Winter Heather 'Mary Helen'

Winter Heather 'Mary Helen' is the plant equivalent of that friend who shows up to a gray, dreary winter party wearing a neon outfit and suddenly everyone realizes they've been having way more fun than they thought. This compact evergreen shrub rocks a riot of color that would make a sunset jealous: golden-yellow and green foliage topped with clusters of bright pink flowers, all happening when most other plants have basically given up and gone into hibernation mode.

While the rest of the garden world is taking a winter nap, Mary Helen is out here serving looks like she's hosting her own personal fashion week. The foliage alone is a masterpiece – those needle-like leaves emerge in shades of bright yellow that gradually blend into green, creating a color gradient that changes throughout the seasons. 

But the real showstopper moment comes in late winter and early spring when those bright pink bell-shaped flowers appear, creating a color combination that shouldn't work but absolutely does. We're talking February and March here – when everything else is still looking like it's recovering from a long night out, Mary Helen is over here blooming like it's her job.

What makes Winter Heather 'Mary Helen' truly special is her timing. This is one of the few plants on the median that really does its finest work in winter, providing much-needed color and cheer when you need it most. The compact, mounding form stays neat year-round, and the plant is incredibly low-maintenance once established. It's drought tolerant, deer resistant, and generally minds its own business while looking fantastic.

Come by the median in February or March and see for yourself – Mary Helen will be the one plant that to make sure that winter doesn't have to be boring. You'll find this winter warrior proving that the off-season can be the best season for those brave enough to bloom when everyone else is playing it safe.