Native Plants for Winter in Maryland

Coral Bells

Coral bells is a clumping perennial with showy flowers in late spring to early summer.  It is commonly used as a ground cover and is tolerant of dry soils situations.  The foliage has a wonderful texture and it’s color retains beauty through winter making it great for seasonal interest.  With many cultivars of varying colors you are sure to find one suitable for your garden design.  Also great in planters.

LGS Notes:

Heuchera are great for packing color and texture into shady spots, and some even thrive in sun as long as they don’t dry out too much.  I have the straight species as well as a number of hybrids and cultivars in my own garden!  They don’t like wet soil in winter and can be susceptible to frost heave, so situate them carefully and consider applying extra mulch or leaves around them during the cold season. –Amy

I enjoy the leaves of this plant that offer variety and color in a shade garden in the winter. The leaves are semi evergreen and often take on a winter hue as well. I second Amy’s note about frost heave. It’s important to make sure it gets tucked in and mulched with either leaves or mulch and reburied in the spring if the plants heave over the winter. –Lauren

I love this plant, but so do the deer in my neighborhood! So, instead of planting Heuchera in my beds, I’ve been enjoying them in my fall/winter container gardens, where they are better protected from nibbles. They look great planted with cool-season annuals like kale and pansies, and can hold their foliage color pretty well into the winter. I’m loving the ‘Berry Smoothie’ cultivar right now, for a pop of raspberry-red color. We are planning to carry the straight species Heuchera americana, as well as the cultivars ‘Dale’s Strain’, ‘Berry Smoothie’, ‘Citronelle’, and ‘Caramel’ in the nursery for spring 2021! –Jessica