Plant Colors to Match Your Home's Exterior

Plant No. 1: The stems of coral bark Japanese maple glow in the winter landscape with tones of bright salmon. The bark color is strongest on trees grown in full sun, although plants do survive in filtered sunlight. Plant No. 2: Variegated evergreen leaves of winter daphne stand out in the landscape. Give plants part or full shade for success, and protect plants from afternoon sun. Daphne bursts into bloom in winter with pink buds that unfurl to reveal fragrant white blossoms. Plant No. 3: Fill an entryway with Matrix pansies in ruby, rose and white shades. Matrix pansy flowers have thicker petals that stand up to winter weather without melting. Even frost doesn’t take out Matrix flowers. Plant in fall to help plants establish root systems before winter weather arrives.

Plant No. 1: A dwarf version of native sumac, Tiger Eyes brings strong multi-season interest to the garden. Look for vibrant orange shades in autumn, accented with raspberry red berry spikes that linger through winter. Protect young plants from deer during the first few winters. Plant No. 2: Techny Arborvitae can fill several roles in the landscape. Plant it as a dense privacy hedge or as a vertical accent in a shrub border. It also adds a strong formal element to driveways or home entries. Water regularly during the first year to establish a strong root system, and shear annually in spring to shape. Plant No. 3: The Matrix Lavender Shades pansy is a large-flowered pansy that holds its own in planting beds or containers. Plants withstand frosts well if you plant in fall. Blooms offer fragrance and stand up to winter rains.

Plant No. 1: Blue oat grass is a cool-season grass, which means it puts on its strongest growth during cool seasons. The secret to keeping it in its bluest state is raking in early spring and fall, raking dead leaves and thatch from the crown of the plant. Plant No. 2: When growing hollies, you need both a male and female plant to get berries. Berri-Magic Kids’ holly takes the guesswork out of berry making by combining both male and female plants in the same pot. The red berries sparkle among deep green leaves, and they grow to a size that suits modern yards 6-8 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide. Plant No. 3: Finish the planting with a splash of white from flowering cabbage. The color stays strong through winter chill and light snows. Alternate cabbages with the blue oat grass for an eye-catching design in planting beds. Both cabbages and oat grass can hold their own in porch containers, too.

Plant No. 1: The native winterberry holly forms a stunning winter hedge decked with bright red berries all winter long. It's quite large, so look for smaller, dwarf forms. You’ll need a male plant to pollinate with a female one to produce berries. Ask the garden center to help you get the right male. Winterberry is a great choice for a soggy area. Plant No. 2: Dwarf Norway spruce brings tidy beauty to the landscape, forming a 3-4 foot globe. Plants thrive in colder weather and full sun, but tolerate light shade. This spruce stands up to zone 3 winters with ease. Plant No. 3: Nemesia is a true old-fashioned favorite, but breeding breakthroughs have transformed this nostalgic charmer into a flower powerhouse. In regions with mild winters, plants bloom all winter long. In other areas, plant in fall for a floral display until heavy frost arrives. Tuck into pots on a porch, and they will last longer in any zone.