Seeds and Seedpods for Winter
Adding Charm Through Seedheads in Winter Landscapes
A detailed discussion of how to add interest to the winter landscape through the use of seeds, seedpods and seedheads on plants.
Just because a flower doesn’t bloom in winter doesn’t mean it can’t still provide interest to the garden. These plants all have seeds or seedpods that catch the eye in the garden, or catch the snow and make beautiful sculptures in the landscape.
A tree you can utilize in the garden to provide winter interest is the Golden-Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata). Hardy in zones 5-9 this medium tree grows to a maximum of 30-40’ tall. Tolerating otherwise difficult areas this deciduous tree has brown Japanese lantern-shaped seedpods decorating it throughout the winter. These delicate looking seeds add an element of elegance to a winter landscape.
Purple-leaf Hazel (Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’) is a large shrub that provides a winter focal point. This upright shrub grows to 20’ tall in zones 5-8 and in the winter is covered in beautiful purplish catkins. It also produces edible hazelnuts making it an excellent addition to the garden.
A group of shrubs that holds interest during the winter is the Hydrangea spp. Whatever your favorite variety of this beloved flowering shrub happens to be, the large blossom clusters form lasting dried flower heads that benefit the winter landscape. Just let the last wave of blooms dry naturally and see how they continue to perk up the garden even after the color fades to a faint brown or pale white.
The Japanese Anemone is a late-summer blooming perennial. In the winter, however, the seed heads unfold into white cotton ball-like puffs. This herbaceous plant grows 2’ tall but the flower stalks come another 2’ above the bulk of the plant creating a unique look. Some varieties self-sow freely so be prepared for the possibility of volunteer plants.
Garden border favorites, all Coneflowers (Rudbeckia spp. and Echinacea spp.) have beautiful dried seed heads in the winter. The summer and autumn flowers dry and darken to contrast nicely with the winter snow. They also serve as snow catchers creating multi-dimensional interest in a garden snowscape
Many ornamental grasses also produce interesting seedheads in the late autumn that can be left standing through the winter months to create beautiful focal points in the garden. Instead of pruning them short in the fall, wait until the spring just before new growth begins and enjoy the dried stalks gleaming in the winter sun.
With so many plants to choose from I know adding interest to your garden in the winter with seeds and seedheads will be easy to do! See all six ways of using plants to add winter interest to the garden.
