Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) is a good choice for an outdoor winter plant because it's an evergreen that keeps its leaves on its branches all winter long. It's drought-tolerant and thrives in both full and partial sun. Hardy to Zone 4, Japanese yews can survive harsh winters.
Cabbage, Kale, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Kohlrabi, Collard Greens, Celery, Spinach, Peas, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Radish, Beets, carrots, Lettuce, Arugula, Onions, Potatoes, Swiss Chard-all can handle light frost, but keep a cover handy for a sudden really cold dip (below 25 degrees F).
Pansies. Remarkable as a winter plant, Pansies can survive freezing coldness and can thrive vigorously when summer returns. Its “smiling face” flowers are vibrant in color and fragrance that can fill up your space with so much joy.
Most evergreen conifers, however, that have a strong central leader, such as: Japanese red-cedar (Cryptomeria); fir (Abies); spruce (Picea); and cedar (Cedrus) can be covered in snow without it causing a serious effect.
Perennials are a flower garden's backbone, providing beautiful color, texture and form. They are easy-care, dependable performers that come back every year. They also are: Uncommonly colorful thanks to foliage and/or flowers.
Fiberglass, lead, iron, heavy plastic, and stone are the best weather-resistant containers to use; terra-cotta will eventually expand and crack with repeated freezing and thawing. Assemble your designs early enough that the plants have time to acclimate to their new pots before the hard freeze.
Light freeze - 29° to 32° Fahrenheit will kill tender plants. Moderate freeze - 25° to 28° Fahrenheit is widely destructive to most vegetation. Severe or hard freeze - 25° Fahrenheit and colder causes heavy damage to most plants.
The only plants that don't go dormant during the winter are annuals, which are only capable of surviving for a single growing season, and must be replanted each year for continual enjoyment.
Planters made from modern substances, like fibreglass, fiberstone, and non-porous plastic composites can safely remain outside over winter. Fiberstone planters are made from a mix of limestone and fibreglass, which forms a material that looks like stone but weighs a fraction of the natural material.
Rosemary and sage are classic herbs for colds and sore throats. Both are known for their antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
Turns out, many plants do pretty well under snow cover. “Snow can act as a blanket, protecting new growth from extreme temperatures and wind while keeping the plants moist,” says Brooklyn Botanic Garden curator Michael Mauro, who tends Bluebell Wood.
Without snow, very cold temperatures can freeze the soil deeper and deeper. In wintry climates, this could lead to damage of root systems of trees and shrubs. Snow prevents extreme cold temperatures from harming plants.
Decorate With Leafy Greens
Leafy greens aren't just hardy—some of them actually taste better when exposed to frost. So when it starts to get cold out, fill your planters with kale, collards, and spinach. And for an extra-pretty garden, plant ornamental cabbage, too.
As a general rule of thumb, a perennial plant should be rated for two cold hardiness zones colder than your climate to be dependably hardy in a container through winter. For example, a gardener in USDA cold hardiness zone 5 can expect perennials rated for zone 3 or colder to survive the winter in containers.
All you have to do is give them some extra care to withstand the cold temperatures. One reason potted plants need extra TLC (tender loving care) in winter is that there is not much of a shield between the roots and the freezing temperatures.
Christmas Rose. This evergreen perennial blooms from winter to early spring depending on the selection and where you live (mostly early winter in warmer regions, and as late as February or March where it's very cold).
Name: Helleborus sp. commonly known as winter rose or Hellebore. Belongs: to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Origins: Europe to western China. Flowering: Winter to early spring.