sign in sign up
<<
Home , Abeliophyllum, Daphne bholua, Evergreen, Garrya elliptica, Shrub, Tree

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE and for Fall and Winter Bloom 28 Attractive N. Bell, H. Stoven and A. Melathopoulos fter autumn drop, gardeners often to and People “put the to bed” for the year. The West of the Cascades Agarden could be forgotten until spring arrives again. However, bright spots in the garden can add visual interest and needed cheer at this time of year. Winter is an opportunity to highlight structural aspects of the garden as well as provide habitat and food for wildlife at an otherwise lean time. One way gardeners achieve winter interest is by adding with colorful foliage or attractive . But we are fortunate in the maritime Pacific Northwest to be able to grow a number of plants and shrubs that brighten the garden with blooms and sweet fragrance during dark winter months. Most trees and shrubs go dormant in fall and save their blooms for spring or summer. However, some begin blooming in fall or winter. Cooler winter weather will often extend bloom time, with some displays lasting a month or longer. The area west of the Cascade Mountains generally has mild enough winters to grow a wide range of winter- blooming shrubs. Most days stay above freezing, even in midwinter. Although cold spells can kill some floral and damage that are open, new blooms often emerge soon after the cold weather ends, returning the to glory. The plants in this publication are hardy enough

Neil Bell, community horticulturist and professor of practice, Marion and Polk counties; Heather Stoven, Extension horticulturist, Yamhill County, and assistant professor of practice; Andony Melathopoulos, Photo: J. Kehoe, CC BY 2.0 health Extension specialist and assistant professor; all of A yellow-faced bumblebee visits flowers. Oregon State University.

EM 9277 March 2020 to grow in the open garden in most locations west of BLOOM TIME: SEPTEMBER—OCTOBER the Cascades, but consider the various microclimates in your garden before planting. Microclimates are areas which can differ in in comparison to the surrounding area. These differences can be caused by , elevation, bodies of water, aspect (the direction an area faces) or slope. Microclimates can make a difference even for small properties. For example, plants placed next to homes or buildings are more likely to resist damage during a cold spell. The added heat from buildings can also change the timing of blooms. When deciding where to plant late-fall- and winter- blooming shrubs, consider their location in relation to windows or doorways. This way, you can see their flowers while gazing out or while coming and going. Many winter-blooming shrubs are fragrant, so place pilularis ‘Twin Peaks’ these plants where you can enjoy the perfume. Flowering shrubs also boost pollinators, providing COYOTEBRUSH and when little is available. Anna’s hummingbirds are year-round residents in western Oregon. They feed on nectar when they can find Coyotebrush is native to the it but also supplement their diet with insects. Oregon Coast and ranges Winter-blooming plants can provide them needed south into California. It is . usually seen as a medium to large (topping out around European honey bees are Flowering shrubs 8 feet), rounded . active right through the winter also boost However, many cultivated Baccharis pilularis flowers and visit many flowering shrubs varieties are mounding, pollinators, when temperatures rise above spreading . Evergreen 55 degrees F. Although most of providing nectar Coyotebrush is in the daisy Height and width: up to Oregon’s 500 species of native (Asteraceae), but the 8 feet tall and wide. Some and pollen when bees go dormant in winter, some, consists only of are much smaller. including bumblebee queens and inconspicuous disc flowers, little is available. not the showy ray flowers Fragrance: Subtle, pleasing several of our solitary mining fragrance. bees, are active as early as characteristic of many Aster family members. Coyotebrush Cultural requirements: Full February and March. The pollen and nectar in these is dioecious, meaning it has sun with some protection blooms are essential to these bees, fueling their search separate male and female from winter cold inland. No for new and provisioning their first brood. Late plants. Male plants are summer water. Plants can be fall blooms can be critical for late-foraging pollinator preferred in cultivation since shaped with light shearing in species building fat reserves to last the winter. female plants produce large spring. Note that while many winter-blooming plants numbers of wind-blown . Hardiness: USDA zones 8-9. produce nectar and pollen, some are shaped in ways Male plants have yellowish Susceptible to cold injury in that restrict certain pollinator species. Typically, flowers with a subtle, pleasing cold winters. (See the USDA scent in September and bumblebees and hummingbirds have the longest Plant Hardiness Zone Map at October. Female plants have bit.ly/zml8bo/.) tongues and can reach down into longer flowers such white flowers. Coyotebrush as currants and heathers. is susceptible to injury in cold Attractiveness to winters and is best grown in pollinators: Very attractive a sheltered location. Buck to honey bees, a wide The following shrubs reliably bloom and add interest will rub their antlers on variety of late-season bees during fall and winter in the maritime Pacific Baccharis, which can cause and some butterflies and Northwest. They are listed roughly in of bloom, damage. If injury does occur moths. although the length of bloom of individual plants or if shaping is required, Cultivars: ’Twin Peaks’, varies greatly. Bloom timing can also vary year to prune plants in spring. ‘Pigeon Point’, ‘Pistol year due to variations in winter temperatures. Warm Pancake’. winters can lead to earlier bloom times.

2 OCTOBER–NOVEMBER NOVEMBER–DECEMBER

Mature strawberry japonica ‘Variegata’ STRAWBERRY JAPANESE TREE FATSIA

Strawberry tree is Japanese fatsia is native native throughout the to Japan and South and Korea, where it occurs as also occurs in Ireland. It gets a modest-sized upright its common name from the shrub in . The large size of the species and Strawberry tree flowers and leaves are large, dark green Japanese fatsia flowers the spherical red fruit. The and conspicuously lobed, fruit are produced from the Evergreen which gives the plant a Evergreen previous season’s blooms Height and width: 15 feet tropical appearance in the Height and width: Up to and ripen at the same time tall by 20 feet wide. Listed landscape. The flowers 10 feet tall and wide. Slow as the new blooms occur, cultivars are far smaller. are white and produced in growing. in fall. The fruit are edible Fragrance: No fragrance. spherical clusters about Fragrance: No fragrance. and though not often the size of a golf ball, which consumed fresh, are used Cultural requirements: Full are borne in large panicles Cultural requirements: Part in preserves and distilled sun. No summer irrigation above the foliage. The shade to shade. Best with spirits in Europe. Strawberry once established. If placed display is unique, but they occasional summer water. tree forms a dense, where it has enough space, are sensitive to cold, and a Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. these plants require no rounded shrub or tree with hard freeze usually brings Attractiveness to . leathery, dark green leaves. flowering to an end. Some pollinators: Attractive to Depending on the , Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. variegated cultivars are flower flies. the flowers are white to Foliar damage can occur at available. This unusual shrub Cultivars: ‘Variegata’, pink, urn-shaped and occur 10 degrees F or below. is suitable for protected, ‘Spiders Web’. in 2-inch-long clusters in Attractiveness to shady spots in the landscape abundance. pollinators: Honey where the flowers might be bees, bumblebees and better protected from cold. hummingbirds. Cultivars: ‘Elfin King’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Oktoberfest’.

All photos by Neil Bell, © Oregon State University, unless otherwise noted

3 OCTOBER–NOVEMBER LATE FALL

Holly tea tree in bloom eurybracteata in bloom Photos: Jeff Stoven MAHONIA EURYBRACTEATA This evergreen shrub is native to China and is Holly osmanthus is one distinctive due to its narrow of several fall-flowering and smooth-edged leaves, Osmanthus, but O. separating it from some heterophyllus is the hardiest, of the other spiny-leaved most commonly grown . The foliage can species. It is a native of Holly tee tree flowers appear tropical with the Flowers of M. eurybracteata Japan, where it forms a fine texture of the leaves. Evergreen Evergreen dense, upright oval shrub. This plant prefers partial to The leaves are shiny dark Height and width: 10 feet full shade. In late fall this Height and width: 3–6 feet green. Juvenile leaves are tall and 6 feet wide. Cultivars shrub sends up bold spikes depending on cultivar. notably spiny while adult may be far smaller. of yellow flowers that attract Fragrance: Lightly fragrant. leaves — produced near bees. -blue Fragrance: Flowers are very Cultural requirements: the top of the plant — lack follow later in winter. fragrant. Part sun to shade, average spines. Mature plants may Cultural requirements: moisture needs. consist primarily of smooth Full sun, summer irrigation. leaves. The flowers are Hardiness: USDA Zone 7. Responds well to pruning, small, white and borne in Attractiveness to and vigorous forms are often groups of four to five in pollinators: Very attractive made into . axils. Although this to honey bees and late- plant is not conspicuous in Hardiness: USDA Zone 7. season bumblebee queens bloom, the flowers are highly Attractiveness to preparing for winter. Very fragrant and the scent can pollinators: Attractive to attractive to hummingbirds. be detected from many feet flower flies and somewhat Cultivars: away on warm fall days. attractive to honey bees. ‘Soft Caress’, Indigo Flair™. Cultivars: ‘Purpureus’, ‘Goshiki’, ‘Rotundifolius’, ‘Gulftide’, ‘Variegatus’, ‘Ogon’, ‘Sasaba’.

4 NOVEMBER–MARCH DEPENDING ON SPECIES, CULTIVAR MID-DECEMBER–APRIL

Mature tree form of Camelia sasanqua in bloom Chaparral currant in bloom SASANQUA CHAPARRAL CURRANT malvaceum (also C. hiemalis, C. x vernalis and C. sinensis) Chaparral currant is a native of California that is related to The sasanqua are the spring-blooming Pacific a diverse group sometimes Northwest native flowering referred to as “sun” camellias currant, R. sanguineum. It because of their tolerance of Flowers of C. sasanqua has a distinctly upright Flowers of chaparral currant full sun. The many cultivars and produces leaves and Evergreen Summer of C. sasanqua vary in growth that are noticeably habit as well as flower Height and width: varies aromatic. It is drought Height and width: 10 feet characteristics. In general, greatly. Upright forms may tolerant and will lose its tall and 8 feet wide. they have dark green foliage be 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide. leaves in summer, going Fragrance: No fragranc.e almost totally deciduous. and a habit that varies from Fragrance: No fragrance. Cultural requirements: Full This characteristic does upright and spreading. Cultural requirements: sun, no summer irrigation. take some getting used to. Flowers vary from single to Part shade to full sun with With the onset of rain in Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. double and from white to summer irrigation for C. fall it begins leafing out and Attractiveness to red. Because of variations sasanqua. Shade to part flowering. Although not as pollinators: Highly in flower time, it is possible shade for C. sinensis. to have a camellia in bloom showy as flowering currant, attractive to both throughout the winter. The Hardiness: USDA Zone 7. it produces clusters of pink hummingbirds and early leaves of are Attractiveness to flowers from mid-December season bumblebee queens. used for tea. The species is pollinators: Honey bees and through April. The flowers Cultivars: ‘Dancing Tassels’, autumn-blooming and offers hummingbirds are attracted attract overwintering ‘Christy Ridge’, ‘Cupertino single white or pink flowers. to single-flowered cultivars. hummingbirds as well ’. Cultivars: Too many to list. as longer-tongued bees, particularly early emerging bumblebee queens on warm January and February days.

5 MID-DECEMBER–APRIL JANUARY–MARCH

Royal in bloom x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ ROYAL VIBURNUM X GREVILLEA BODNANTENSE This deciduous viburnum is a hybrid of V. farreri and Royal grevillea is a fast- V. grandiflorum, which was growing evergreen shrub raised at Bodnant native to southeastern in Wales around 1935. It Australia. It forms a large, develops into a tall, upright rounded shrub, with foliage multistemmed shrub whose that is an attractive - Royal grevillea flowers foliage emerges bronze in Viburnum x bodnantense flowers green above and silvery spring before becoming dark below. The flowers are Evergreen green. Flowers are pink and Deciduous orange-red in color and are Height and width: 8 feet tall borne in 2- to 3-inch-wide Height and width: 9 feet tall borne in pendant clusters by 10 feet wide heads on bare in and 5 feet wide. whose unique appearance Fragrance: No fragrance. midwinter to early spring. Fragrance: Fragrant. sometimes gives the plant The flowers are fragrant, but Cultural requirements: Cultural requirements: Full the common name of “spider open flowers are susceptible Full sun, drought tolerant sun. Regular summer water. plant.” Royal grevillea has to frost and wet weather. but some summer irrigation a long bloom period, which The long bloom period Hardiness: USDA Zone 4. is OK. Avoid use of extends from midwinter means that some flowers Attractiveness to -containing into early spring. Even in escape damage to perfume fertilizers. pollinators: Limited the flowers are showy, the garden. attractiveness. and once open they attract Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. Cultivars: ‘Dawn’, ‘Pink overwintering hummingbirds Cultivars vary in hardiness. Dawn’, ‘Charles Lamont’, as well as bees. Attractiveness to ‘Deben’. pollinators: Very attractive to hummingbirds as well as early season bumblebee queens. Cultivars: ‘Marshall Olbrich’, ‘Murray Valley Queen’.

6 NOVEMBER–MARCH DEPENDING ON CULTIVAR JANUARY–FEBRUARY

Groundcover of winter heath in bloom Wintersweet in bloom ALPINE HEATH WINTERSWEET carnea praecox

IRISH HEATHER Chimonanthus is a E. erigena of evergreen or deciduous shrubs native to China WINTER HEATH that are grown for their E. x darleyensis fragrant flowers.C. praecox is the most commonly The heaths are a large group ‘Mediterranean Pink’ grown species in the Flowers of wintersweet of plants, most of which are winter heath genus, forming an upright, not fully hardy for landscape deciduous coarse-textured Deciduous use, or are summer- or Evergreen multi-stemmed shrub. The Height and width: 10 feet fall-flowering. Both alpine common name wintersweet Height and width: Size tall by 6 feet wide. Upright, heath and Irish heather and refers to the exceptionally varies by species and arching growth habit. their hybrid, winter heath, fragrant yellow flowers, cultivar. are hardy and among the which dangle from the Fragrance: Highly fragrant. best-known winter-flowering Fragrance: Not fragrant. bare branches throughout Cultural requirements: plants in the Pacific Cultural requirements: Full January. The scent of the Part shade to full sun, some Northwest. In general, alpine sun, some summer water. flowers may carry far from summer water. heath and winter heath Pruning is rarely required. the plant on warm winter Hardiness: USDA Zone 7. are low, spreading plants days. The flowers are waxy Hardiness: USDA Zone 7. Attractiveness to which make effective and and hang downward on pollinators: Limited colorful groundcovers in the Attractiveness to the branches, so they are attractiveness. winter garden. Irish heath, pollinators: An important undeterred by rain and it is in contrast, has a distinctly source of nectar for early not unusual for this plant to Cultivars: ‘Grandiflorus’, upright habit. Among these season bumblebee queens. flower even during periods ‘Luteus’. species, there are a wide Cultivars: Many available. of snow. Wintersweet is one array of cultivars differing of the most fragrant plants in growth habit, foliage and for the winter garden. bloom. Flower color varies from white to pink to red.

7 JANUARY JANUARY

Sweet blox in full bloom Mahonia x media ‘Soft Caress’. SWEET BOX MAHONIA X Sarcoccoca confusa, MEDIA S. hookeriana, S. ruscifolia This plant is a hybrid of M. japonica and M. lomariifolia, Sweet box refers to one of which are native to Japan several evergreen shrubs and Southeast Asia, with fragrant flowers native respectively. Like the to China and the Himalayas. parents, M. x media forms a The species in cultivation tall, broad, texturally striking vary somewhat in height, Sweet box flowers plant as a the result of the Mahonia x media flower cluster but all spread by suckers large, compound leaves, Evergreen Evergreen to form dense evergreen which are over 12 inches . S. hookeriana Height and width: Up to long and composed of 15 or Height and width: Vase- (especially S. hookeriana var. 4 feet high. These plants more leaflets. In January, the shaped, upright habit to 10 humilis) is taller (to 4 feet) spread by suckers to 5 feet shrub produces 12-inch erect feet. Spreads to 8 feet. and spreads vigorously, wide. vase-shaped spikes of bright Fragrance: Flowers have whereas S. confusa and S. Fragrance: Very fragrant. yellow flowers at the minimal fragrance, although ruscifolia grow to perhaps 2 tips. In bloom the plants are Cultural requirements: Part ‘Lionel Fortescue’ is very feet and are clumpers that showy and highly attractive shade to shade, performs fragrant. send up more shoots but to European honeybees well even in dry shade. Cultural requirements: do not spread. In January, on warm winter days. The Full sun, occasional summer diminutive white flowers are Hardiness: USDA Zone 7. flowers open sequentially water. Should not require produced along the stems. Attractiveness to along each spike, and so pruning. Sweet box is monoecious, pollinators: Limited flowering persists for about meaning that separate male attractiveness. a month. The flowers are Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. and female flowers are Cultivars: S. hookeriana var. often followed by clusters of Attractiveness to mingled on the stems and blue fruit. pollinators: Very attractive partly hidden by the foliage. digyna and S. hookeriana var. humilis are commonly sold to hummingbirds and honey Although the flowers are bees. not particularly showy, they forms. are highly fragrant and the Cultivars: ‘Charity’, ‘Winter scent can be detected at a Sun’, ‘Hope’, ‘Underway’, distance. These are some of ‘Lionel Fortescue’ the most commonly grown winter-blooming shrubs and are especially useful as a tall in shady situations.

8 NOVEMBER–FEBRUARY DEPENDING ON CULTIVAR JANUARY

Clematis cirrhosa in bloom Winter trained as a standard WINTER JASMINE CIRRHOSA This species is native to Winter jasmine is an the Mediterranean basin in adaptable, vigorous, southern Europe and North deciduous shrub native to Africa. This evergreen northern China. It produces produces thin stems with masses of vigorous green paired trifoliate compound stems that on contact leaves. The stems also have with the soil. This enables tendrils that enable it to Clematis cirrhosa var. Winter jasmine blooms purpurascens ‘Freckles’ the plant to be grown as adhere and climb a trellis a mounding shrub, a low Deciduous or the foliage and stems , a groundcover or — of nearby plants. In late Evergreen Height and width: if some sort of support is fall and winter, clusters of Height and width: Climbs Unsupported, it forms a provided — as a vine. It is cream-colored, pendulous to 10 feet. Spread depends mound 4 feet tall and 6 feet often seen covering fences flowers are produced. There on trellis. wide. With a trellis, it can be or trailing over walls, where are two recognized varieties much bigger. Fragrance: Not fragrant. the flowers are displayed to of the species. C. cirrhosa Cultural requirements: Full best advantage. The flower Fragrance: Not fragrant. var. balearica is from the sun. Requires either a trellis buds are waxy red and open Cultural requirements: western Mediterranean or supporting plant. Best in a to single, bright yellow Full sun best for flower island of Menorca and protected location. flowers that are borne along production. Some summer features finely cut foliage the bare stems in January. water. and lemon-scented flowers. Hardiness: USDA Zone 7. Unlike other jasmine, the In the variety C. cirrhosa Attractiveness to Hardiness: USDA Zone 6. flowers are not fragrant but var. purpurascens, the flower pollinators: Attractive to Attractiveness to contrast well with the green are prominently honey bees. pollinators: Attractive to stems. speckled with purple Cultivars: ‘Wisley Cream’, honey bees. markings. C. cirrhosa var. purpurascens Cultivars: ‘Aureum’. ‘Freckles’, ‘Jingle Bells’.

9 NOVEMBER–FEBRUARY DEPENDING ON SPECIES, CULTIVAR JANUARY

Yellow-flowered witchhazel in full bloom Mature WITCHHAZEL LOQUAT Hamamelis x intermedia, japonica H. vernalis, H. virginiana, H. mollis, H. japonica Loquat is native to China and Japan and is usually These deciduous shrubs are seen as a single-stemmed native to both eastern Asia small tree. The leaves are as well as eastern North up to 12-inch long, coarsely America. Although both toothed, medium green Asian and American forms Witchhazel ‘Diane’ above and woolly gray Loquat blooms are in cultivation, the most below. In foliage alone, Deciduous, although dead commonly grown form is H. the tree brings a tropical Evergreen brown leaves may persist on x intermedia. This is a hybrid appearance to the garden. some cultivars. Height and width: Up to 15 of Chinese and Japanese The flowers are small, white feet high by 12 feet wide. Height and width: Size and lightly fragrant and are species, and many cultivars Fragrance: Lightly fragrant. are available. In general, varies, but may be 10 feet borne in panicles up to 6 these are medium to large tall and 12 feet wide at inches long at shoot tips in Cultural requirements: Full deciduous shrubs which maturity. January. In bloom the tree sun, some summer water. develop an upright but Fragrance: Some cultivars is quite showy, and it has Best in a protected spot. ultimately wide-spreading develop fragrance; some are been known to set a few of Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. the orange, edible fruit in habit. In bloom they are not fragrant. Attractiveness to the Willamette Valley. It is among the most spectacular Cultural requirements: Full pollinators: Limited prone to damage from cold, and prized winter-blooming sun, regular summer water. attractiveness. plants. Flowers appear on freezing rain and wet snow Cultivars: A number are bare branches and consist of Hardiness: American and is best in a courtyard or available, of uncertain many strap-shaped petals. species are hardy to USDA other protected spot or as an hardiness in western Flower color ranges from Zone 4; Asian species and H. on a warm wall. Oregon. yellow to copper to red. x intermedia to Zone 5. They are fragrant in some Attractiveness to but not all cases. The flowers pollinators: Limited of the American species H. attractiveness. vernalis and H. virginiana are Cultivars: Too many to list. known for their fragrance, as is Chinese witchhazel (H. mollis). Cultivars of H. x intermedia vary widely in fragrance.

10 JANUARY JANUARY–FEBRUARY

Foliage of C. avellana ‘Burgundy Lace’ Photo: Rebecca McCluskey Paper in bloom HAZELNUT PAPER DAPHNE

European hazelnut is widely This Daphne is native to cultivated in the Willamette lower elevations of the Valley and is familiar for its eastern Himalayas, where pendulous yellow , historically the bark was which are produced in used to make paper. In January. The lesser-known the garden it forms an native , Corylus C. avellana ‘Red Dragon’ upright shrub to 8 feet tall Paper daphne blooms californica, is found in central in favorable locations, with and western Oregon and is Deciduous an open habit. Leaves are Evergreen or deciduous: also winter-blooming. Of the Height and width: 12 feet narrow and medium green Depends on cultivar. ornamental forms of hazel, tall and 10 feet wide in tree and may be evergreen or Height and width: 8 feet tall the oldest is C. avellana form. deciduous, depending on by 5 feet wide. ‘Contorta’, a green-leaved cultivar and also on winter Fragrance: No fragrance. shrub with twisted branches temperatures. The flowers Fragrance: Highly fragrant. and twigs that blooms in Cultural requirements: Full are small, pinkish-white Cultural requirements: January. However, it is sun. and borne in clusters at Full sun, well-drained soil. susceptible to eastern filbert Hardiness: USDA Zone 4. the shoot tips in January Probably best with some protection. blight, the major disease Attractiveness to or February. As with other problem on European pollinators: A highly Daphne, the flowers are Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. hazelnut. Fortunately, highly fragrant and the scent abundant source of pollen Attractiveness to Oregon State University may carry a considerable for honey bees initiating pollinators: Attractive to recently introduced two distance on a warm winter their brood rearing in late hummingbirds. cultivars resistant to winter. day. The species is somewhat Eastern filbert blight, tender and is best placed in a Cultivars: ‘Jaqueline Postill’, both of which have purple Cultivars: ‘Burgundy Lace’, protected location. ‘Ghurka’. foliage that fades to green ‘Red Dragon’. during the growing season. ‘Red Dragon’ has twisted stems and purple catkins. ‘Burgundy Lace’ has upright growth and an unusual leaf shape that resembles a Japanese and purple catkins. ‘Burgundy Lace’ also produces edible nuts.

11 JANUARY JANUARY–FEBRUARY

Silk tassel in bloom Actostaphylos ‘Austin Griffiths’ SILK TASSEL MANZANITA elliptica spp.

Silk tassel is a large, dense Manzanita is a large group evergreen shrub native to of evergreen shrubs native the central Oregon coast throughout the western southwards into California. U.S. The many species and It is dioecious, meaning cultivars range in habit from there are separate male and groundcovers (including female plants. In January, Silk tassel flowers the familiar kinnikinnick) to Actostaphylos ‘Sentinel’ both male and female plants mounding shrubs, to upright, produce small yellow flowers Evergreen multistemmed tree-like Evergreen in long, drooping catkins Height and width: 15 feet shrubs up to 12 feet tall. Height and width: 8 feet tall that, in male forms, may be tall by 15 feet wide. Most of these bloom from by 10 feet wide. 12 inches long. A plant in full late February through April. Fragrance: Not fragrant. Fragrance: Not fragrant. bloom covered with catkins Only a select few, including Cultural requirements: Full is a striking textural addition Cultural requirements: Full ‘Austin Griffiths’, ‘Sentinel’ sun, well-drained soil. Do not to the winter garden. Besides sun, lots of space. and ‘Siskiyou Pink’, bloom irrigate in summer. G. elliptica, G. fremontii is Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. G. during winter. These are also native to the montane fremontii is hardier. all medium to large shrubs Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. Pacific Northwest, and a Attractiveness to that are showy in bloom, Attractiveness to smaller species, G. buxifolia, pollinators: None observed. featuring clusters of white pollinators: Highly is found in southwestern or pink downward-facing attractive to hummingbirds Cultivars: G. elliptica: Oregon. Hybrids of G. bell-shaped flowers. These and early season ‘Evie’, ‘James Roof’. G. x elliptica and G. fremontii are highly attractive to bumblebees. issaquahensis: ‘Glasnevin go by the name of G. x hummingbirds and a host of Wine’, ‘Pat Ballard’ Cultivars: ‘Austin Griffiths’, issaquahensis. native pollinators, including ‘Sentinel’, ‘Siskiyou Pink’ bumblebees.

12 JANUARY–MARCH DEPENDING ON CULTIVAR, WEATHER FEBRUARY

Rhododendron ‘Rosa Mundi’ White in bloom WHITE Rhododendron spp. FORSYTHIA distichum are best known as spring-blooming White forsythia is a relative shrubs, but a number of of the later-flowering species of this large genus common forysthia. It is a do produce flowers in winter small, multistemmed shrub, or early spring. These include native to the mountains of R. barbatum, R. dauricum, R. Rhododendron ‘Lee’s Scarlet’ Korea, where it is becoming White forsythia flowers lanigerum, R. moupinense, Evergreen rare. The plant has an R. mucronulatum, R. arching habit, becoming a Deciduous pemakoense, R. praevernum Height and width: Size shrub that is wider than tall. Height and width: 4 feet tall and R. strigillosum. A number varies by species and White flowers tinged with by 6 feet wide. of early-blooming cultivars cultivar. pink are produced on the Fragrance: Lightly fragrant. have been selected from Fragrance: Not fragrant. bare stems in mid-February. these species, and many Cultural requirements: Cultural requirements: The flowers are fragrant but hybrids have been produced. Full sun, summer irrigation, Sun to part shade, regular are sensitive to hard frosts, Bloom time is dependent requires annual pruning to summer water. so positioning the plant on winter temperatures, against a warm wall or with retain shape. Hardiness: USDA Zone 7. and quality of the blooms other protection is best. Hardiness: USDA Zone 5. can be affected by freezes Attractiveness to Because it produces long Attractiveness to or heavy rain. But under pollinators: Visited by early canes, it also makes a good pollinators: Attractive to favorable conditions these season bumblebees. candidate for espalier. are spectacular additions to honey bees. Cultivars: ‘Christmas the winter garden. One of Cultivars: ‘Roseum’. Cheer’, ‘Etta Burroughs’, the best known is ‘Christmas ’Harry Carter’, ‘Lee’s Scarlet’, Cheer’, which produces Nobleanum Group (Album, trusses of pale pink flowers Coccineum, Venustum), in February, while ‘Lee’s ‘Seta’, ‘Snow Lady’, ‘Peter Scarlet’ produces trusses of Faulk’, ‘Pink Snowflakes’, red flowers starting in late ‘Praecox’, ‘Rosa Mundi’. January.

13 FEBRUARY FALL–EARLY SPRING

Winter in full bloom Higan cherry in full bloom WINTER HIGAN CHERRY HONEYSUCKLE subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ and Lonicera standishii, ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ L. fragrantissimum, L. x purpusii Higan cherry is a variable species native to Japan. Most L. standishii and L. cultivated forms are spring- fragrantissimum are large, blooming small trees with a multistemmed shrubs that Winter honeysuckle flowers weeping habit. ‘Autumnalis’ Higan cherry flowers are native to China. L. x and ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ are purpusii is a hybrid between Semi-evergreen two cultivars that have an Deciduous the two species and is also Height and width: 8 feet tall upright habit and will flower Height and width: 20 feet a large, semievergreen by 10 feet wide. sporadically in fall and tall by 20 feet wide. shrub. All these plants form Fragrance: Very fragrant. winter when temperatures Time of bloom: Sporadically upright, arching plants in the are warm, followed by a flush garden. Flowers are small Cultural requirements: Full in fall, full bloom in early of flowers in early spring. spring. and white and produced sun, requires annual pruning Flowers on ‘Autumnalis’ are along mostly bare branches. to retain shape. semidouble and light pink, Fragrance: Not fragrant. Winter honeysuckle is not Hardiness: USDA Zone 5. while those of ‘Autumnalis Cultural requirements: Full particularly showy in bloom, Attractiveness to Rosea’ are deeper pink. sun; some summer irrigation. but the flowers are highly pollinators: Attractive to fragrant. Hardiness: USDA Zone 4. honey bees. Attractiveness to Cultivars: L. x purpusii pollinators: Attractive to a ‘Winter Beauty’. broad range of bees. Cultivars: ‘Autumnalis’, ‘Autumnalis Rosea’.

14 MID-FEBRUARY–MARCH FEBRUARY–MARCH

Cornelian cherry in full bloom Paper bush in bloom CORNELIAN CHINESE CHERRY PAPER BUSH mas Edgeworthia chrysantha

Cornelian cherry is an Chinese paper bush often unusual dogwood native is an item in collectors’ to southern Europe, gardens for good reason. which grows naturally as This shrub has sunny yellow a multistemmed shrub or or even orange-to-red late- Cornelian cherry flowers may be trained as a small winter blooms which are Paper bush flowers tree. The flowers are small also fragrant. The blooms Deciduous Deciduous and yellow, lacking the large are borne in drooping that make other Height and width: 15 feet silvery clusters and begin Height and width: 4–8 feet. well-known dogwoods such tall and 15 feet wide. to form in late summer, Fragrance: Fragrant blooms. popular spring-blooming making them attractive Time of bloom: Cultural requirements: Sun trees. However, they are throughout the winter Mid-February–March. or part-shade; some summer borne in abundance on the prior to opening. Individual Fragrance: Not fragrant. irrigation. bare stems at the end of flowers may begin to open winter, turning the entire Cultural requirements: Full in January. In full bloom, Hardiness: USDA Zone 8. plant yellow in the process. sun, some summer irrigation. clusters of tubular flowers Attractiveness to The flowers are followed by Hardiness: USDA Zone 4. hang from bare stems. This pollinators: Somewhat edible red, or, in some cases, Attractiveness to plant is also attractive in attractive to bees. yellow fruit. pollinators: Attractive to a the growing season, with Cultivars: ‘Gold Rush’, broad range of bees. long (to 5 inches) dark green ‘Snow Cream’, ‘Akebono’, leaves, which can give a Cultivars: ‘Aurea’, ‘Golden ‘Red Dragon’. tropical feel. Paper bush is Glory, ‘Variegata’. Other susceptible to winter freezes forms have been selected for and is best placed in a fruit qualities like ‘Elegant’, protected location. ‘Exotica’, ‘Pioneer’, ‘Red Star’, ‘Sunrise’, etc.

15 FEBRUARY–APRIL References

Bales, S. 2007. The Garden in Winter: Plant for Beauty and Interest in the Quiet Season. Rodale Books. Bourne, V. 2005. The Winter Garden: Create a Garden that Shines Through the Forgotten Season. Cassell.Buffin, M. 2005. Winter-flowering shrubs. Timber Press. Hardy, E. 2015. The Winter Garden: Over 35 step-by-step projects for small spaces using foliage and flowers, berries and blooms, and and produce. CICO Press. Hinkley, D. 1993. Winter Ornamentals: For the Maritime Northwest Gardener. Sasquatch Books. Pollet, C. 2017. Winter Gardens: Reinventing the Season. Francis Lincoln.

Winter hazel in full bloom Simeone, V. 2005. Wonders of the Winter Landscape: Shrubs and Trees to Brighten the Cold-Weather WINTER HAZEL Garden. Chicago Review Press. spp. Verey, R. 1995. The Garden in Winter. Timber Press.

About six species of this Asian native can be found at Index nurseries. Bloom and plant Coyotebrush...... 2 size vary. Most species are Strawberry tree...... 3 large deciduous shrubs, and Japanese fatsia...... 3 some can be developed into Holly osmanthus...... 4 small trees. In early spring Winter hazel flowers Mahonia eurybracteata...... 4 pendent clusters of small, Sasanqua Camellia...... 5 lemon-yellow flowers dangle Deciduous Chaparral currant...... 5 on bare branches. Branches Height and width: 4–15 Royal grevillea...... 6 Viburnum x Bodnantense...... 6 form a zigzag pattern, which feet. adds to the architectural Alpine heath, Irish heather, winter heath...... 7 beauty of this plant. The Fragrance: Fragrant blooms. Wintersweet...... 7 flowers are fragrant and Cultural requirements: Sweet box...... 8 Mahonia x media...... 8 attractive to pollinators. Sun or part-shade; summer Clematis cirrhosa...... 9 irrigation. Winter jasmine...... 9 Hardiness: USDA Zone 5–6. Witchhazel...... 10 Attractiveness to Loquat...... 10 pollinators: Attractive to Hazelnut...... 11 Paper Daphne...... 11 hummingbirds and honey Silk tassel...... 12 bees. Manzanita...... 12 Cultivars: ‘Golden Spring’, Rhododendron...... 13 ‘Spring Purple’. White forsythia...... 13 Winter honeysuckle...... 14

Higan cherry...... 14 Cornelian cherry...... 15 Chinese paper bush...... 15 Winter hazel...... 16

This publication will be made available in an accessible alternative format upon request. Please contact [email protected] or 800-561-6719. © 2020 Oregon State University. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Oregon counties. Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, genetic information, veteran’s status, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Oregon State University Extension Service is an AA/EOE/Veterans/Disabled. Published March 2020 16