Fall into winter with multiseason plants
The plants in this simple combination along an entryway path with a low wall make for a welcoming sight year-round, especially in late fall and winter. With its low profile and long, cascading branches, Hesse cotoneaster is perfect draping over a retaining wall, or just scrambling along as a groundcover under the canopy of larger shrubs or trees. Pink spring flowers open along the stem beside glossy green leaves, followed by red berries that persist into winter, providing an edible option for wildlife when food is scarce. Tatarian dogwood and coneflower add extra fall and winter interest to this planting.
Growing conditions for this fall and winter border
Plants in this entry border prefer full sun, but will also thrive in part shade. Give them plenty of water after planting to get them established, but after the second year they will tolerate dry weather with ease.
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Plant care tips
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Hesse cotoneaster's leaves are evergreen in warmer zones, but where winter temps often dip below freezing, foliage darkens, eventually drying and falling off by late winter. In early spring, rake out fallen leaves and prune any dead stems.
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Easy-to-grow Salsa Red coneflower’s striking red summer flowers give way to sturdy seedheads that birds will flock to all winter, so there is no need to deadhead spent blooms unless you would like a tidier look.
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Falling dogwood leaves reveal red stems that brighten by midwinter. Cut back 1⁄3 of the older stems to the ground each year to get better color on younger stems.
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Loppers
Meet the plants in this multiseason garden bed
A) Hesse cotoneaster Cotoneaster hessei
Shrub; pink flowers in late spring followed by red berries that persist into winter; full sun to part shade; 12 to 18 in. tall, 36 to 60 in. wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7
B) Tatarian dogwood Cornus alba Ivory Halo
Shrub; white flower clusters in late spring to early summer followed by white berries; full sun to part shade; 4 to 6 ft. tall and wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7
C) Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Sombrero® Salsa Red
Perennial; bright red flowers in late spring through summer; full sun; 24 to 26 in. tall, 16 to 22 in. wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9
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