Asters (Asteraceae)
Perennial. Asters come in a variety of colors and heights, and can provide a late-season source of pollen for bees and other pollinators. Plant in full sun. USDA All Zones.

Chrysanthemums
Perennial. Varieties can be daisy-like, pompons, spoons, singles, decorative, anemones and standard. Flowers range in colors from white, off-white, yellow, gold, bronze, red, burgundy, pink, lavender and purple. Plant in full sun. USDA Zones 3-9 , hardiness varies with cultivar.

Pansies (Viola tricolor)
Annual. Pansies come in a wide range of colors and are a perfect flower for the winter landscape. This plant is durable and winter-hardy. Plant in full sun or partial shade. USDA Zones 4-8.

Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Herbaceous Perennial. Woody multi-stemmed plant 3 to 4 foot tall with silver-grayish leaves. Small tubular flowers bloom on tall spires in blue or lavender. Drought tolerant. Plant in full sun, it likes heat! USDA All Zones.

Heavenly Bamboo (Nadina domestica)
Evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub. Leaves turn fiery crimson in the winter and has shiny red berries. Plant in sun or shade, but leaves color better in the sun. USDA Zones 4-10.

Witch Hazel (Corylopsis)
Deciduous shrub. For winter flowers, the Witch Hazel shrubs like those at the entrance to Lithia Park, put on a glorious display in Jan/Feb. Slow growing 8 to 20 feet tall, and as wide. Fragrant flowers bloom on bare branches. Flowers in yellow, bronze, orange, red-orange, copper-red or red. Plant in full sun or part shade, protect from wind. USDA Zones 4-8.

Burning Bush (Euonymus Alatus)
Deciduous shrub. Slow growing to 15 feet tall, and as wide; it can be pruned to be maintained as a shrub. Dwarf varieties grow 6 to 8 ft. Inconspicuous flowers in the spring. Leaves turn a brilliant flaming red in the fall. Plant in full sun. USDA Zone 4-9

Japanese Barberry(Berberis thunbergii)
Deciduous shrub. Grows 4-6 feet tall with equal spread if not sheared. Flowers appear in May. Fruits are red oblong berries persisting on the plant into winter. Leaves turn attractive shades of red and orange in the fall. Plant in full sun. USDA Zones 4-8

Note: Japanese Barberry has been labeled an invasive species on the East Coast.
Please read the following for possible alternatives for Japanese Barberry: http://perrysperennials.info/articles/barberry.html

Hypericum Mystical Orange™ (Hypericum inodorum)
Deciduous shrub. Grows multi-stemmed upright spreading branches. Height 3 feet. Produces bright yellow flowers early spring to mid-summer. Forms striking orange berries which last through the fall. The berries have become a mainstay in floral arrangements. Plant in full sun. USDA Zones 5-9.

Other Mystical series: Mystical Beauty™/ pink berries, Mystical Red Star™/red berries, Mystical Black™ / black berries.

Flowering Kale (Brassica oleracea)
Annual, cool season. Attractive ruffled foliage in variations of green & white, pinks, purples, and reds. Height 18 inches. Grows well in pots, group with other winter-hardy flowers. Plant in full sun or partial shade. USDA All zones.

Calendulas
Annual. Calendulas are a very prolific, easily grown flower. Also known as “Pot Marigolds”. They can provide blooms late in the fall and early winter.

Snapdragon are also an easy to grow annual, and while most varieties are early summer bloomers, they often bloom again in cooler fall weather and provide blooms into winter.

Hardy Cyclamen
Perennial. A showy small autumn flowering hardy type of Cyclamen
USDA zones 5-7.

Helleborus (Christmas Rose) is also winter bloomers. USDA zones 4-9.
Both Hardy Cyclamen and Helleborus prefer a shady spot in the garden.

Berried bushes make a splash of color when planted in pots and one that comes to mind is the Beautyberry (Callicarpa), although be aware it will out grow its pot quickly. Plant in full sun or partial sun. USDA zones 6-10.

There are more, but this should get you thinking about fall color and winter flowers!

Gena Goddard
Mary Ann Wallace
Horticulture Committee

For more winter flower suggestions read AGC Article, “Mid-Winter Madness” :
https://ashlandorgardenclub.org//2011/02/mid-winter-madness.html

May the Luck of the Irish be with You…..Lucky Shamrocks!

Irish folklore tells that in the 5th century Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity to the Druids. The word shamrock is derived from the Celtic word, “trefoil”, three-leafed, or “little clover”. Trifolium repens is the small white clover that is found in lawns and is used as a green manure cover crop. The Irish consider this to be the true shamrock, and is not the same shamrocks sold in nurseries for Saint Patrick’s Day.

Nowadays, the shamrocks sold for St. Patrick’s Day are members of the Oxalidaceae family. Oxalis are bulbous fibrous- rooted perennials which readily multiply, the genus has over 500 varieties and are native to South Africa and South America. Oxalis plants have photonastic movement which means they respond to light, so on a cloudy day and at night their leaves fold down. Their delicate clover-like leaves range in color from soft green, dark green, purple or a variegated mixture of these colors. Flowers come in a variety of colors: white, cream, yellow, pink, purple or red. The most common Oxalis Shamrocks sold for St. Patrick’s Day are:

Oxalis regnelli (Lucky Shamrock):
Exposure: Indirect sun, light shade
Hardiness: Zones 6-10, anywhere indoors
Height: 6″-8″
Foliage Color: Green
Flower Color: White

Oxalis triangularis (Purple Shamrock):
Exposure: Indirect sun, light shade
Hardiness: Zones 6-10, anywhere indoors
Height: 7″-10″
Foliage Color: Purple
Flower Color: White to light pink

Oxalis deppei (Iron Cross Shamrock):
Exposure: Indirect sun, light shade
Hardiness: Zones 8-10, anywhere indoors
Height: 10″-12″
Foliage Color: Soft Green with purple cross-shaped markings
Flower Color: Rosy pink flowers

Outdoor Care: Oxalis regnelli and Oxalis triangularis are hardy in zones 6-10. There are hardier varieties that can be grown outdoors as a ground cover. These plants are invasive and considered a weed in some areas. Many people grow them as houseplants to maintain control. Pots can be set outdoors in the summer then brought indoors in the fall before frost. Plant shamrocks in 2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part sand and grow in bright indirect sunlight. While growing fertilize weekly with a balanced fertilizer. Shamrocks require a dormant period, so let them rest when they start dying back. Restrict all watering and fertilizing. Let the leaves die back naturally and remove them only after they have all turned brown. Let the plant stay dormant for 3 to 4 weeks, then start watering and fertilizing again.

Indoor care: Keep plant in a well-lit location (east or west window) away from hot and cold drafts at temperatures of 60-70F during the day and 55-65F at night. They should be kept barely moist at all times and not allowed to stand in water as that will cause root rot. Fertilize every 2 -4 weeks with a houseplant fertilizer. After bloom, if the plant dies back, allow it to go dormant for 1-3 months. The corms should be kept cool and dry. After dormancy, repot and or divide the corms (optional). When signs of new growth emerge, begin to water, fertilize and move to a sunny spot. For most indoor-grown shamrocks this dormant period occurs 2 to 3 times a year.