Winter Interest Plants

Great Plains Yucca

White bell-shaped flowers on semi-woody stems Evergreen leaves are narrow, sword-shaped and gray-blue in colour Virtually stemless leaves form a foliage clump at soil level Bloom Time: Summer Flower Height: 150 cm Foliage Height: 80 cm

Yucca

White bell-shaped flowers on semi-woody stems Blue-green to grey-green spikes are lined with curly white filaments A selection of the species with a uniform, dwarf habit Bloom Time: Summer Flower Height: 150 cm

Colour Guard Yucca

White bell-shaped flowers on semi-woody stems Evergreen leaves are sword-shaped and green with a yellow variegation Virtually stemless leaves form a foliage clump at soil level Bloom Time: Summer Flower Height: 150 cm Foliage Height: 80 cm

Yucca

White bell-shaped flowers on semi-woody stems Evergreen leaves are sword-shaped and tinged green to blue Virtually stemless leaves form a foliage clump at soil level Bloom Time: Summer Flower Height: 200 cm

Barren Strawberry

AKA Geum ternata Mat-forming rhizomatous perennial Dark green to bronze strawberry-like leaves Saucer-shaped bright yellow flowers Evergreen foliage Bloom Time: Early spring to summer

Periwinkle

Glossy dark green evergreen foliage Trailing perennial White phlox-like flowers Quickly spreads to become an invasive ground cover; somewhat less vigorous than the species Bloom Time: Spring

Periwinkle

Trailing perennial Smooth evergreen foliage Beautiful blue phlox-like flowers Quickly spreads to become an invasive ground cover Bloom Time: Spring and intermittently throughout the summer

Prostrate Speedwell

Mat forming evergreen perennial Deep blue flowers with a white eye Flowers will form just above the foliage Deeply lobed gray-green hairy leaves Bloom Time: Mid to late spring

Hamilton Dwarf Cranberry

Dwarf trailing habit Tiny pink Bell-shaped flowers Tart-flavoured red berries in fall Dark-green evergreen foliage turning bright red in autumn

Jeddeloh Dwarf Canadian Hemlock

Very slow-growing flat-topped mounding irregular habit Bright green short needles are held on small red-brown branchlets Ideal as a focal point Low tolerance of dry sites or drought and wet, poorly-drained sites

Eastern Hemlock

Pyramidal growth habit when young Flat sprays of lacy short dark green needles Needles have two white bands underneath Small short-stalked cones are tan-brown Great as an individual specimen or for screening

Foam Flower

Compact clump forming habit with a non-trailing form Deeply cut green foliage with a black colour along the midrib Spiked pink buds open to tiny star-shaped pale pink flowers Bronze-red tinted foliage develops during the fall Makes an excellent ground cover for shady or wooded sites Bloom Time: Late spring to midsummer Foliage Height: 15 cm Flower Height: 25 cm

Foam Flower

Clump forming mounding habit with a non-trailing form Deeply cut green foliage with red veining Pink buds open to tiny pale pink star-shaped flowers forming spike-like racemes Bronze-red tinted foliage develops during the fall Makes an excellent ground cover for shady or wooded sites Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer Flower Height: 25 cm Foliage Height: 15 cm

Foam Flower

Compact clump forming perennial with a non-trailing form Slower growing than the species producing hairy sharply lobed green leaves with maroon-red stripes Pink buds open to tiny star-shaped fragrant white flowers forming spike-like racemes Bronze-red tinted foliage develops during the fall Makes an excellent ground cover for shady, wooded sites Bloom Time: Early to late spring Flower Height: 35 cm Foliage Height: 25 cm

Variegated Lemon Thyme

Mounding ground cover for a sunny border or rock garden Whorls of tiny lavender flowers appear on the stem ends Lemon-scented green leaves with dappled yellow margins Leaves are frequently used fresh or dried as a seasoning Bloom Time: Early summer

Lemon Thyme

Mounding ground cover for a sunny border or rock garden Whorls of tiny lavender flowers appear on the stem ends Lemon-scented hairless green leaves (1 cm long) Leaves are frequently used fresh or dried as a seasoning Bloom Time: Early summer

Creeping Thyme

AKA Thymus praecox 'Pink Chintz' Fast-spreading aromatic evergreen ground cover Tiny salmon-pink flowers mass over dark green foliage Strong grower that trails over rock walls or pavers Handles some foot traffic Bloom Time: Early summer to midsummer

Creeping Thyme

AKA Thymus praecox 'Magic Carpet' Fast-spreading aromatic evergreen ground cover Tiny pink flowers mass over dark green foliage Strong grower that trails over rock walls or pavers Handles some foot traffic Bloom Time: Early summer to midsummer

White Creeping Thyme

AKA Thymus praecox 'Albus' Fast-spreading aromatic evergreen ground cover Tiny white flowers mass over dark green foliage Strong grower that trails over rock walls or pavers Handles some foot traffic Bloom Time: Early summer to midsummer

Mother-of-Thyme

Taller than some other cultivars Fast-spreading aromatic evergreen ground cover Tiny purple to deep pink flowers mass over dark green foliage Strong grower that trails over rock walls or pavers Foliage turns purple during the cooler seasons Handles some foot traffic Bloom Time: Early summer to midsummer

Woolly Thyme

Low creeping evergray ground cover Forms a dense mat of gray-green foliage Strong grower that trails over rock walls or pavers Pale pink flowers occasionally appear Not as floriferous as other cultivars Handles some foot traffic Bloom Time: Early summer

Thyme

AKA Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin' Slow mat-forming evergreen cultivar for small spaces Plant between paving stones or in crevices Compact growth of gray-green tiny hairy leaves Pink flowers Tolerates some foot traffic Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Steeplechase Cedar

Broad pyramid habit Fine textured, deep green foliage Fast rate of growth at 50-60cm per year Dense and full making It ideal for hedge or privacy screen

Green Giant Cedar

Tall broadly pyramidal vigorous grower Flat sprays of green horizontally arranged foliage will not yellow in the winter Lends itself as a specimen, for group plantings or hedging Low tolerance for salt spray

Whipcord Western Cedar

Dwarf mounding habit with arching pendulous branches Light green whipcord-like tendril-like foliage resembling a mop Provides an interesting shape or texture to the landscape Bronze winter colour Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Zmatlik Cedar

Narrow upright habit Green scale-like sprays retain their colour all summer The sprays create a dense display of twisted and curled foliage Winter colour is an intense plum-bronze Low tolerance for salt spray

Yellow Ribbon Cedar

Semi-dwarf slow-growing evergreen Upright pyramidal habit New spring foliage emerges yellowish-orange Foliage matures to a lime-green colour in the summer Grow as a specimen or screening Low tolerance for salt spray

Woodward Cedar

Open, rounded to oval habit Gray-green foliage grows loosely in vertical sprays Turns a pale green colour in the winter Good as a foundation plant or in a group Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Sunkist Cedar

Upright pyramidal habit Golden-green foliage grows densely in vertical sprays Foliage turns orange-yellow in the winter An excellent plant for winter interest in a protected area Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Baby Bear® Dwarf Cedar

Dwarf upright selection with a conical habit Dark-green evergreen foliage

Rheingold Cedar

Dense, broadly globose, becoming conical with age Compact new foliage is golden-bronze, hardening off to yellow Excellent for a splash of colour and interesting texture Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Black Cedar

Upright, conical to pyramidal shape, with slightly arching branches Dark green foliage grows in vertical sprays A denser, darker selection from white cedar Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Little Giant Cedar

Dwarf cultivar with a dense, rounded to oval habit Light, gray-green foliage grows in vertical sprays Turns a paler green colour in the winter Good as a foundation or group Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Linesville Cedar

Dwarf, rounded or spherical habit Soft lacy sage-green foliage, very different from a typical cedar, changes to bronze-green in the fall and winter Use to add an interesting shape, colour or texture to the landscape Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Amber Gold Cedar

Brilliant yellow turns to an amber colour during winter The same narrow upright habit as an Emerald Cedar Can be planted as a focal plant or privacy screen Low tolerance for drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Highlights™ Cedar

Upright, narrow, becoming pyramidal in habit Golden foliage grows densely in vertical sprays Foliage colour remains consistent all year (tbd) An excellent plant for a pop of colour in a protected area Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Primo® Cedar

Dwarf, narrow and irregular-growing selection Rich deep green foliage that twists and turns Resembles the growing habit of Chamaecyparis obtusa Great for small or container gardening Slow growing (6-10cm per year) Low tolerance for salt spray

Holmstrup Cedar

Densely branched upright with a rounded to pyramidal habit Gray-green foliage grows densely in sprays An excellent plant for low screening Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Golden Globe Cedar

Evergreen shrub with a rounded to oval habit Bright golden-yellow foliage grows loosely in mostly vertical sprays Turns a pale coppery-yellow colour in the winter Good for foundation or group planting or as a golden accent Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Pyramid Cedar

Upright narrow habit Medium green foliage grows densely in vertical sprays An excellent plant for screening in protected shady areas Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Emerald Cedar

AKA Thuja occidentalis ' Smaragd' Upright narrow pyramidal habit Emerald-green foliage grows densely in vertical sprays Foliage colour leans toward bronze in winter An excellent plant for screening in a protected area Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Danica Cedar

Dense evergreen shrub with a rounded to oval habit Extremely slow-growing Bright green foliage grows in vertical sprays Foliage turns pale green in the winter Good for a foundation or group planting Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Fire Chief™ Cedar

Slow-growing compact with rounded habit Soft lacy bright golden foliage with a texture very different from a typical cedar Foliage turns a fantastic mix of oranges and reds in autumn Requires little maintenance Low tolerance for salt spray

North Pole® Cedar

Narrow pyramidal habit Emerald-green foliage grows densely in vertical sprays An excellent plant for screening where protected from wind Low tolerance of dry or drought conditions Low tolerance for salt spray

Eastern White Cedar

Upright pyramidal with slightly arching branches Light green foliage grows in flattened sprays Colour fades to a duller bronze-green Grows open with age, exposing inner branching Low tolerance for salt spray

Wall Germander

Shrubby clump forming perennial Tubular pink to purple flowers Flowers appear in clusters Evergreen aromatic foliage Scalloped dark green leaves Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Ward's Yew

Low-growing, wide-spreading habit Similar to Taxus cuspidata 'Nana', but faster growing and more horizontal Branches arch outward with erect young growth Narrow short-stalked dull green needles Small round fleshy red berries on mature stems Low tolerance for salt or wet, poorly-drained conditions

Sunburst Yew

Semi-dwarf dense mounding habit Ascending branches arch outward Narrow short-stalked green-yellow needles are a brighter yellow nearer the branch tips Small round fleshy red berries on mature stems Low tolerance for salt or wet, poorly-drained conditions