The quiet repose of the winter garden has always appealed to me. By January, the holly, viburnum and other berried shrubs and trees lose their berry show due to fruit desiccation and predation by birds and small mammals, but most of the pretty dry seedheads of grasses and perennial flowers remain in tact. A sprinkling of snow makes them look even more soft and ethereal.


Light snow caps the seedheads of orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa).

Canadian goldenrod develops a fluffy appearance by midwinter.

It's wise to selectively refrain from cutting back summer seeds and stalks during fall cleanup. Common garden plants like black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia) and coneflowers (Echinacea) look great in winter and their seeds feed birds. The plush, billowy seedheads of goldenrods (Solidago) are also keepers, if you don't mind a few volunteers (the same goes for most Rudbeckia and Echinacea). Spring volunteers are easy to weed out or dig and give to friends, so it's nothing to fear. Large orpine (Sedum telephium ssp. maximum) is one of my favorites for summer and winter interest. It's dried heads appear on very strong, upright stems that withstand the worst harsh winter weather, unlike many other tall, showy sedum.

The sturdy stems of large orpine hold broad, tawny seedheads that lend interesting texture and warm color to winter gardens.

The conical heads of Echinacea are pretty and the seed feeds winter birds, but the seeds that fall to the ground are sure to sprout.

Few gardeners keep their hosta stems up for show, but the dry, mature seedpods of these shade-loving plants are quite pretty when they open. The long, tall stems of Hosta plantaginea seedheads make them particularly ideal for winter interest. Another shade plant with complimentary seeds is Anemone japonica. Its branches of white button heads become fluffy as they age.

Mature hosta seeds are surprisingly pretty.

The fluffy white seeds of Anemone japonica begin to shatter and float away by January.

Winter grasses are even better for winter interest  and compliment the winter pretty the forbs listed above. Time to go out and shoot a few.