The best Maryland native plants for winter interest are the ones with bright berries, standing seed heads, striking bark or evergreen leaves. American holly, Eastern red cedar, Witch-hazel, River birch and coneflowers all keep a yard looking alive from November through March. Mix a few from each group below and your garden will have something to look at even in February.
As a new gardener, I used to think of winter as the off season. But a garden that only looks good in June is missing half the year.
What "winter interest" means
Winter interest is garden-speak for anything that still looks good once the leaves drop. In Maryland, the first frost usually arrives around October 31, and the last frost is around April 10 (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). That is roughly five months of bare ground if you only plan for flowers.
Winter interest usually comes from five things:
- Berries and fruit that hang on the branches
- Seed heads left standing after flowers fade
- Bark and branch shape, which you finally see once leaves are gone
- Evergreen leaves or needles
- Late bloomers that flower when almost nothing else does
Bonus: many of these also feed birds through the hungry months. More on that in the Maryland bird-friendly plants list.
Quick picks at a glance
| Plant | Type | Sun | Winter interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winterberry | Deciduous shrub | Sun to shade | Red berries on bare stems |
| American holly | Evergreen tree | Sun to shade | Glossy leaves, red berries |
| Eastern red cedar | Evergreen tree | Sun to shade | Dense green form, blue berries |
| Witch-hazel | Shrub or small tree | Part shade, shade | Yellow flowers Sep-Dec |
| Coralberry | Shrub | Part shade, shade | Clusters of pinkish-purple berries |
| Staghorn sumac | Shrub or small tree | Sun to shade | Fuzzy red fruit clusters |
| River birch | Tree | Part shade | Peeling, papery bark |
| American sycamore | Large tree | Sun to shade | White, patchy bark |
| Eastern purple coneflower | Perennial | Sun, part shade | Dark seed heads |
All of these are native to Maryland.
Berries and fruit
Berries are the showiest winter feature, and birds love them. A shrub full of fruit in December is basically a bird feeder you never have to refill.
Winterberry
Winterberry may be the most striking winter shrub on this list. After its leaves drop, the stems stay covered in bright red berries, which look especially good against snow or an evergreen backdrop. It grows 6 to 10 feet, takes sun to shade and handles wet soil well. Only female plants make berries, so plant a male nearby for pollination.
American holly
American holly is the classic Maryland winter plant. Its spiny, glossy leaves stay green all year, and female trees carry red berries into winter. One catch: hollies come as male and female plants, and only females fruit, so you need a male nearby. Berries attract birds and small mammals, and the dense branches offer cover and nesting sites. It grows in sun to shade and is a larval host for the Henry's Elfin butterfly.
Coralberry
Coralberry is a shrub up to about 6 feet that handles part shade and shade. It is known for clusters of small coral to purple berries that cling to the stems into winter. Songbirds, ground birds and small mammals use it for food and cover. It tolerates dry soil, which makes it handy for tough spots.
Sumacs
Staghorn sumac and Smooth sumac both carry upright clusters of fuzzy red fruit that last through winter. Smooth sumac berries are eaten by birds and small mammals in winter, and Staghorn sumac berries attract robins, mockingbirds and 30 or more other species. Both are drought tolerant. Fair warning: sumacs spread by suckers (new shoots from the roots), so give them room.
Nannyberry
Nannyberry is a tall shrub or small tree, up to 30 feet. Squirrels and birds eat its winter fruit, and it grows in sun or shade.
Seed heads
Seed heads are the dried flower centers left behind after blooming. Leave them standing and they add texture, catch snow and feed finches and sparrows.
- Eastern purple coneflower leaves dark, spiky domes on stiff stems.
- Black-eyed Susan holds small dark seed heads, and birds eat the seeds.
- Hollow Joe-pye weed is 5 to 7 feet tall with big fluffy seed heads. Its seeds feed the Swamp Sparrow.
- Sweetgum is a tree, but its spiky seed balls hang on through winter and attract birds.
The trick here is simple: do not cut these back in fall. Wait until spring.
Bark and branch structure
Once leaves drop, bark takes center stage. This is where trees earn their spot in a winter garden.
River birch
River birch has peeling, papery bark in shades of tan, salmon and cream. It likes moist soil and handles wet areas well, which makes it a good pick for low spots. See more in the Maryland wet soil plants list.
American sycamore
American sycamore is a giant, up to 150 feet, so it needs space. In winter its upper bark peels away to show white patches that almost glow against a gray sky. It has high deer resistance, and hollow trunks give chimney swifts nesting sites.
American beech
American beech has smooth gray bark that looks great in winter. Young beech trees also tend to hold their dry, tan leaves until spring, which rustle nicely in the wind. Beech nuts feed many kinds of wildlife.
Evergreens
Evergreens are the backbone of a winter garden. They give the eye somewhere to rest and give birds shelter from wind and snow.
- Eastern red cedar is tough as nails. It handles dry soil and poor ground, and cedar waxwings eat its berries. It also provides nesting material and cover.
- Eastern white pine has soft, long needles and attracts birds and mammals for food and shelter. It can get very tall, so plan accordingly.
- Mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub for part shade. It is a larval host for the laurel sphinx moth. All parts are toxic, so keep that in mind around pets and kids.
- American holly belongs here too, since its leaves stay green all year.
Winter bloomers
Witch-hazel
Witch-hazel is the star of the off season. It blooms from September into December, with spidery yellow flowers that often appear after the leaves fall. It grows 10 to 15 feet tall in part shade or shade, and handles dry to moist soil. Birds eat the seed capsules. If you want flowers in the yard around Thanksgiving, this is your plant. You can find other late bloomers on the Maryland November blooms page.
Putting it together
You do not need all of these. A simple winter-friendly bed might look like this:
- One evergreen for structure, such as American holly or Eastern red cedar.
- One berry shrub, such as Coralberry or a sumac.
- One bark tree if you have room, such as River birch.
- A patch of perennials like coneflower and Black-eyed Susan, left standing all winter.
- A Witch-hazel near a window or path so you actually see the flowers.
Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs in Maryland, since cool weather is easier on new roots. For seeds and spring timing, check the Maryland sowing calendar. To browse more options by sun and soil, try the plant finder or the full Maryland native plants page.
The short version
Plan for winter the same way you plan for summer. Pick a mix of evergreens, berries, bark and seed heads, then skip the fall cleanup on your perennials. Your yard will look better from November to March, and the birds will thank you in their own way, probably by eating everything.