Photo credit: Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks

By Sarah Cheng

We are fortunate to live in a mild winter climate – enough to have more than firs, ferns and salal for our winter greenery. One of my favorites for winter interest is Grevillea victoriae, ‘Murray Valley Queen’. Grevilleas aren’t so common in our area, but what’s not to like? Here’s a shrub with green leaves all winter, orange clustered flowers which start to set in November continuing until late spring, deer and rabbit resistant, drought tolerant once established, and hardy without fertilizer (avoid phosphorus). These plants are rated as Zone 7 or 8. The ones in my garden survived the past winter’s heavy snow and cold, and this year’s early frosts, with flowers already starting to bloom. Try one…or more. Happy gardening!