Some evergreens to get you through the winter

Thank goodness we have evergreens to help get us through the winter. Today was another mild day with temperatures close to 60. Very overcast though and rain is on the way. It looks like we will have a wet Christmas Eve. I took some photos of several plants that are as beautiful in the winter as any other time of year.

O'Spring Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta 'O'Spring') is a variegated holly that is satisying any time of year. It is slow growing but I was alarmed a while back when I saw it in a garden on "Gardener's Diary" and it was the size of a small car. This one is three or four years old and it is still very small, less than 3' tall. Of course plants tend to conform to the space they have.

Mahonia (Mahonia bealei) is a tough, durable shrub for shade gardens. Tall and narrow (about 6'x 3'), the multi-trunks are topped with thorny leaves similar to holly. Yellow flowers appear in January and February which are followed by grape-like berries.

Nandina (Nandina domestica), also known as "Heavenly Bamboo", is used so much that it has the undeserved distinction of being common. There is a reason for that - it is a tough, carefree shrub that is also quite beautiful, especially in the winter. There were two on the north side of our house when we moved in seventeen years ago. Although they don't get a lot of sun, there is still a hint of red in the winter leaves. I planted one at my mother's house in full sun and the foliage on it is now fiery red. Of course, the most beautiful thing about the nandinas are the berries which hang on forever (well into spring). They make excellent Christmas decorations. All these shrubs ever need are annual pruning in the spring (just cut out the oldest stalks to the ground).

Thuja (standishii x plicata) 'Green Giant'

If you want a tall evergreen hedge, just say "no" to the ever-popular Leland Cypress and go with this one instead. The Leland cypress has become increasingly prone to disease. 'Green Giant' is a fast-growing (the one in the photo is only about 10 years old) pyramidal evergreen with rich green color that remains outstanding throughout hardiness range. No serious pest or disease problems.

Another great conifer is the Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’). Also a fast-grower (this one is 12 years old), it just keeps getting bigger and bigger and I'm afraid it is taking over the surrounding plants. The soft needles are quite beautiful and tiny green acorns are almost inconspicuous and do not attract wildlife.

Cast-Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) has many uses - in containers, as foundation plants, around trees or even as houseplants. It is right on the borderline of hardiness here in Zone 7b but so far (knock wood), it has flourished in our garden. It requires shade and the winter cold will often burn the leaves. They can be cut back before new leaves appear in the spring.

Jackson Vine (Smilax Smallii) adorns many doorways around Southern towns. It is quite beautiful and easily trained. Vicious thorns are found around the base of the plant but not along the branches. It grows from a large tuber and you don't find it often in nurseries. I did see it at Bennett's Nursery in Huntsville where they were charging an arm and a leg for it. I got a piece from a neighbor who is sadly no longer with us. It grows rampantly in the woods on my mother's property. Perhaps I should start selling it.

It is hard to miss the bright canary yellow flowers of the Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) in the early spring around mailboxes and arbors. The tiny green leaves are evergreen and I think they are beautiful in the winter. This is a rampant growing vine (up to 20 feet) and requires continual pruning to keep it in bounds.