Conifers don’t have to be the only plants you rely on for year-round interest in your garden. The following are a few plants that look great in every season thanks to their color, texture, and/or structure.
‘Ogon’ sweet flag
Name: Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist soil
Native range: Asia
The bright yellow straplike foliage stays true to color and shape all winter long.
‘Angelina’ sedum
Name: Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’
Zones: 5–8
Size: 4 to 6 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Native range: Europe
This is a workhorse ground cover that is bright yellow during the growing season and can take on some apricot hues in winter.
‘Goshiki’ false holly
Name: Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’
Zones: 6–9
Size: 5 to 8 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Native range: Japan
An evergreen dwarf shrub with yellow-and-green variegated foliage, ‘Goshiki’ has pointy holly leaves that offer great texture year-round.
Japanese clethra
Name: Clethra barbinervis
Zones: 5–8
Size: 10 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan
This multitrunk small tree has mottled and peeling bark, draping white summer flowers, and yellow fall color.
‘Ryusen’ Japanese maple
Name: Acer palmatum ‘Ryusen’ syn. ‘Ryu sei’)
Zones: 5–9
Size: 4 feet tall and 8 feet wide
Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan
A strongly weeping green leaved maple, this tree has wonderful form in winter and stunning greenish-hued stems.
‘Beni hime’ Japanese maple
Name: Acer palmatum ‘Beni hime’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide
Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan
A dwarf variety with a mounded shape, this maple has fabulous red, pink, and apricot spring growth; green leaves with red edges in summer; multiple colors in fall; and a light bluish bark in winter.
Christie Dustman has been a landscape designer for over 20 years. She gardens in Hyde Park, Massachusetts.
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