14 Outdoor Plants That'll Survive All Winter Long

Hellebore

Many hellebores (Helleborus spp.) have thick green foliage that tends to last all year. The plant's bright flower colors, such as pink, yellow, or white, will add a much-needed pop of color to the darkest months of the year. “In warmer climates, Hellebores can bloom as early as December,” says Lotte Berendsen, certified gardening expert for PlantIn. “But you can expect Hellebores in late winter or early spring for those not gifted with a tropical climate.”

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

Dwarf Snowball

Dwarf snowball (Viburnum tinus) is a low maintenance flowering shrub with white blooms. “[The plant] prefers a layer of mulch to keep its roots snug in the winter but requires little to no care otherwise,” says Berendsen.

These flowers can appear as early as November or December, and, once established, these plants can withstand temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Zones: 6 to 8
• Size: 4 feet tall x 4 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun, partial shade; well-draining soil

Golden Barberry

Golden barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea') is a great addition to a winter garden. "This cold-hardy tree can handle temperatures down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit and needs little to no winter protection," says Berendsen.

Although the plant doesn’t bloom until late March or early April, you can still enjoy the evergreen leaves and winter berries throughout the winter months. "A lovely bonus of this plant is that winter birds and other wildlife love to feed on the berries," she adds.

• Zones: 4 to 7
• Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 3 to 5 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining, acidic to slightly alkaline soil

Ornamental Kale

Ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea) has showy foliage that can be even prettier than some flowers, adding a unique dose of color to winter gardens. "These plants can be sown around mid- to late August," says Berendsen. And since they're able to withstand cold down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, they can be left in the ground until you're ready to harvest or replace them.

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining, rich loamy soil

Daphne

Daphne (Daphne spp.) are deciduous shrubs that produce white to light pink blooms in spring or late winter. They are slow growers and can take ten years to reach their full size, but their petite size makes them perfect for smaller gardens.

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Size: 1 to 5 feet tall x 2 to 6 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full to partial sun; moist but well-draining soil

Barrenwort

Barrenwort (Epimedium) is a perennial ground cover that offers bushy, colorful foliage in winter. It can make an especially pretty addition to wildland gardens, according to Berendsen, plus, it looks good year-round: "In the fall, red-colored leaves bring autumn joy. In the spring, dainty yellow blooms welcome the sun," she says.

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

Glory of the Snow

Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa luciliae) is another plant that can survive winter outside. A bulb perennial, it can often appear so early in spring that snow is still on the ground, filling the late winter garden with show-stopping color. They do great in full sun but can handle some shade, too.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 4 to 6 inches tall x 2 to 4 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full to partial sun; moist, well-draining soil

Common Milkweed

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a hardy perennial that can flourish in winter temperatures. "It withstands cooler temperatures and returns more fruitful than ever the following [year]," says Tammy Sons, gardener and founder of TN Nursery Plus.

This plant is especially great for monarch butterflies, as they rely on it for laying their eggs—but its nectar-filled flowers attract birds and other pollinators, too.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 24 to 30 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; dry, well-draining acidic or neutral soil

Japanese Maple

Japanese maple trees (Acer palmatum) are cold hardy in their respective zones. The plant offers vibrant fall foliage, says Sons. But there are other native maples to check out for a winter garden, as well. "Some maple tree favorites that fit well into this category are sugar maple, red maple, and silver maple," she says.

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Size: 2 to 25 feet tall x 2 to 25 feet wide
• Care requirements: Partial sun; moist, well-draining soil

American Hornbeam Tree

The American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a deciduous hardwood that prefers shade. "This is a cold-resistant tree that will even do well in zones 3 and 4," says Sons. It’s a great tree to have in frigid cold climates. "Its ability to stand cold temperatures makes it a favorable tree to landscaping companies in the Northern US and Canadian Rockies," she says.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 20 to 25 feet wide x 20 to 35 feet tall
• Care requirements: Shade; moist, well-draining, acidic to neutral soil

Eastern White Pine

The Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is native to eastern North America and has long, blue-green needles. But according to Sons, any pine tree works great for a winter landscape. "Pine trees hold their needs year-round, which helps them photosynthesize and makes them more resilient to cold temperatures, including snow and ice," she says.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 50 to 80 feet tall x 20 to 40 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full to partial sun; moist, well-draining, acidic soil

Purple Coneflower

Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) do well in humid regions in summer, but they can also handle cold winters once established. "Coneflowers are a resilient and cold-thriving herbaceous perennial plant that provides bird seed heads until December," says Sons.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining,
  neutral to acidic soil

Snowdrops

Also among plants that survive winter outside are snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis). These early bloomers appear in early spring and sometimes even late winter, adding color to your winter garden. Plus, as a bulb plant, it requires little to no maintenance and isn't bothered by pests or diseases.

• Zones: 3 to 7
• Size: 4 to 10 inches tall x 3 to 6 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full to partial sun; loamy, sandy, well-draining soil

Camellia

Camellia (Camellia spp.) are evergreen shrubs that bloom in late winter, heralding in some unparalleled color. Some varieties do bloom in fall, so be sure to get a variety that blooms in the colder months.

• Zones: 7 to 9
• Size: 2 to 12 feet tall x 2 to 10 feet wide
• Care requirements: Partial shade; rich, moist well-draining soil