In Southern California, we’re fortunate to have mild weather, so winter is no excuse for a drab landscape. In fact, many plant varieties are at their best this time of year, and enhance winter landscapes with texture and color. Try mixing these plants to lend life, color and fragrance to your environment.

Perennials
‘ Angel’s Hair’ (Artemisia schmidtiana) is a one- to two-foot tall dome that boasts outstanding silvery white foliage. Used as a border edging or for foreground foliage color, ‘ Angel’s Hair’ should be planted in the fall and allowed to establish prior to winter. ‘ Ultra’ (Brachycome) is a compact grower with extra blue daisy-like flowers. It is an excellent addition to mixed plantings, as foreground color, or as striking filler among other foliage.

Annuals
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), English Primroses (Primula X polyanthus) and Fairy Primroses (Primula malacoides) provide reliable splashes of winter color. Good foliage color options for the winter months include ornamental cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and Dusty Miller (Centaurea cineraria).If you’re looking for fragrant color, try Stock (Matthiola incana).

Groundcover
Osteospermum fruticosum, also known as ‘ Freeway Daisy,’ seems happiest in our winters, and blooms heavily from November to March. ‘ Sparkler,’ the latest Southern California introduction, offers prolific, longer season color. For something different, try Bacopa‘ Snowflake’ (white) or ‘ Pink Domino’ (lavender-pink). These compact groundcovers love well-lighted areas, are effective as filler among broad-leafs, and retain color in mild winters.

Vines
Hardenbergia violacea features abundant lilac-colored flowers, is wind-tolerant and offers prolific displays of late winter color. Jasminum polyanthemum is a fast growing, evergreen vine and combines lots of pastel pink flowers with an attractive jasmine fragrance.

Shrubs
Azaleas and Camellias can display overwhelming color in cooler climates, but Southern California’s alkaline soils and water work against them. Successful performance is possible, however, by using peat moss as a soil amendment. Azaleas and Camellias should be planted now to establish themselves prior to winter.

Trees
The ‘ Purple Orchid’ tree (Bauhinia purpurea) is partially to wholly deciduous, but displays spectacular orchid-like flowers from January to April. This tree is ideally suited to our mild winters and its manageable root system is a good fit for small areas near streets and sidewalks. The ‘ Coral’ tree (Erythrina caffra) offers a striking display of winter color, but should be given plenty of room when planted. Another versatile favorite is the‘ Pink Melaleuca’ (Melaleuca nesophylla). Its pinkish flowers bloom throughout the year and, properly pruned, its spongy bark is a unique and attractive feature. This hardy evergreen tolerates wind, heat, rocky soils and variable watering.

For more suggestions, stop by any of the MWN facilities. We have solutions to your winter landscape needs.