After having lived in New Jersey for several years, I am back in Mississippi, and I am in awe of all my garden plants that were not phased by January’s brutally cold weather. In spite of the fact that the temperature dropped down to 9° this past month, several of my plants are still growing strong.

Are Roses Evergreen?

I am especially impressed with how my roses fared the cold weather. In my experience, Roses are semi-evergreen in Garden Zones 7 and above, but I live in a slightly warmer area now. The roses that I have allowed to grow since spring were not phased by the 9° temperature I experienced in Mississippi Garden Zone 8a during  January.

Fairy Rose – An Exquisite Little Fragrant Cluster that Blooms Continuously

My Fairy Rose was still blooming until Christmas, and while it was not blooming in January, it was still green and growing.

Peggy Martin Rose – Jacki Kellum Garden – April 2024

Peggy Martin Rose only blooms in  April or May, but it has been green all winter. In fact, on January 28, I noticed it was producing new buds.

Image Credit: Zéphirine Drouhin
Image Credit: Heirloom Roses
Fragrance – Bourbon Rose Fragrance
Bloom Time – May
No Thorns
1868

Lady Banksia Rose [Lady Banks]
Image Credit: Heirloom Roses
Fragrance – Violet Fragrance
Bloom Time – May
1807

Zephirine Drouhin and Lady Banks only bloom in May, but they have been green all winter.

My Irises are Semi-Evergreen to Evergreen in Garden Zone 8a

Variegated Iris Pallida
Image Credit: Daylily Nursery
Height: 2′ – 3′
Very Old Garden Plant – Probably Dates Back to Medieval Europe

Because the ground was frozen last week, I have postponed planting my Variegated Iris Pallida until today. But I planted some non-variegated Pallida the week before the hard freeze, and those starts have remained green.

Pallida [Leaves Are Not Variegated]
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Height: up to 40″
Fragrant

Pallida is a very old iris species, and it is the producer of oris root, which for centuries  has been used for fragrance in perfumes.

Germanica Iris  “Off Topic” in Jacki Kellum Garden
April 28, 2024

“Off Topic” Iris
Image Credit: American Meadows
Height 35″

Today is January 28, 2025, about 3 months before my irises bloom, but some  of my Germanica Iris Leaves are green today.

Iris virginica var. shrevei
Southern Blue Flag
Image Credit: American Meadows
Height: 36″

I see no greenery today where my Southern Blue Flags are planted.

Bulbs I Planted in January 2025

I am listing these from the tallest to the shortest. I plant my bulbs according to their heights. I place the tallest plant in the back.

Allium “Gladiator”
Image Credit: Holland Bulbs
Height:: 36″ – 60″

Paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta)
Image Credit:  North Carolina State Extension Office
Height: 31″

Lent lily (Narcissus pseudo narcissus) – Wild Daffodil
Image Credit: De Warrande
Height: 12″ – 24″
Good for Naturalizing

Snowflakes (Leucojum)
Image Credit:  North Carolina State Extension Office
Height: 12″ – 15″