The top 15 most valuable perennials and ornamental grasses for autumn & winter months
Welcome to all new members! How wonderful to see more and more people, from both home and abroad, joining this community, all with the same goal: making this world as beautiful and green as possible. I am really looking forward to the new year, where I can share my plant knowledge and design expertise with you. And with the prospect of my new nursery, where I’ll be growing plants for my projects, there is so much exciting happening in this field.
I believe that gardens will play an increasingly important role in our lives in the coming years. Amidst all the doom scenarios we hear about today, with disasters seemingly always on the brink of becoming irreversible, the garden is a place where life is simple, small-scale, and above all, peaceful. It’s a space where humans and animals coexist in the moment, seeking calm and refuge. Watching animals and insects foraging for food, building nests, and raising new generations reflects how the world truly works. It’s really not that complicated. Life flows gently with the seasons... just like the cycle of plants.
The autumn and winter months symbolize the hustle and bustle of preparing for the new year, followed by a period of rest. In the past, these seasons were completely overlooked in the gardening world, but fortunately, we are now seeing their beauty and embracing it to our benefit.
With immense gratitude for the fact that we live with seasons, I dedicate this blog to the autumn and winter months. These months, once dismissed as uninteresting, have been transformed into something far more fascinating, thanks to a refreshing perspective introduced by some pioneers in our field.
I’m specifically talking about the months of November, December, January, and February, which make a four-season garden so unique. The golden, orange, brown, and of course green hues of the plants, the low, warm sunlight, long shadows, morning dew, frost, snow, and even the wind all contribute to a dynamic and contrasting garden landscape. The garden comes to life in a new way every day, and within that change lies an invaluable emotion. For this reason, I build my planting plans starting with the winter image in mind.
In this blog, I’ll highlight some ornamental grasses and perennials that create the most magical scenes during autumn and winter. I debated how to structure the list—should I categorize it into perennials and ornamental grasses, or try something different this time? To make it easier for you to create combinations, I’ve divided the plants into three distinct groups: light catchers (yes, I know, not an official term in the plant world, but consider this its introduction!), winter silhouettes, and evergreen & foliage colors.
I hope to inspire you again to roll up your sleeves and get started!
I wish you all a beautiful, healthy, and peaceful 2025
light catchers
By light catchers, I mean plants that look incredibly stunning under the low angle of the sun. They stand out even more because they quite literally seem to radiate light in the border.
NR 1 PENNISETUM 'RED HEAD'
Pennisetum, the ornamental grass originally from Japan and China, is also known as fountain grass. It’s a very popular species in Belgium, where it’s often planted in large groups in front yards, combined with beech hedges. Personally, I prefer using it in smaller groups of three or as a solitary specimen. This particular variety is especially striking due to its characteristic, deep purple, rose-red flower spikes, which become even more vibrant in color during autumn, creating a stunning visual impact in the garden.
It can reach a height of 100 cm and almost the same in width. With this size, combined with how it interacts with light, it creates an impressive effect in any garden.
I used to think this was more of a water-edge plant that preferred wet feet—probably because its flower spikes resemble cattails—but nothing could be further from the truth. It actually thrives in dryness and sun. A well-drained soil is therefore essential. If it stays waterlogged for too long in winter, it can quickly disappear.
NR 2 MISCANTHUS 'YAKUSHIMA DWARF'
There are a few people in the gardening world whom I would have absolutely loved to meet. Henk Gerritsen, because he was one of the pioneers I mentioned in my introduction, and Ernst Pagels, a German nurseryman who introduced several types of perennials and ornamental grasses that have now become indispensable in gardens. One of his contributions was Miscanthus, also known as silver grass or elephant grass.
In the past, the gardening world only knew of the non-flowering Miscanthus x giganteus, but today, there are many stunning flowering varieties with plumes in various colors. They all grow into substantial clumps, with some reaching more than a meter in width. And while you might think this grass is only suitable for large gardens, it also works wonderfully in smaller ones.
Miscanthus is at its absolute best in autumn when it can shine on sunny days. Its flower plumes capture so much light that you can spot it from a kilometer away. Thanks to its radiant plumes, everything around it appears more beautiful, as you can clearly see below with the seed heads of the faded Cephalaria and the golden foliage of Panicum 'Northwind'.
Fun fact: Miscanthus isn’t just used in gardens; it’s increasingly recognized as an environmentally friendly “super crop.” It’s used to produce items such as fuel, clothing, bio-concrete, and bioplastic.
NR 3 SCHIZACHYRIUM 'HA HA TONKA'
Slowly but surely, I find myself using this species more and more, and I’m certain there’s still much to discover about it.
This is a highly interesting grass that, despite its seemingly simple appearance, is constantly transforming. In the photo below, it’s captured up close with stunning brown and red tones, while from another angle and in different lighting, it appears more grayish-blue—a color typically seen in summer, but not during the autumn months.
The most remarkable feature of this Schizachyrium is the many tiny hairs on its leaves, which glisten beautifully in the sunlight, making it stand out even more in months 11, 12, 1, and 2. An absolute gem!
This cultivar was discovered by Cassian Schmidt.
NR 4 VERNONIA 'ELEPHANT'
Not only ornamental grasses are valuable light catchers in winter; there are also perennials with this quality, such as Vernonia. After its purple flowers fade in autumn, they transform into fluffy, beige tufts that, appearing in the hundreds, create a significant presence and catch an incredible amount of light. Honestly, I think I find this plant more beautiful during the winter months than in summer—even though it is, of course, stunning when in bloom.
I have to admit that my knowledge of Vernonia species is still somewhat limited. When you visit the website of Hessenhof, you’ll find many varieties in different sizes and colors. This is definitely a plant on my list to explore more deeply. I’m very curious to see what there is to discover. If you know of any species I absolutely should know about, please leave a comment!
winter silhouettes
By winter silhouettes, I mean perennials that, after blooming, leave behind beautiful seed heads, providing structure in the border during the autumn and winter months.
NR 5 ALLIUM
The very well-known and beloved ornamental Allium comes in different forms: both as a bulb plant and as a perennial. I use both types in the garden. As a perennial, the plant forms clumps and takes up a bit more space. Its foliage is generally a nice green, unlike that of the bulbs, which quickly turns yellow. You can use them in different ways. I plant the perennial form in beautiful groups, sometimes combined with another type of plant. The bulbs, on the other hand, are better spread out across the border, planted between other plants, making their foliage less noticeable.
What they both have in common is that they are also beautiful when faded. That’s why I never cut back the ornamental Alliums and leave them standing throughout the year, until spring. In the autumn, I collect the seeds so I can scatter them elsewhere or use them for new growth.
NR 6 ACONITUM 'ARENDSII'
Phew, this plant. Perhaps it is 'less popular' because almost all parts of the plant are mildly toxic, but I think it’s more than worth adding to the garden. As long as you don't make soup out of it, there's nothing to worry about, and you can simply enjoy all the beauty this plant has to offer:
• In early spring, it’s one of the first to pop up, filling the borders with its dark green foliage, which is quite remarkable since it won’t bloom until the autumn. Still, I’m always happy with its leaf structure, which combines beautifully with other plants like the light green leaves of Heuchera villosa, the light gray foliage of Santolina benthamiana, or grasses like Molinia 'Edith Dudzus'.
• In autumn, it flourishes with its deep purple flowers, which bumblebees love.
• In winter, the faded flowers form graceful little vases containing the seeds.
NR 7 CEPHALARIA GIGANTEA
Just like Monarda and Echinacea, Cephalaria, which is native to the Caucasus and Turkey, has beautiful black seed heads that gracefully carry through the winter months. Not to mention its deeply cut leaves, which give it an airy, elegant appearance. It’s a substantial plant that can self-seed, which may deter some people. But I wouldn’t let that stop me from planting it in the garden. It’s 12 months of enjoyment with this plant. Bumblebees also love it.
NR 8 ACHILLEA MOONSHINE
Indispensable in spring, summer, autumn, AND winter: Achillea. It comes in many colors such as white, yellow, pink, red, and orange, and unfortunately, not all of them are long-lived. However, it still deserves a spot in the garden, because when there's one plant that develops a beautiful winter silhouette during the colder months, it's this plant with its flat, umbrella-like flower heads.
The most beautiful varieties are Achillea millefolium 'Moonshine' or the slightly taller Achillea filipendulina 'Parker’s Variety'. Both have yellow flowers.
evergreen & foliage color
NR 9 HELLEBORUS ARGUTIFOLIUS
The winter garden doesn't have to consist only of brown, yellow, and orange tones. There is also room for green AND bloom. This botanical Helleborus, with its dark green, strikingly serrated leaves and light green flowers, is a sympathetic addition to the border. After a year, it grows into a small shrub, reaching up to 80 cm in height, providing structure in your border all year round. For this reason, it pairs beautifully with the fresh green of other plants in the spring, the flower colors of other plants in the summer, and the leaf coloration of other plants in the winter. In addition to its lovely foliage, it blooms for months on end, making it easy to combine with early-blooming bulbs. What a bonus, can you believe it?
I wouldn’t plant it among other tall plants, nor in groups. A Helleborus here and there, nestled among some Stipa, Molinia, Sporobolus, and your garden party is complete.
Helleborus argutifolius is native to Corsica and Sardinia, which explains why the plant is well-adapted to dry conditions and mild winters.
NR 10 EUPHORBIA X MARTINII
A lot of similarities with the plant above: a small shrub that is evergreen and thus provides structure in your border. I’ve previously included this plant in a top 10 of my favorite plants for its beautiful bloom, but it also deserves a spot in this top 15, focusing on the winter garden. This plant is the result of a cross between Euphorbia amygdaloides and the robust Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii, combining the best features of both parents.
The narrow leaves are turquoise-green with a purplish tint at the tips, especially during the cooler months. This creates an extra interesting look in winter.
NR 11 SANTOLINA BENTHAMIANA
A lesser-known but charming plant within the Santolina genus, also known as holy herb. This plant is currently highly valued in my border for its fine, silver-gray foliage, which contrasts beautifully with the yellow and orange hues of other plants, as well as the light and dark green leaves of evergreen plants. This favorite variety is closely related to the more well-known Santolina chamaecyparissus and is especially used in Mediterranean gardens. Personally, I also think it fits very well in other plantings. It doesn’t all have to be so standard, right?
The past two winters have been incredibly wet here, yet this Santolina has had no issues with it. Despite its Mediterranean origin, which might suggest that it would struggle... It just goes to show.
NR 12 HEUCHERA VILLOSA
The last evergreen plant that must not be missed is the woodland plant Heuchera villosa. Now we have four different shades of green for the winter landscape. :)
There are many varieties of Heuchera, but this species with its modest appearance is definitely my favorite.
It is a robust perennial native to North America, primarily known for its decorative large leaves and graceful flower plumes that seem to bloom endlessly... Even now. It thrives in the sun, but even better in slightly shaded to partially shaded spots.
NR 13 MOLINIA 'TRANSPARANT'
Onto the last three plants, which are especially characterized by their leaf coloration. First up is Molinia 'Transparent'. A very tall and quite robust Molinia, which has the remarkable quality of not appearing bulky and tall due to, yes, its transparent appearance. The photo clearly shows why its leaf coloration is so beautiful: the color change has a lovely gradient from bottom to top. Starting from green, then yellow, and finally orange. You only need three of these plants in your border, with a few meters' distance between them.
Unfortunately, the strong windy days recently have caused it to lie flat, but nonetheless, we’ve been able to enjoy it for a long time!
NR 14 PANICUM 'NORTHWIND'
No color gradient for this upright Panicum, but instead a beautiful palette of different shades of yellow, orange, and brown. And it’s not only the way it changes color that contrasts with the Molinia, this plant can withstand wind speeds of up to 10 and still stand tall in winter. You’ll notice that as winter comes to an end and we slowly edge toward spring, this one still stands proud. For that reason, I always cut it back as late as possible (February/March). It always feels a little painful to say goodbye to it...
This is a cultivar from the American grower Roy Diblik, who also named his nursery after this plant.
NR 15 HAKONECHLOA MACRA
Hakonechloa macra is a Japanese ornamental grass that thrives best in partial shade. In the fall, the light green leaves gradually turn orange, a color that remains beautiful for a long time. In late summer, delicate, airy flower plumes appear that are initially green and, like the leaves, turn a light brownish hue. The bloom is actually quite subtle and not the main ornamental feature. The grass itself has a waterfall-like growth habit, giving the plant a dynamic appearance, and it looks beautiful in large flower pots. The left photo shows an example. This is year 1. It will grow fuller in the coming years. I couldn’t do without it.
That’s it! The top 15 most valuable perennials and ornamental grasses for your winter garden. I hope it’s a beautiful selection that can help you transform your garden into a winter wonderland, because yes, with the right plants, it truly can be.
For any questions or other comments, feel free to leave a comment :)
With love,
Linda
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