrow column, adding vertical interest and a touch of modern flair to your patio or balcony. Its dark green foliage holds its color all winter, creating a striking contrast against the snow or a backdrop of evergreens. Sky Pencil loves the morning sun and is surprisingly tough, even in our mountain climate. Plant it directly in Watters Potting Soil and watch it reach for the sky!
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Foliage color: Dark green
- Light: Morning sun
- Mature Size: Tall X 2 ft. wide
Winter Gem Boxwood, Buxus sinica, is a top pick for winter containers for a few reasons. It stays nice and compact, perfect for small patio or balcony pots. But the real showstopper is the foliage. As the temperatures drop, the leaves turn a stunning gold and bronze – it’s like having a little sunshine in your container, even on the coldest days! Plus, it’s one of the first boxwoods to green up in spring, so you can enjoy that fresh, vibrant color early in the season.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Leaf color: Green, golden-bronze in the winter
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Mature Size: 3 ft. tall X 3 ft. wide
Winter Heath, Erica carnea, is the perfect pick-me-up for patio pots. This low-growing evergreen shrugs off the cold and rewards you with a vibrant carpet of pink or white blooms, even when there’s snow on the ground. ‘December Red’ kicks things off with its fiery crimson bells, while ‘Springwood White’ and ‘Springwood Pink’ add a touch of elegance. Just give it plenty of sunshine, well-drained soil, and a little trim after flowering, and this tough little beauty will keep your winter garden glowing!
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-7
- Flower color: Red,Pink, White
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Mature Size: 1 ft. tall X 2 ft. wide
Learn more
After choosing plants for winter interest, learn about the best materials pots and containers are made and how to choose the suitable garden planter; Beginner’s Guide to Container Gardens.
Until next week, I’ll be helping gardeners with pretty winter containers here at Watters Garden Center.
Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Plants.com.
