Without a doubt one of the best parts about gardening in the Southeast is winters that are temperate yet still bring seasonality to the garden. I’m grateful that we don’t often get bone-chilling cold that lasts for days and weeks on end. Many gardeners in colder climates spend their winters waiting for spring. As gardeners in the Southeast, we can plan for vibrant gardens with winter interest in mind. For our purposes, we will define “winter” as December through February. For this article I will take you on a journey through the plants that are looking good in my winter garden in eastern Tennessee during these few months. I’ve made a note of the date I took the photo of each plant to give you a feeling of how the season progresses throughout my garden in the Southeast.
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Name: Yucca gloriosa var. tristis syn. Yucca recurvifolia syn. Yucca gloriosa var. recurvifolia
Zones: 7-11
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Photo Taken: December 25
Yuccas of all kinds bring structure to the winter garden. To me, curve-leaf yucca is one of the most graceful. It loves to be planted in full sun with good drainage. However, I don’t find it overly fussy. This plant can be long-lived and hard to remove, so make sure you place it exactly where you want it.
Name: Schefflera delavayi
Zones: 7-11
Size: 10 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide
Conditions: Partial shade; well-drained soil
Photo Taken: January 10
I get more excited about this plant every year. Delavay’s schefflera has large, broad, attractive leaves that are evergreen. In winter, seeds mature and cascade over the foliage. It seems to like being planted in afternoon shade.
Name: Helleborus niger ‘HGC Josef
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