The winter blues have certainly set in around here. But thankfully we have a few plants outside that seem to have saved their best for last. Today Carol and Danielle are talking about winter stunners—trees, shrubs, and even a subshrub that look so gorgeous in January and February you’ll forget that technically it’s the “off-season.” Whether your winter is mild and wet, cold and dry, or you live where it snows seemingly every day, we’ve got some options that will help make the landscape seem vibrant.

Expert guest: Michelle Provaznik is the chief executive officer of the American Public Gardens Association. She lives and gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Danielle’s Plants

‘Wintergold’ white fir (Abies concolor ‘Wintergold’, Zones 3–8)

‘Goldilocks’ Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora ‘Goldilocks’, Zones 5–7)

Blue deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara cv., Zones 6b–9)

‘Divinely Blue’ or ‘Feelin’ Blue’

Coral bark maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’, Zones 5–9)

Carol’s Plants

American beech (Fagus grandifolia, Zones 3–9)

Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea, Zones 3–7)

Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamillia, Zones 5–8)

Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata, Zones 4–8)

Expert’s Plants

‘Panchito’ manzanita (Arctostaphylos × coloradensis ‘Panchito’, Zones 4b–8)

Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9)

Red osier/redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea, Zones 3–7)

Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus, Zones 3–8)