Rethinking Winter Interest in Virginia Gardens (Stop asking your garden designer for evergreens)
One of the most common design questions I receive is about winter interest. Many homeowners expect their gardens to maintain strong visual interest throughout the winter, but in Virginia, this expectation simply doesn’t align with our ecology. Take a walk or a hike in February…The striking bark of our native landscapes is in a season of rest and recovery.
Instead of forcing artificial year-round color, embrace the subtle beauty of dormancy and the quiet structure of the season.
Historically, many of the evergreens we rely on for winter interest—such as English ivy, privet, mahonia, and non-native hollies—have become invasive and disrupt our winter habitats.
Let’s look at the native plants that have always played a role in Virginia’s winter landscapes.
Native Evergreens of Virginia
While Virginia has fewer evergreen species compared to other regions, those we do have are resilient, beautiful, and ecologically beneficial. These plants provide essential food and shelter for wildlife, prevent soil erosion, and yes, will give you something green in our final season of the year.
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
A staple of the eastern U.S., American holly is one of the most iconic native evergreens. Its glossy green leaves and bright red berries provide striking contrast in winter landscapes. It is slow-growing but well worth the investment for its year-round structure and wildlife value. Birds, including cedar waxwings and robins, rely on its berries for food.
Pine Trees
Virginia is home to several native pine species, each offering unique characteristics:
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus):
A soft-needled pine with a graceful form, commonly found in forests and landscapes.
Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida):
A tough, adaptable tree that thrives in poor soils and even regrows after fire.
Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana):
A scrappy, fast-growing pine often found in old fields and along roadsides. It may not be the most ornamental, but it provides essential habitat and winter interest in naturalistic plantings.
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
One of the hardest-working native evergreens, Eastern red cedar is a valuable wildlife plant that thrives in poor soils and harsh conditions. Its blue-gray berries are a favorite of birds, and its dense foliage provides excellent windbreaks and privacy screening. Often overlooked in favor of exotic junipers, this species deserves a place in more landscapes.
Sedges (Carex spp.)
Though not true evergreens, many native sedges hold their structure and color through the winter, offering a soft, grass-like presence when most other plants have gone dormant. Species like Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge) and Carex flaccosperma (blue wood sedge) maintain a semi-evergreen appearance and work beautifully in woodland gardens and naturalized plantings.
Carex pensylvanica
Carex flaccosperma
Embracing a Naturalistic Winter Garden
Winter invites us to slow down and notice the details that often go overlooked. Without the distraction of flowers and lush foliage, subtle elements take center stage—the peeling bark of river birch, the sculptural seed heads of rudbeckias, and the way frost clings to grasses. These quiet details add texture and movement to the winter garden, making it a season I can (even a little bit) appreciate, rather than endure.
Leaving perennials standing through winter not only enhances this natural beauty but also provides crucial habitat for wildlife. Seed heads offer food for birds, and hollow stems become shelter for overwintering pollinators. Instead of cutting everything back in fall, let nature take its course—your garden will reward you with unexpected winter interest.
Winter: The Perfect Time to Evaluate Garden Structure
I’ll join landscape architects who emphasize that winter is the best time to assess the bones of your garden. Without layers of perennials and leafy growth, you can clearly see where the space feels empty or unbalanced. Where does your eye go in winter? Do you have a natural focal point, like a framed view, a sculptural tree, or an architectural element such as a gate, arbor, or birdbath? (Do you need one?)
A well-designed garden should have structure that carries it through all seasons. If certain areas feel barren, consider adding native evergreens for year-round presence or incorporating hardscape elements like stone walls, pathways, or trellises to create depth and definition. Observing your garden now will help you make intentional improvements that enhance its beauty in every season.