1. Evergreen hollies
As the name suggests, evergreen hollies hold their lush green leaves all winter long. With over 480 evergreen and deciduous species, hollies are versatile plants often used for hedges and barriers. Most varieties have glossy, deep green foliage that adds vibrant color when everything else is looking drab. Hollies are naturally resilient landscape plants perfect for low-maintenance winter beauty.
2. Winter berries
Winter Berries are a perfect choice for winter landscapes. Their eye-catching red color looks gorgeous against a blanket of snow. What's more, they require very little maintenance to thrive. They prefer moist soil and plenty of sunlight. With the right conditions, they will add striking beauty to your winter garden each year.
3. Bee balm
Known for its sweet fragrance and nectar that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, bee balm is another stellar choice for a low-maintenance winter garden. This hardy perennial produces dense, mophead-like flowers in shades of pink, orange, purple, red and white. It spreads vigorously, so be sure to give it plenty of room. Overall, bee balm will bring cheerful color and a lovely aroma to your landscape, even on cold winter days.
4. Pansies
While they can't withstand anything above zone 4, pansies are remarkably cold-hardy. They look adorable peeking out of the snow and make a gorgeous winter ground cover. Be sure to give them a thick layer of mulch or another form of frost protection. Though short-lived, pansies grown in late winter will cheerfully bloom the moment spring arrives.
5. Wintergreen boxwood
The wintergreen boxwood keeps its good looks even when covered in a blanket of snow, thanks to its shallow roots. This squat shrub holds up well to winter winds and keeps its emerald color all season long. Be sure to safeguard the roots with a 2-3 inch topping of mulch. Left undisturbed, wintergreen boxwood makes a handsome living hedge or border with very little upkeep required.
6. Coneflower
Also called Echinacea, the coneflower is a hardy perennial that laughs in the face of winter. Extremely drought tolerant, most varieties produce abundant blooms from summer into fall that attract songbirds and butterflies galore. While the iconic purple species handle winter with ease, some newer hybrid coneflowers are less cold-adapted. Know what you’re getting to ensure winter survival.
7. Blue Spruce
A picturesque conifer adorned with snow, the towering blue spruce adds striking beauty and visual interest to winter landscapes. Its unusual blue-green or silver-blue needles stand out amid bare trees and drab greenery. Though it requires at least six hours of sunlight per day and consistent moisture, those needs make it quite low-maintenance compared to most evergreens. Set against a blanket of white, nothing looks quite so graceful.
8. Hosta
Hostas are cherished for their versatility and staying power – most varieties stick around for many years with very little care required. Their lush leaves provide tons of texture and come in a rainbow of hues like blue, gold and variegated green. Hostas will spread slowly on their own by dividing underground. That makes them a budget-friendly choice for covering ground in style. Protect them with slug bait before winter dormancy sets in for best results. Come spring, they’ll send up fresh new leaves!