Evergreen perennials can keep a garden bed from looking bare after other plants die back. Choose them for the light and space you have, and remember that “evergreen” does not mean every leaf will look fresh all winter.
Start with the spot, then choose the foliage
Liriope, often called monkey grass, can give a bed a low, steady outline. Yucca has a much sharper, upright look, so it makes more sense where that shape has room to stand apart from softer plants. If you are shopping during the growing season, check the tag rather than guessing which perennials will hold their foliage through the colder months. Plants that look alike in summer can leave very different gaps in winter.
For a shaded place, hellebores are worth a look. They can flower in the colder part of the year, though the timing and flower color depend on the variety. Their nodding flowers are easier to appreciate where you can look up at them, such as along a slope. Summer heat can leave the foliage looking tired, so give the plant the shade it needs. You can read more about hellebore color early in the year before choosing a spot.
Give the lower layer time to fill in
Christmas fern brings a softer texture to a shady bed and can sit well near hostas when they return in spring. The hostas themselves die back, which is exactly why the fern’s foliage is useful there. Our hosta article has more on that seasonal partner.
Pachysandra, also called Japanese spurge, offers glossy leaves as a spreading ground cover. Hellebores may seed around an established planting, too, but neither will cover a bare patch overnight. Think about how much ground you actually want covered and allow space for the plants to settle in. If you are weighing other ways to handle a difficult area, see our notes on ground covers as lawn alternatives.
