Plants to Overwinter in Your Yoderbilt Greenhouse
Over the years, I’ve found my greenhouse isn’t just a safe haven for geraniums and ferns. It’s become a shelter for all sorts of plants that either can’t survive outside in my Zone 7b winters, or that just do so much better with a little extra care. Here’s a longer list of plants worth overwintering:
Flowering Favorites
- Geraniums (Pelargoniums): Both zonal and ivy geraniums thrive when overwintered. Perfect for taking cuttings.
- Begonias: Both tuberous and Rex varieties overwinter beautifully in containers.
- Impatiens: If you love them in shade beds, bring a few in and root cuttings for spring.
- Fuchsias: These reward you with early blooms if carried over through winter.
- Petunias: They LOVE the greenhouse and they give me a healthy supply of cuttings for spring plantings.
- Mandevilla and Dipladenia: Tropical vines that hate frost but love a cozy greenhouse.
Container & Patio Plants
- Topiary forms (like myrtles or rosemary): They keep their shape best if they don’t get shocked by frost.
- Potted Hydrangeas (macrophylla): You can overwinter smaller container hydrangeas to protect buds for next year’s bloom.
- Coleus: Take cuttings or bring entire containers in for color all winter.
Fruiting & Tropical Plants
- Citrus trees (lemon, lime, kumquat, calamondin): There’s nothing like the smell of citrus blossoms in winter.
- Fig trees (in containers): Dormant figs overwinter well if you protect them from freezing.
- Bananas (ornamental or edible): Greenhouse protection keeps them alive through winter, even if they cut back in size.
- Pineapple plants: Surprisingly easy to carry over in pots.
Herbs
- Rosemary: Mine is always better overwintered; it hates cold wet soil outside.
- Parsley: A hardy biennial that thrives in greenhouse shelter.
- Thyme, oregano, and sage: Mediterranean herbs do well in the cooler, drier greenhouse air.
- Mint: It stays fresh and green all winter.
Tender Perennials & Tropicals
- Caladiums: Lift bulbs and overwinter dry, or keep pots going in warmer greenhouses.
- Hibiscus (tropical): Keeps blooming indoors if it has light and warmth.
- Bougainvillea: Best overwintered in a pot with minimal water until spring growth kicks in.
Houseplants & Decorative Greenery
- Ferns (Boston, Kimberly Queen, foxtail, asparagus fern): These always make my greenhouse feel lush and tropical.
- Succulents & cacti: They prefer the cooler, drier environment of a winter greenhouse.
- Alocasias, calatheas, philodendrons: All shine with greenhouse humidity and warmth.
My Overwintering Tip
I always tell people: think of your greenhouse as both an ICU and a spa. Some plants need to rest in dormancy (like bulbs and tubers), while others will keep thriving with a little light and warmth. Group your plants accordingly—resting ones together, and active ones where they can keep growing happily.
