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Winter blooms in MA?
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Posted by isabella__MA z5_MA (My Page) on Wed, Nov 27, 02 at 12:58
| What plants will bloom over winter (in particular December/January) in SE Ma?
I already planted some spring heath (E. carena), common witch hazel, and hellebores (and aconite).
Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Winter blooms in MA?
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There are some Fall-blooming crocus:
Kotschyanus, Kotschyanus 'Albus', Cartwrightianus, Sativus, Speciosus(with wh middle & orange stamen) and Sternbergia 'Lutea' (not a true crocus, but will sometimes bloom in Jan). These can be gotten from K. Van Bourgondien & Sons but JohnScheepers/VonEnglen are generally cheaper for other bulbs. Are yours established bloomers? |
RE: Winter blooms in MA?
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| My favorite is Erica hybrida "Mediterranean Pink" (a.k.a. Winter Beauty). |
RE: Winter blooms in MA?
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| Might also suggest some other late fall bloomers: Anemone tomentosa, and any Colchicum such as autumnale. But again these are short bulbs and not bushes. |
RE: Winter blooms in MA?
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| Johnny jump-ups (self-seeding annuals) and pansies seem to bloom whenever its above freezing and they are out of the snow. Also, have you checked out any of the other witch hazels, like some of the hybrids? Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus feotidus) blooms quite early, but it's not a showy bloom. |
RE: Winter blooms in MA?
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Thanks for the replies.
My one hellebores is just starting to bloom. My witchazels(Virginia)were just planted this summer, and I got those from tripplebrook farm. They are to young to bloom. My aconite hasn't bloomed yet, but I think I can see the foliage. Actually, I forgot where I planted them. My Vinca minor groundcover is suffering; the leaves are turning black due to the snow cover. My newly planted corkscrew willow grew an amazing 4 feet. It is an interesting plant, as the winter color of the new growth is reddish.
My red-twig dogwoods didn't fare well. One was killed by being over shadowed by a voracious stand of Pokeweed, and the other was "pruned" by my neighbor. He thought it was a weed!? Actually, my biggest surprise has been my violas. I expected them to die during the summer, but they flourished. I then expected them to die this winer, but they just freeze then come back when it thaws out. I'll be planting more of these little guys!! |
RE: Winter blooms in MA?
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| I thought Van Bourgendien had closed except to wholesale...? |
RE: Winter blooms in MA?
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| Isabella, I too am officially Zone 5, (even though I cheated and planted some cannas right up against my foundation a year ago and had a super tropical look last summer - doubt that'll happen again-sigh.) I found that pansies will do the same as your violas, given a spot they can re-seed constantly. I also planted some primrose "pacific giants mix" (primula x polyantha veris) which I got for 90% off late in the season (they actually looked dead when I brought them home) but they have bloomed regularly off and on since last January! Whenever the snow cover melts off they seem to be popping out new flowers, and the rest of the time the foliage is looking pretty good. They're very low growing but now when everything else is frozen to the ground it's hard to complain about even the smallest dots of live color. You can also look for evergreens that aren't green - they come in blues, yellows, and variegated, sometimes even red or purple. Some Heuchera hold their color as well as candytuft and Shasta Daisy foliage. Lavender "hidcote" stays shrubby and just last season I planted some true Dragon's Blood sedum (some nurseries try to pass off other varieties) this one stays red all season, just plant it someplace where the sun will melt the snow off it quickly so you can appreciate it! I know these ideas aren't the "blooms" we are both seeking but better than nothing. Here are some plants which I haven't yet implemented into my garden but plan on trying - anyone else whose experimented with these plants please advise: winter daphne (Daphne odora) or Daphne mezereum, dwarf sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana humilis), Mahonia japonica, Winter sweet (Chimonanthus praecox), all of which are supposedly touted for their winter scent. I'm going to post separately to get more feedback on these plants for our zone hardiness, too. |
RE: Winter blooms in MA?
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| I have one particularly difficult spot - leucothoe (sp), mahonia, astilbe, and hostas have all given up and died there, too dry, too shady, too windy. Dwarf sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana humilis) was planted last spring and it still looks as good as when I put it in. There are little buds on it now; I can't wait to smell how it blooms. I'm buying more this spring to fill this N.W. planter. |
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