Hardy geraniums, also known as cranesbill geraniums, received their name from the way their seed pods are shaped; they resemble a crane’s bill. Hardy spreading perennials called cranesbill geraniums are used as fillers between gardens and shrubs, as a low-growing border, and to conceal the barren “ankles” of taller plants. The care of cranesbills is not very demanding. Your cranesbill will thrive and spread cheerfully if you prune the clumps three times a year and fertilize once in the spring. Give cranesbills lots of space because they want to spread out and aren’t afraid to encroach on (smother) nearby plants.
In the early to midspring, just as growth starts to show, prune cranesbill geraniums.
Trim damaged and dead stems back to just above the crown. Cut back side branches to the crown or shorten them by several inches if your cranesbill is expanding beyond its original location.
- Hardy geraniums, also known as cranesbill geraniums, received their name from the way their seed pods are shaped; they resemble a crane’s bill.
- Hardy spreading perennials called cranesbill geraniums are used as fillers between gardens and shrubs, as a low-growing border, and to conceal the barren “ankles” of taller plants.
Midsummer or after the flowers have started to fade is the best time to prune cranesbill geraniums back to 6 to 7 inches. They will remain more compact as a result, and late summer will see another blooming burst.
In the early to mid-fall, prune faded flowers by making cuts just above a sturdy branch or bud.
Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Heuchera, often known as coral bells, has vibrant foliage from spring to fall and, in warmer climes, even into the winter. Coral bells shouldn’t be pruned in the late fall whether they are evergreen in your zone or not. Why? Through the winter, their foliage shields their crown. All you need to do is tidy up the plant in the spring to ensure another year of bright color!
Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Long-blooming perennial coneflowers (Echinacea) give bright color from summer till frost, but it doesn’t stop there. With noticeable seed heads, their flowers continue to be interesting long after they have faded. The seeds are adored by birds and other creatures, and they are frequently visited during the fall and winter by goldfinches, blue jays, and cardinals. You can always chop them if you’d prefer, but we advise leaving them standing in winter to bring texture and liveliness to the winter garden!
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Black-eyed Susans, commonly known as Rudbeckia, share the prominent center cones of coneflowers and can be kept standing throughout winter. In the late fall and winter, you can see birds sitting on their wasted seed heads, which gives the winter garden a little bit of interest and excitement! It won’t harm the plant if you choose to cut them for a neater winter appearance.
*In the fall and winter, we adore how their black dry seed heads appear in dried flower arrangements!
Ornamental Grasses
Even though ornamental grass is merely a perennial, planting it is a proven way to give your garden four seasons of pleasure! The landscape is enhanced by the height, color, movement, and structure of ornamental grasses. The foliage takes on rich gold tones even when it is dormant in the winter and retains its structure until it is chopped down in the spring.
*Dried plumes can be brought indoors for decorating or used to hold snow and frost in the landscape.
Ferns
What makes ferns so great? observing the springtime emergence of their fresh fronds and their summertime unfolding. The fronds give the garden a fluffy texture and rich green, purple, or silver hues. Even though they may lose some of their color in the winter, they continue to offer texture and guard the crown until the spring when fresh fiddleheads sprout. Wait till you see new fronds sprouting in the spring before cutting back old ones!
Milkweed (Asclepias)
As a perennial native plant, milkweed (Asclepias) is essential for year-round pollinator support. Its leaf provides food for Monarch caterpillars in the spring. Clusters of nectar-rich blooms provide food for bees, butterflies, and birds in the summer and early fall. Keep your milkweed standing in the late fall and winter to give nesting pollinators a place to hide. They’ll be grateful to you come spring!
Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)
Red hot poker, also known as Kniphofia, is a South African native that tolerates heat, humidity, and direct sunlight well. Temps throughout the winter? Despite the fact that some kinds are hardy down to zone 5, not really. To safeguard the crown, we advise leaving the foliage standing all winter. The flower stalks can be cut off, but save the rest of the cleanup for spring!
Cranesbill (Geranium)
Even in the winter, cranesbill (also known as geranium) is a hard-working perennial in the garden. They are semi-evergreen, which means that in moderate areas, they retain their green foliage throughout the winter. To enjoy some extra greenery during the winter, put off cutting the foliage back until April.
*You can always trim back cranesbill if you’d like if it isn’t an evergreen in your zone.
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Stonecrops (Sedum) may resemble indoor succulent plants in appearance, but they are surprisingly winter-hardy plants. Although their foliage and blossoms will wither away in the winter, we don’t advise cutting them. Why? On erect sedums, the dried flower stalks provide texture, color, and food for wildlife. They also have a lovely appearance while holding recently fallen snow!
False Indigo (Baptista)
Due to the sound-absorbing properties of snowfall, the garden is typically silent in the winter. Even though it’s inactive, false indigo (Baptisia) alters that by introducing texture, motion, and noise. Fall sees the replacement of spent blooms with seed-filled black pods that resemble tiny maracas. They make a little music when they rustle in the winter winds.