We’re entering the time of year when seasonal depression becomes a problem for many people, and your garden is likely experiencing similar vibes: The leaves are falling, your shrubs are bare, and the ground has been left barren as the annuals and perennials die back.
Saddest of all are the shadiest spots in your garden, particularly the understory (the space under your trees), which has become a dark and muddy mess. But you don’t have to let the sadness overtake you—you can fill in these problem spots with blooming shrubs that can provide winter color and help ward off erosion.
The best colorful winter shrubs to plant in the shade
Pussy willow
Pussy willow is kind of glorious: Tall, woody olive spires of fuzzy, silver buds, these blooms will emerge in the coldest of weather, and will last until early spring. Pussy willow is fast growing and makes a spectacular screen when planted in a line.
Witch hazel
Witch hazel is like a burst of sunshine in the darkness of fall. Even better, it is capable of switching: You can grow it as a shrub or tree. In either case, the yellow flowers, fragrant enough to be noticeable from 10 feet away, will bloom from October through the New Year.
Red hook sedge
Planting Red hook Sedge is like planting the head of Red Fraggle in your yard. This sunset shaded clumping grass provides a perfect pop of burnt umber. Sedge will bloom in summer, but you don’t need it to bloom to enjoy its color—the grass provides vertical interest as well as an electric shock of red.
Dogwood
If Red hook sedge is a light in the dark, dogwood is a neon light. When it drops its leaves in November, it exposes its bright red twigs. Dogwood comes in a range of heights, from two to eight feet tall. Grown in an understory (under other trees), dogwood can appear like it’s being lit up from within.
Laurustinus
If you’re looking for actual blossoms through winter, Laurustinus will actually bloom from November through spring. This shrub bears white or pink clusters of blossoms that make way for bright electric blue berries, and while you can keep it well pruned, it can also grow to heights of 12 feet.
Winter heath
Winter heath grows low to the ground in mounds, and because it’s an evergreen, it will hold onto some of its leaves through winter. Starting in December, groupings of teardrop shaped hot pink blooms will appear and last for weeks. This is a hardy heather, so it will spread vigorously too.
