Snow is a meteorological phenomenon that must be taken into account when we are going to choose which plants to buy. And we are no longer talking about “simple” frosts that disappear quickly as soon as the Sun rises, but about something – snow – that takes longer to melt and that, therefore, can cause serious damage to less resistant plants .
Along with hailstorms, snowfalls pose a challenge for species. Fortunately, There are many plants resistant to snow, like the ones you are going to see below.
Abelia (Abelia grandiflora)
Image – Flickr / Jennifer Snyder
La Abelia is a semi-deciduous shrub (that is, it is partially leafless in winter) that reaches a height of between 1 and 3 meters. Its branches are a bit hanging, and the most interesting thing is that they fill with white flowers in spring. These are also fragrant.
You can have it both in full sun and in semi-shade. Although yes, it is highly recommended that the soil (or substrate, if you are going to have it in a pot) has an acid pH, from 4 to 6. The reason is that in alkaline soils its growth is a little slower. But otherwise resists up to -12ºC.
Japanese maple (Maple palmate)
Image – Wikimedia / Wölk
El japanese maple is a tree or shrub -depending on the variety and / or cultivar- that grows between 1 and 12 meters tall. Its bearing is very elegant, as its crown is rounded, somewhat open, from which palmate and lobed leaves sprout that can be of some greenish, reddish, yellowish or even variegated hue.
It grows very well in temperate and humid climates, with acid soils (pH 4 to 6). Depending on the variety, it can be had in full sun or in semi-shade. Supports up to -18ºC.
Blue Vitadinia (Brachyscome multifida)
Image – Wikimedia / Melburnian
Blue vitadinia is a lively plant with a creeping habit that reaches a height of 45 centimeters. Its leaves are deeply divided, and are green. The flowers emerge at the end of the stems, and are mauve, pink or white. They appear from early fall to mid-winter.
It is a very beautiful herbaceous plant that grows in sunny places as long as the ground has very good drainage. Tolerates calcareous without problem. Plus, supports up to -7ºC.
Tibetan cherry (prunus serrula)
Image – Wikimedia / Fab5669
The Tibetan cherry is a deciduous tree that reaches a height of 6 to 9 meters. Its crown is wide, 4-5 meters, so it provides very good shade. Its flowers are white, and they sprout in spring. But if there is something that stands out, it is the bark of its trunk: it is smooth, brownish-red in color, and it also has horizontally shaped lenticels.
It is a plant of exceptional beauty, which must be in a sunny place, growing in fertile and slightly acidic soil. Resists up to -18ºC.
Paradise tree (Eleagnus angustifolia)
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Stan Shebs
El paradise tree It is, as its name suggests, a tree, deciduous. It grows up to 10 meters in heightand develops a cup with an irregular, wide and somewhat rounded shape. Its trunk branches a few meters from the ground, and over time it becomes tortuous. The leaves are lanceolate and green. Its flowers bloom in spring, and are silver.
It tolerates many types of soils, including limestone. It can even grow on the ones that are a bit salty. Supports up to -12ºC.
Rhaphiolepis umbellata (synonymous Laurel umbrellas)
Image – Wikimedia Commons / A. Bar
The Rhaphiolepis umbellata It is an evergreen shrub with a rounded crown that is 1 to 2 meters high.. The leaves are large, up to 9 centimeters in size, and ovate-oblong in shape. It blooms during the spring, producing large numbers of white flowers whose stamens are carmine in color.
Its cultivation is relatively easy, since all you need is a fertile soil that drains water well, and sun. It resists very well temperatures down to -12ºC.
Autumn sage (Sage flocks)
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Stan Shebs
Autumn sage is an evergreen herbaceous plant (or deciduous when the frosts are very intense) that reaches a height of 60 centimeters. The leaves are elongated, medium green in color; instead the flowers are red, pink, violet, orange, or white. These sprout from late spring to fall.
It is interesting to have in rockeries, although it is also beautiful in a pot. It should be placed in full sun, and planted in well-drained soils. Resists up to -12ºC.
Sacred bamboo (domestic nandina)
Image – Wikimedia Commons / A. Bar
If you like bamboos but are concerned about their roots, nandina it is an evergreen shrub that looks quite alike. Its maximum height is 3 metersand has pinnate leaves of green color, although when they are young they are red. Produces many white flowers grouped in panicles during spring.
The growth rate of this plant is fast, but unlike bamboo, it can be controlled well, either with pruning or by growing it in a pot. They like the sun, although they tolerate semi-shadow Supports up to -15ºC.
Which of these snow resistant plants did you like the most?
