CREATING WINTER Interest

8 bold plants sure to provide a wonderland of color, form and beauty.

- RACHAEL LISKA

1. COTONEASTER Bursting with bright red berries that last through winter, this deer resistant shrub thrives in cold, windy areas and withstands damage from salt spray. Use it to edge driveways or line retaining walls. With several species available, the options are endless.

2. BOXWOOD The workhorse of the winter garden, boxwood adds color and structure. Its natural form is pretty, or you can prune it into a flat hedge or round orb in spring. It also grows in containers. Winter Gem is a reliable beauty to consider.

3. ORNAMENTAL GRASSES Create intrigue in an otherwise barren garden with elegant stems and plumes that stand at attention and sway with a whisper of winter wind. Grasses also make a terrific source of shelter and food for songbirds. Plant them in masses for big impact and cut them back in early spring. Feather reed grass is a striking, sterile option.