5 Plants that Look Great All Year in Northern Virginia
When it comes to creating timeless landscapes in Northern Virginia, it is essential to choose plants that work in all four seasons. At Rossen Landscape, we strategically select plants to ensure your garden looks beautiful in ever season – from vibrant spring blooms to striking structure in the winter. For discerning homeowners in McLean, Great Falls, Bethesda, and surrounding areas, these year-round plants bring both elegance and enduring charm to any luxury landscape.
Whether you’re enhancing a legacy estate or refreshing a modern outdoor retreat, here are our top five plant picks that maintain their beauty in rain, snow, or shine.
1. Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)
Why We Love It:
Inkberry Holly is a refined native alternative to boxwood. Once established, Inkberry Holly provides luscious, beautiful evergreen color all year long. The soft, rounded leaves and compact stature make it a beautiful fit in both formal gardens and contemporary designs.
Seasonal Appeal:
- Spring/Summer: Fresh new growth (with small, white flowers from time to time)
- Fall/Winter: Glossy evergreen foliage and subtle berries on female plants
Best For:
- Foundation plantings
- Low hedges or mass plantings
- Native and sustainable gardens
Planting Tips:
Inkberry Holly thrives in Northern Virginia’s clay soils when amended properly. Prefers full sun to part shade and benefits from consistent moisture. Prune lightly in late winter to shape.
2. Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ or ‘Obsidian’)
Why We Love It:
Heuchera brings rich, jewel-toned foliage into the garden with color that endures all year. These compact, mounding perennials come in a variety of hues—from deep purple to shimmering silver – providing continuous texture and contrast, even in the dormant months. Perfect for luxury plantings that need a little drama.
Seasonal Appeal:
- Spring/Summer: Vibrant foliage with delicate flower spikes in white or pink.
- Fall/Winter: Evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage that retains color through winter in zone 7a.
Best For:
- Shaded entryways and understory layers
- Containers and border edges
- Pairing with boxwoods or hydrangeas for color contrast
Planting Tips:
Best in part shade with moist, well-drained soil. Add compost to clay-heavy beds to improve drainage. Coral Bells are low-maintenance and deer-resistant – a smart, stylish addition to any high-end garden palette.
3. Dwarf Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’)
Why We Love It:
With its sculptural shape and rich, deep-green foliage, Dwarf Hinoki Cypress offers year-round elegance in a compact, curated form. This slow-growing evergreen adds a sense of permanence and artistry to the garden – ideal for luxury landscapes that value timeless structure.
Seasonal Appeal:
- Spring–Winter: Always green, always graceful. Its finely layered, shell-like foliage adds depth and texture in all seasons.
Best For:
- Accent planting in modern and traditional designs
- Japanese-inspired gardens or rock gardens
- Framing architectural elements or art pieces
Planting Tips:
Prefers full sun to light shade and moist, well-drained soil. While tolerant of Virginia’s climate, it benefits from protection from harsh winter winds in exposed locations. Plant it as a living sculpture – its form only becomes more elegant with time.
4. Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis)
Why We Love It:
Commonly known as Lenten Rose, hellebores bloom in late winter when most gardens are still dormant. Their leathery, evergreen foliage adds rich texture, while their subtle nodding flowers create a calming, organic elegance.
Seasonal Appeal:
- Winter/Early Spring: Early-blooming flowers in whites, purples, and blush tones.
- Summer/Fall: Evergreen foliage that holds up beautifully.
Best For:
- Shaded entryways or courtyards
- Woodland gardens
- Underplanting for shrubs or trees
Planting Tips:
Plant Hellebores in rich, well-drained soil with afternoon shade. Remove old foliage in late winter to make way for blooms. Low-maintenance and deer-resistant.
5. Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Cassian’)
Why We Love It:
Fountain Grass adds movement, softness, and architectural form to the landscape—making it a go-to for refined, modern garden compositions. The ‘Cassian’ variety is particularly well-suited for Northern Virginia, with its compact size and showy, wheat-colored plumes that sway elegantly through the seasons.
Seasonal Appeal:
- Spring/Summer: Graceful green foliage forms a tidy mound.
- Fall/Winter: Creamy bottlebrush plumes and golden hues that persist into winter, catching frost and light beautifully.
Best For:
- Contemporary borders
- Poolscapes and open entertainment areas
- Layering with evergreens and hardscape elements
Planting Tips:
Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, including the clay-heavy types common in the region. Cut back to a few inches above the ground in late winter before new growth emerges. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant and low-maintenance – ideal for busy homeowners seeking polished, effortless style.
Bringing it All Together
Creating a garden that looks refined and vibrant in every season requires careful plant selection and thoughtful design. These five plants not only thrive in Northern Virginia’s unique climate, but they also contribute to a landscape that feels curated, intentional, and beautiful year-round.
At Rossen Landscape, we specialize in crafting elegant outdoor environments that reflect your lifestyle – whether it’s a sweeping estate in Great Falls or a modern garden oasis in Arlington. Our team of horticultural experts understands how to blend structure, sustainability, and year-round interest for landscapes that impress in every season.
Serving McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Bethesda, Potomac, and surrounding Northern Virginia and DC metro areas.
Need help selecting the right year-round plants for your property?
Let Rossen Landscape take care of it. From design to build to ongoing garden care, we ensure your landscape is timeless and always at its best. Schedule your consultation today.
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