From evergreen perennials and shrubs to cool-season annuals, these gorgeous potted plants are perfect for outdoor winter gardening.
Broad-leaved and needled evergreen shrubs are the workhorses of winter, providing enduring structure and color.
Variegated foliage and winter blooms bring unexpected color to containers and provide ample cuttings to bring indoors.
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Keep potted plantings interesting by layering plants with different textures, forms, and foliage colors.
Watering plants before an expected freeze arrives will help moderate soil temperatures inside containers.
Avoid terracotta pots in winter, as they are prone to cracking.
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This is to account for the colder temperatures that plant roots experience when growing in pots.
Dont let the name mislead you, this radiant nandina turns completely red in fall and brightens through winter.
In summer, the foliage softens to blush pink hues.
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Camellia
With evergreen foliage and winter blooms, camellias will quickly become your favorite winter potted plant.
Camellias bring weeks of blooms to the garden, withC.
sasanquavarieties flowering October through December andC.
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japonicablooming February through March.
Given the right care, camellias thrive in winter containers in hardiness zones 8 to 9.
Use a potting mix for acid loving plants and select a compact variety with good cold tolerance.
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Pot-grown camellias prefer partial shade or filtered sunlight and benefit from protection against winter winds.
Burning LoveTM Leucothoe
Winter is when this low-growing, mounding shrub shines.
With a compact habit,Burning LoveTM Leucothoeis perfect for pots.
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Given their adaptability, arborvitae are popular landscape trees.
This unique selection also tolerates the heat and humidity of Southern summers.
Grow in winter containers in hardiness zones 7 to 8.
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Pansies bloom for up to six months, coloring the winter garden in a range of cheerful hues.
Plants can be damaged by extremely cold temperatures.
Watch the weather and double-check the soil is moist before a freeze arrives.
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Cover plants with a sheet or layer of pine straw when air temperatures are expected to fall below 20F.
These hardy perennials will thrive in outdoor pots well into zone 6.
Boxwood
Boxwoods are hard-working shrubs, providing rich color and year-round structure.
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Many modern varieties are available with compact growth habits and low maintenance requirements.
These make ideal container plantings, as they hold their tidy rounded or globular forms with very little pruning.
Give boxwood plants large pots to accommodate their broad root system.
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Potted boxwood performs well in zones 7 to 9.
In colder areas, potted plants can be overwintered with a little extra protection.
Several varieties have colorful winter foliage, including the ruby-hued Autumn Princess and purple-bronze Autumn Fire.
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The foliage of Autumn Sundance takes on red hues in winter.
All three are dwarf selections well suited for pots in zones 7 to 9.
Foliage is evergreen in zones 6 and up.
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The lovely, sculpted foliage typically remains evergreen in zones 7 to 9.
The grasslike foliage complements broadleaf evergreens like hellebore and Bergenia, providing textural contrast.
Several variegated forms are available with bright gold or cream accents.
Variegated forms hold their color best in partial shade.
