Winter doesn't have to spell the end of your landscape; in fact, choosing the right plants for your winter garden can help you create a space that is alive with texture, color, and personality! If you're looking to add a little cold weather pizazz to your landscape this season, we've got the best winter plants for gardens anywhere in the Quad Cities. From evergreen shrubs to colorful berries and ornamental grasses, our expert plant picks and care tips will keep your outdoor space captivating all year long!

 

Evergreen Shrubs: The Backbone of Winter Gardens

Evergreen shrubs are a must-have for any winter landscape. These resilient plants keep their foliage year-round, providing a constant splash of greenery even when the rest of your garden takes a winter break. Here are some of our top evergreen shrub recommendations for Bettendorf winter gardening:

Holly (Ilex)

Holly is a standout winter shrub. Its bright red berries and glossy green leaves offer the perfect combination of color and texture that instantly brightens up any winter garden. Holly also attracts birds, making your garden feel more alive during the quieter months. Look for Meserve hybrid hollies to ensure your shrub is hardy and will perform well in Iowa.

Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)

If you're looking for something a little different this year, look no further than Wintercreeper! Wintercreeper offers unique variegated leaves with shades of cream, gold, and green that provide year-round interest. Its creeping habit makes it great for covering walls or slopes, and it's as tough as they come.

Yew (Taxus)

Yews are slow-growing, dense evergreens known for their needle-like foliage and adaptability, making them excellent as hedges, foundation plantings, or standalone specimens. Yews stay green year-round and can tolerate deep shade, making them ideal for areas that receive less sunlight during winter.

 

Juniper (Juniperus)

Junipers are versatile evergreens that come in a range of shapes and sizes, from ground-hugging varieties to tall, upright shrubs. Their blue-green foliage and the berry-like cones found on certain varieties add unique texture and color to winter landscapes.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica')

This slow-growing, compact conifer is perfect for adding a formal element to small gardens and container plantings. Its dense, bright green needles provide year-round interest, and its natural pyramidal shape adds a touch of elegance to any outdoor space.

Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)

Rhododendrons are another broadleaf evergreen that offers lush green foliage all winter long. While their famous blooms appear in the spring, the thick leaves stay vivid as temperatures drop, adding structure to your garden during the colder months.

Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica)

Japanese Pieris, also known as "Lily of the Valley Shrub," is an elegant evergreen that adds year-round beauty with its glossy, dark green leaves. It also produces stunning white or pink flowers in late winter that dangle like delicate bells.

 

Colorful Berries: Nature’s Winter Jewels

Adding plants that produce colorful berries enhances your garden's aesthetic while also providing a vital winter food source for wildlife. Birds will be particularly frequent visitors to your winter garden if you include these berry-producing plants in your winter landscape design this year:

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Winterberry is a deciduous holly that sheds its leaves in the fall, leaving behind striking red berries that cling to its branches all winter long. The contrast of the bright berries against the crisp white snow is stunning, making this plant a favorite for cold-weather landscapes.

Beautyberry (Callicarpa)

For something a little more unique, consider Beautyberry, known for its vibrant purple berries that cling to the branches well into winter. These clusters of berries add an unexpected pop of color that's sure to catch the eye.

Crabapple (Malus)

Crabapples are often overlooked for their winter appeal, but their small, decorative fruits add beauty long after the tree sheds its leaves. Plus, crabapple fruits persist well into winter, offering both a burst of color for your landscape and food for winter birds.

 

Striking Grasses: Texture and Movement in the Winter Garden

Ornamental grasses are an excellent way to add texture and movement to your winter landscape. Even after they've gone dormant, their dried stalks continue to sway in the breeze, adding a sense of movement to your garden amid the winter stillness. Here are a couple of our favorites:

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)

Fountain grass, with its arching stems and feathery blooms, creates a soft, flowing effect that looks stunning in winter gardens. Its tan seed heads can be left standing to catch the frost and light snow, adding a delicate touch to your landscape.

Maiden Grass (Miscanthus)

Maiden grass comes in many varieties all with clumping, vase-like habits and beautiful seeds heads that add motion and movement to the garden in any season.   Their dense foliage provides cover and nesting material for birds. 

Perennials for Winter Interest: Doing Double Duty for Indoor and Outdoor Beauty

Some perennials hold their structure beautifully through the winter, offering both outdoor appeal and indoor decor potential. By leaving the seed heads of certain plants intact, you can enjoy their beauty all season long, both in your garden and as part of dried floral arrangements. Give some of these winter perennials a try this season!

Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)

Hydrangea blooms take on a papery, dried quality as the season progresses, but they remain stunning throughout the winter. Their large, globe-shaped flowers provide outdoor interest and make fantastic additions to dried bouquets for your home.

Coneflower (Echinacea)

Coneflowers are known for their daisy-like blooms, but their seed heads are equally captivating when left on the plant during winter. They also provide a vital food source for birds, making them a win-win for wildlife-friendly gardens.

Iris (Iris spp.)

Iris seed pods bring an architectural element to your winter garden, with their tall, upright structure adding interest to any planting bed. They're also fantastic in dried arrangements, offering a bold and modern look.

Creating Seasonal Interiors: Bringing the Outdoors In

Winter gardening doesn't have to be limited to the garden; many of these grasses and perennials—such as dried pampas and fountain grass, hydrangea blooms, and coneflower seed heads—also make incredible additions to your home's decor as part of unique, eye-catching winter displays. Whether you place them in vases or arrange them in wreaths, these elements help blur the line between your indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a cohesive seasonal vibe.

Winter doesn't have to mean a dull, lifeless garden. By choosing the right plants for your winter garden, you can create a space that stays beautiful and engaging as the rest of the world goes dormant. From evergreen shrubs to vibrant berries and striking grasses, these top winter garden plants ensure your outdoor space remains full of life, even in the cold. 

Whether you're looking to enhance your curb appeal or bring a touch of nature indoors, winter interest plants offer endless possibilities for creative, year-round gardening. Come visit us today, and we'll help you get your winter garden ready for a fantastic season!