During the winter months many plants reveal subtle patterns, fine details, and a new range of colors that help us to see familiar beds and borders with fresh eyes. This is an excellent time to get outside, evaluate your garden’s bones, and make some plans for spring planting. In this episode, Danielle, Carol, and their guest explore some of the plants that fly a bit under the radar in winter but certainly deserve more attention. Do you have any of these underappreciated wonders in your landscape? If not, you may want to start digging holes as soon as the ground thaws to ensure that some of these unsung heroes get some well-deserved garden real estate. Will any of these winter beauties make it onto your wish list this year?

Guest: Jay Sifford is the owner and principal designer at Jay Sifford Garden Design in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Danielle’s Plants

Spotted wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata, Zones 4–8)

‘Peppermint Patty’ bergenia (Bergenia ‘Peppermint Patty’, Zones 4–8)

Moosewood (Acer pensylvanicum, Zones 3–7)

‘ReJoyce’ drooping laurel (Leucothoe axillaris ‘ReJoyce’, Zones 6–9)

Carol’s Plants

Golden Duke eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis ‘Monjers’, Zones 4–8)

American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana, Zones 3b–9)

‘Little Heath’ pieris (Pieris japonica ‘Little Heath’, Zones 5–9)

‘St. Mary’s Broom’ blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘St. Mary’s Broom’, Zones 2–7)

Expert’s Plants

American witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana, Zones 3–8)

‘Shades of Pink’ laurustinus (Viburnum tinus ‘Shades of Pink’, Zones 7b–10)

Blue conifers with assorted ornamental grasses

‘Louie’ white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Louie’, Zones 4–9)

Discover even more great plants with winter interest:

• An Inspiring Garden Design for Continuous Color
• How to Add Color to the Winter Garden

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm

Buy at Amazon

DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw with 6-Piece Saw Blade Set

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm
- DW4856 Metal/Woodcutting Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, 6-Piece

Buy at Amazon

Black and Decker 22-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers.
- 38 x 7 x 7 inches
- 6.9 pounds
- 1 Lithium Ion battery required (included)

Buy at Amazon

Scotts Cordless Grass-Shear/Shrub-Trimmer Combo

With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily.
- 13.5 x 3 x 5 inches
- Uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger

Buy at Amazon