Plant a Garden for Winter Bouquets and Wreaths
We are fortunate to have so many plants thrive here in the misty Pacific Northwest. Learn how these can be used to make winter arrangements and wreaths that bring a breath of fresh air into your home this winter.
There is something magical about bringing the garden indoors or giving a piece of your garden to friends and family—especially in the dark days of winter. Having some plants in your landscape that can provide ornament even in the winter is a comforting notion, and what better way to celebrate the season than by harvesting this unique bounty? Below you will find a list of plants that provide a wonderful selection of textures, colors and fragrance for bouquets and wreaths in the winter months. They are also chosen because they perform well in the Northwest and adapt beautifully to a small, city garden. Trim carefully to maintain the integrity of your plant in the landscape and arrange the cuttings in vases or arrange on wreath forms to decorate indoors or out.
Trees
Dwarf Evergreen Magnolia -- Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’
Large
evergreen leaves with soft brown hairs on undersides and on young stems.
Golden Japanese Cedar -- Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan Sugi’
Evergreen conifer with golden yellow new growth that contrasts with older green growth.
Boxleaf Azara -- Azara microphylla
Airy sprays of broadleaf evergreen foliage and vanilla scented small yellow flowers in the late winter /early spring
Sweet Bay -- Laurus nobilis
Broadleaf evergreen with scented foliage; suitable for cooking with. Can be plucked from a wreath for use in the kitchen.
Lavelle Hawthorn -- Crataegus x lavalleei
Deciduous branches with clusters of persistent brick red to orange fruit.
Snow Gum -- Eucalyptus pauciflora niphophila
Broadleaf evergreen plant with grey-green aromatic leaves. Great for drying and using in a dry bouquet.
Shore Pine -- Pinus contorta var. contorta
Evergreen conifer with short needles in bundles of two. Makes a great wreath foundation and is good for sprays to anchor a bouquet.
Dwarf Golden Deodar Cedar – Cedrus deodara ‘Snow Sprite’
Dwarf evergreen conifer with white new growth that turns cream colored as it ages. Trim carefully as this is a slow growing plant!
Western Red Cedar - Thuja plicata
Evergreen conifer with graceful and fragrant boughs great for wreath foundations or swags.
Shrubs
Twig Dogwood -- Cornus ‘Flaviramea’, ‘Midwinter Fire’, ‘Sibirica’
Intensely colorful deciduous branches ranging from yellow to orange to deep red. In the case of ‘Midwinter Fire’ the range is all on the same plant stem. Great for exuberant vase arrangements by themselves or mixed with other plants.
Chokeberry – Aronia melanocarpa and A. arbutifolia
Deciduous shrub with persistent glossy black fruit. Full of antioxidants this would be a great arrangement to use for a get well gift!
Beautyberry -- Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’
Deciduous shrub with intensely bright purple fruits in tight clusters on the stem.
Pink Snowberry --Symphoricarpus ‘Scarlet Pearl’
Semi-deciduous shrub with blue green leaves if still present and small clusters of pinkish white fruit. Both stem and fruit tend to drape so this plant is great for elegant vase arrangements with other upright evergreen stems.
Variegated Laurustinus – Viburnum tinus ‘Variegatum’
Broadleaf evergreen with multiple shades of green edged with cream. Flowers develop fall through winter and can sometimes be forced to open in the winter. Makes a great addition to wreaths.
Variegated English Boxwood -- Buxus sempervirens ‘Aureovariegata’
Broadleaf evergreen has small curled leaves with yellow margins.
New Zealand Tea Tree – Leptospermum scoparium
A New Zealand native with small broadleaf evergreen leaves. Provides delicate contrast to larger coarser leaves and has aromatic qualities.
Sweet Box – Sarcococca confusa and ruscifolia
Glossy broadleaf evergreen plant with small lance shaped leaves and winter bloom. Flowers are intensely fragrant though not showy; late winter bloom. Great for vase arrangements; will scent an entire room.
Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis
Mediterranean evergreen shrub with needle like leaves that are intensely aromatic and edible. Great for wreaths and sprays and vase arrangements. Late winter bloom with tiny bluish flowers.
Dwarf Golden Threadleaf Cypress -- Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera Aurea Nana’
Evergreen conifer with lacy drooping and freshly aromatic foliage. Great for wreaths, swags and vase arrangements.
Variegated Japanese Holly -- Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’
Broadleaved evergreen with holly-like leaf in striking color combinations of green, cream, pink, orange, yellow and white. A slow grower so prune sparingly.
Wintercreeper -- Euonymous fortunei ‘Emerald n’ Gold’ or ‘Emerald Gaiety’ Broadleaved evergreen shrubs / groundcovers with variegated leaves. ‘Emerald and Gold’ has green and gold while ‘Emerald Gaiety’ has green and white variegation. Both often have pink thrown into the mix.
Salal – Gaultheria shallon
Classic broadleaf evergreen used for vase displays as a background foil to other showier stems and flowers.
Variegated Italian Buckthorn – Rhamnus alaternus ‘Variegata’
Fine textured broadleaf evergreen with green marbled leaves and white margins.
Tall Oregon Grape – Mahonia aquifolium
Glossy broadleaf evergreen with holly like leaflet margins on compound leaves. The fragrant yellow winter blooms are very attractive to over-wintering Anna’s Hummingbirds so don’t cut them all for arrangements!
Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick – Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’
Deciduous with contorted stems and graceful drooping catkins throughout the winter. Makes a great architectural vase arrangement all alone.
To learn more about the cultural needs of these plants please contact the Garden Hotline. Keep an eye out for Seattle Tilth classes on sustainable landscapes
and learn about edible trees and shrubs to add to the landscape.
